Linda Hallstrom

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2019

Stories (3)

3 Stories

51 karma pts

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“Countdown to New Year's” by Linda Hallstrom

Submitted to Contest #22

Driving in South Dakota in the winter is always a gamble.Lisa thought about that as she walked across the apartment parking lot to her garage. She planned to beat the grocery crowd by getting to the store before 8:30 in the morning.On that morning the apartment parking lot was free from ice. Grains of sand dotted the main entry steps and the lot itself. But whatever snow and ice the sand had been intended to eliminate was gone. The pavement was dry.Lisa’s hometown had already suffered through a couple of December snowstorms but now all trace...

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“Loosening Marley's chains” by Linda Hallstrom

Submitted to Contest #21

J.E. Marley had been angry for 70 years – ever since he realized that his mother had named him after two characters in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Jacob Ebenezer Marley. The chain-bound ghost and the bitter old man.Jacob rarely let anyone know his given name, being careful to list himself always and only as “J.E.” But, somehow, the opening scenes of A Christmas Carol infused his character. Even in grade school, he appeared sullen and unfriendly.Raised by a single mother, he was frequently home alone, left to carry out adult tasks.A care...

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“Jesus, tetherball, and Spot” by Linda Hallstrom

Submitted to Contest #20

Edith Glimshire was afraid of Jesus and Lily couldn’t understand why. At her church, Edith said, Jesus was mad at everybody and planned to send all of them to hell. That’s what the minister said anyway. Jesus was more mild-mannered at Lily’s church. He mostly wanted people to recite his prayer every week, sing hymns about the old rugged cross, and try not to trespass until the next week. Lily was sure that Jesus followed her family home after church to hover over the roast beef and listen to Lily recite the table prayer with her mo...

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Author bio

I have loved writing since I won a classroom essay contest in the fourth grade. The prize was a pencil case. I spent most of my career in journalism and wrote a biweekly newspaper column for 29 years. In retirement I am enjoying writing poetry and short stories.