Ken Cartisano

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2023

Stories (35)

35 Stories

920 karma pts

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“Lord Of Lights.” by Ken Cartisano

Submitted to Contest #202

I knew it was a mistake as soon as I walked into the room. Nobody recognized me, and no wonder, I hadn’t been to a high school reunion in fifty years. Three things brought me here: Free food; free liquor; and an invitation from the bride, ‘Patty McWhatsherface. I looked at the invitation, Correction: ‘Patty Collier.’ I should probably memorize that, I thought, as I tossed it into a trash bin. The room was dark and smoky, with a dance floor, a dangling disco-ball and a makeshift flower-laden altar. The whole thing was hideous: rendered in our...

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“The Lips Don't Lie” by Ken Cartisano

I was ushered into the clients large, well-appointed office by the back door, an inauspicious way to begin a sensitive consultation. He offered me a seat and warned me bluntly, “Don’t smoke in my office.” I put my unlit cigar back in my pocket. “So, I understand this is a missing persons case.” “In a way,” the client replied. “I met her at a party, fell instantly in love, but before I could get her name, or address, she slipped away.” “Whose party was it? We could start with their guest list.” “No,” he said. “It was my party and she ...

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“Reproduction.” by Ken Cartisano

Submitted to Contest #191

I sat hunched over a table in an obscure little café I used to frequent. The place was deserted. All the locals go to the nightclubs a few blocks away these days. I just wanted a quick drink, and anticipated another quiet evening at home, alone. My expectations for the evening were low, but I felt like I had recovered from my break-up with Sue, and was thinking more constructively about relationships in general. There are certain things a woman has a right to know, but at what point in the courtship, exactly, does a man lay his cards on the ...

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“The Father, The Sons-of-Bitches, and the Unholy Ghost.” by Ken Cartisano

Submitted to Contest #189

I turned up my collar and tightened the belt of my tattered coat. It was well past midnight and a cool fog had drifted in from the harbor.The muffled sound of voices signaled the passage of three young thugs at the end of the street. They were moving fast, and keeping their chatter down. I don’t think they felt any safer than I did. Not in this district.The solitary streetlamp was no match for the gloom. Its amber light flickered now and again, threatening to go out altogether.Something small and hard thumped to the ground near a pile of tra...

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“The Trouble with Singularities.” by Ken Cartisano

Submitted to Contest #188

Future History. I was there. I saw how little weight the professor’s opinions carried against the institutional forces that make the decisions. I needed no further convincing on the futility of his protests. “I hate to bore you all with the same set of facts again,” the professor began, “but the problem with this project, is that the theory predicts a second singularity, of unknown coordinates, somewhere outside the facility. Which means it could pop up anywhere.” “We’re all aware of that professor.” “And this committee finds such a ...

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Author bio

Footnotes. Q: What does the character mean by Q-burger? A: The quantum computer. Damn thing gets so hot some of its components sizzle. Sounds like a hamburger cooking on a grill. Q-burger. Q: Your character says ‘…all the gush.’ What’s gush? A: a. FIIK. I just made it up. b. A huge fad, 3 million years ago. c. An homage to ZZ Top, ‘Lord take me downtown, I’m just lookin for some gush.’