L J

“The Vase” by L J

Submitted to Contest #237

Then there's Mama. She was a cruel woman. Everyone got a slice of her tongue. She spoke few words but when she spoke, the words were fire and ice. Papa, the strongest man I have ever seen was weak and sad when he was with her. He couldn't stop the fire from her tongue. When she was finished, he would come out of her room with his head bowed and his knees shaking. I asked why he let her do that to him. All he could do was shake his head and say "I love her. She wasn't always that way." He'd pull out the wedding picture and cradle it in his ar...

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“How to let go without really Dying, part 2 (Vacation in Karma)” by L J

She sighed. "Oh, what a beautiful day it is!". She stretched out on the beach chair in Nice. The French Riviera was the absolute best place to be. She smiled. It was so nice to be She. A new, improved she. She had been impressed with her new passport picture, curly brunette hair, green eyes, long lashes. A huge improvement from her other one: mousy brown hair, one blue eye, one brown eye. She sighed "Another stupid thing given to me by my parents; stupid eyes, stupid sister, stupid brother..." She stopped thinking about that. She didn't have...

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“The Sound of Noise” by L J

Submitted to Contest #218

"Mary," I motioned slowly, "Isn't it nice to be walking around downtown?" She nodded. I wondered how she could be having such a good time doing something like this. Mary is deaf. She has been that way for 10 years. That's long enough to forget familiar sounds. I remember how scared she looked when it happened. We were five years old and playing in the back yard. We were just playing with our Barbies under the tree. We got in a fight because I wanted the Barbie with the pink dress. It was mine and Mary didn't ask if she could play with it. ...

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“"Open the pod bay doors.."” by L J

Submitted to Contest #213

She looked at the new AI program again:wRiter-WritingRoboticallyInfinityTotallyEternityforever"Well, the programmer couldn't come up with a meaning for "R"? Humm, I hope this was worth the money. " She looked at the first command: 'Create a detailed itinerary for : (fill in blanks)Cindy thought a moment. She is a travel blogger so she wanted to write about her and Steve's honeymoon to Paris; "Ok, The subject is Married, Paris ..ok, wRiter, write my blog about Paris. Here are some photos of Steve and me .." She sat back in her chair and start...

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“Thwwaacckk!” by L J

Submitted to Contest #208

TTHHWWAACCKK! RRRRRRRR pop! the familiar sound of Mademoiselle le Guillotine when her blades land on her intended target. The basket always at the ready to catch the thief. These are my days now. Watching the executioner clean the blade, sharpening it until it gleams in the sun, like a diamond on the Kings crown. He slowly moves the blade back into its home, making sure the bindings flow smoothly. "We do not want an accident", he says, "It is important that everyone who is sentenced to Mademoiselle live their last day in dignity." Ay...

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“Sweet little old couple” by L J

Submitted to Contest #204

Martha Venger tottered out to the pump to fill the bucket with fresh water to make her famous blood red cocktails. They were sweet and thick. Harold Venger stood at the vanity adjusting his bow tie. He noticed a spot on his spectacles, so he carefully removed them and polished them with his hanky. When he was satisfied, he folded the hanky into a point and placed it in his jacket pocket."Oh, father, don't you look dapper today." Martha stood beside him."Now, mother, it's you who make me look dapper. I see you're wearing your best dress and a...

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“ Necklace” by L J

Submitted to Contest #203

One year later-"Order in the court. Please rise! the Honorable Judge Marcus Walker presiding."Judge Walker banged his gavel, "you may be seated. Mr. District Attorney, you may present your first witness."Mr. Llewellyn stood. "Thank you, your honor, the state calls to the stand Ms. Katie Hoffman."A visibly distraught Katie took the witness stand, placed her right hand on the Bible and said, "I do". and slowly took her seat.Mr. Llewellyn placed his elbow on the witness stand and said "Ms. Hoffman, can you tell the jury what happened on the nig...

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“How to let go without really dying” by L J

Submitted to Contest #186

"Hi dad, I'm home! Wow, what a day I had. How are you guys? huh? Dad you comfortable? Kevin, bro? you good? You getting tired of sitting that long? Sorry, I'll loosen the ropes a little. There. How's that? Better? Can you move your fingers? All your toes? I mean, the ones you still have? I told you not to make me mad! I hate it when you ignore me! That is so impolite and mean that I just had to defend myself! What are you afraid of, Bro? I'm not taking any more of them. I can't cut off the big ones so don't worry. Great! I'll have your din...

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“The richest thing on earth!” by L J

Submitted to Contest #180

He was tired of cleaning up after people. His job sickened him more every day. Casino housekeeper..blah..He cleaned up champagne smelling vomit, cocaine sprinkled blood, even a diamond -encrusted stiletto heel from ...one of those. Women...He'd wanted to be a blackjack dealer; he practiced every day. He said hi to the casino bosses, he even wore a bow tie with his housekeeping coveralls. He'd come to Las Vegas with stars in his eyes.". I am gonnna be rich, someday. I can feel it!". He had his good luck charm, a new poker chip that he found o...

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“Jack Smiled” by L J

Submitted to Contest #169

He was free! This was the one time a year when they get cut from the vines. He rolled down the hill. He felt the freedom, he revelled in it! He could finally join others in this night. All Hallows Eve. He felt a tingle. The time was drawing near. He'd better get started. He couldn't see where he was. He rolled around a bit until he found the right place.. So, he began to work so he got started: . there, that was better. He could see out of the left eye. He looked around until he found the next place...he could now see out of his right ...

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“keeper of the kettle” by L J

Submitted to Contest #160

He was parched. His tongue was swollen. It was getting hard to breathe. The drought had been going on for 100 years. He'd forgotten what trees looked like. There were no more animals. The world was barren and dry. He sat down on a rock. The only thing that survived the drought. He thought back about his life. One hundred years ago when the world was green; there were fish in the sea and animals everywhere. The unicorns lived in herds and the fruit that grew on the trees were sweet and juicy .He thought about his beloved Elizabeth, with her l...

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“Why did you come back?” by L J

Submitted to Contest #153

She opened the door. A stranger was standing on the doorstep, yet not quite a stranger nor yet a friend. She blinked, not wanting to know if it was really him. "Hi mom. Will you let me in?" he smiled. She remembered the way his dimples appeared and the crinkle in his eyes, like he knew a good joke but wasn't going to share it. This was not a joke. "I haven't seen you in ten years. How are you...I mean. What are you...? mom asked." I mean. Why did you do this? " "Mom, I told you. I had too. I'm a woman. I always was. " "Just because ...

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