Katharine Johns

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2020

Stories (27)

27 Stories

578 karma pts

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“Almost Heaven” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #253

*mild references to female puberty* The students of Chesterton Middle School all but clamored for the final bell of the school year. Seventh-graders Samantha, Alexis, Sydney, and Kayla congregated in the commons area while awaiting their dismissal. "This summer is going to be so dope, guys! We'll all be thirteen by next school year--actual teenagers!" Kayla exclaimed, "We could all shop at Sephora literally by ourselves then!" "Your birthday falls on the start of Grove Summer Nights Festival!" Alexis noted, "Will you have a party there?" "Ya...

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“That One Thing” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #237

Daytime commenced on the faraway planet of Thars 74T. On this particular day, a Tharsian named Rugvart was set to be coupled with another. They were in the company of a Tharsian civil official and some family, but all that was missing was the one with whom they would couple. The other Tharsian needed that day was Bolorov, who was instead jetting fretfully towards planet Earth. Bolorov always had a renega...

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“Died of Dysentery” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #236

Thirty-nine-year-old Aaron sat in the minivan, waiting to pick up his ten-year-old son, Noah, from soccer practice. Facing the field, he watched the gaggle of preadolescents practice dribbles, passes, shoots, and an occasional trick shot from the head or chest--just to show off for each other, no doubt. They were an impressive bunch for their age, he’d give them that. Albeit, Aaron was always a more avid viewer of sports...

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“Mother's Diaries” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #233

Diary of Amy Matthews, age 14 Jan Dear Diary, I hope I don’t offend starting out like this but, this feels strange. I mean I’ve only heard of people keeping diaries. It seems like something so old though that I never imagined keeping one myself. My family is cleaning out my late grandmother’s house and I found in my mom’s “teenage things” this hardcover journ...

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“A Spy's Guardian Angel” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #195

Warning: PG/PG-13 content; brief, vague allusions to drinking, sex, and gun violence/activity; also a few religious references I watch over Wesley Portier, a secret agent for the CIA. The Creator certainly gifted him with many skills and strengths for the job, while his continued preservation is typically my handiwork. Where Jesus Christ could’ve called ten thousand angels while He hung on the cr...

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“Generations” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #194

The Shaw’s always seemed to be on the cusp of technological breakthroughs and advances…Fall of 1903Mrs. Shaw rang the dinner bell to summon her family from their work around the farm. Harry, Ruthie, and Samuel emerged from various points, with their father on their heels. She reminded them to wash up and kissed her husband at the door before giving the lot another lookover.“Has anyone seen Charles recently?” She asked her children as they gathered at the table. They shook thei...

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“ParalleLife” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #182

The Richards family--William, Teresa, and Jenny-- just moved to Verdant Valley. The neighborhood is just what they all wanted, a bustling small town of friendly people full of big opportunities where one could be anything they put their mind to: a breakout star, a superhero or supervillain, a high-ranking politician or businessperson, a master of many skills, a master money maker or even just a well-read, well-traveled or a faithful family person. After a couple of quick meals and refreshing themselves in their fully-furnished abode, The ...

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“Imaginary Big Sister” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #182

“Meredith,” Her mother called through her daughter's closed bedroom door, “I have a meeting this morning and we're having company over this evening so I need some help around the house. Will you please change out the bathroom towels?” Meredith had to pause in the middle of getting dressed, take a deep breath in, and let it out as smoothly as she could. “...sure,” she answered, keeping her protestations to...

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“Black Cat Inc. ” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #169

I sat perched on a garbage bin at dawn, minding my own business, when the garbage truck rolled up the street. “Ay, cat! Shoo!” a deep, male New Yorker accent boomed while kicking the bin, trying to upset my seat. I obliged. He needed to empty this receptacle and I had other places to be, anyways. Busy with his work, he gave me no other thought as I passed by him while crossing the street. He’d get food poisoning later. You would think more humans would express more gratitude towards us. Things...

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“Like the Movies” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #167

Potentially sensitive content: brief allusions to drinking, intoxication, language, and sexual activity Jenna woke up at 6am like it was the perfect day. She cleaned herself in a dingy dorm shower, listening to bubbly pop music. Her adult braces showed as she smiled in the mirror, donning a pair of straight-cut blue jeans and a colorful t-shirt, both generic brands. She brushed out...

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“Deathly Sweet” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #133

The peal of the bell tower signaled morning in the city of Direford, the capital of the thriving nation of Jestines, a morning that started the week of the annual Valentine’s Festival. Subjects and peasants everywhere were about to spend the period embracing romance; couples will court, marry, declare love, or initiate relationships as their situations saw fit. Cooks and bakers, providing the food of love, prepared their finest dishes and treats. Gifts, gestures, poems, and songs would be exchanged. Passions would be fueled. Flowers, hear...

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“Winter Dreams” (A 'Christmas Dreams' sequel)” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #129

Jessie crashed into a metal post trail-marker while skiing.This predicament all started in her first days of high school. Fifteen-year-old Jessie, lover of Christmas, found a new infatuation: fellow classmate, Greg Hammond. She first saw him about eight lockers down from hers in the first days of school. He wasn’t anyone she went to school with before. He walked right by her one day as he focused on his class schedule and school map, trying to figure out where to go. She should’ve said something but forgot her manners in...

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“Christmas Dreams” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #115

Fourteen-year-old Jessie loved Christmas. With the thoughts of presents, sweets, and no school, what young person didn’t? While Jessie loved those things as much as the next person, Christmas also meant travelling to a place of Christmas dreams, somewhere she has been able to go since she was a little girl.For a while, Jessie went to this place by way of her grandparents’ house, who lived thirty miles away on a hilltop acre with spotty cell phone service and basic cable. She would politely greet her family when arriving ...

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“Westdonian Bridge is Down” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #106

Stephen was just your ordinary thirty-two-year-old bachelor living in the modern Republic of Gadstonia. He woke up most mornings in his townhouse situated in the capital city, had himself coffee and cooked his breakfast, went to work as an operations assistant at a local baseball field, engaged in several sports and social hobbies in his spare time, and was friends with the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex… ...

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“Being a Grown-up” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #105

Being seven years old stinks! This evening I was supposed to go to the soccer club pizza party, but I’m grounded for failing a test in school and trying to lie about it. I wouldn’t have been able to go anyways just for failing the test but I still didn’t want to miss it if I could help it! Wendy Green was going to wear her new JoJo Siwa watch and Taylor Gates was bringing her Glitter Girl doll in a new o...

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Author bio

Blogger, author, girly, geeky, Aries, cat person. Married as of April 30th, 2022. You’ll enjoy my stories if you enjoy: clean chick-lit, family, child, teen, or YA-centric characters and stories, fantasy/fantasy realism, and occasional music references Constructive criticism and conversation welcome! Irrelevant messages, suspicious links, or other spam in the comments will be reported. website: https://kjohns323.wixsite.com/kjswritersblock Social media: https://www.facebook.com/Kjswritersblock Books: https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Johns/e/B08665MZ59?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_10&qid=1627854298&sr=8-10