Marty B

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (71)

71 Stories

2553 karma pts

?

“A Day on the River” by Marty B

From the edge of her vision, Julie saw a flash of yellow, a blur of rocks. The little boy giggled as his feet slipped, splashing into the raging river. Loosened leaves and dirt caught in the current, flew like clouds before a storm, then gone.Julie yanked him up by his shirt, “Billy, watch yourself!” Her heart raced, pounding a drumbeat of what could have been. Just five years old, he laughed, kicked his feet, thinking he was indestructible. The rapids of the American river roared wild, white foam horses t...

6 comments 6
Read story

“The Court House” by Marty B

Almost 8:30 AM, it was just before court would begin when his dead client, Mr. Black showed up to talk.Benny knew the consequences for being late, so was short with him.“Why are you here now?” He spoke in a hushed tone to the apparition in front of him, glancing around as the Alameda County Court room began to fill up. It would ruin his reputation as the best Public Defender in the County if people thought he spoke to ghosts.  Mr. Black’s gray suit, the one he used to always wear, appea...

16 comments 16
Read story

“Anand's Lamp” by Marty B

Anand knew the snake wanted to eat him, even if his mother said it only ate the cats and dogs scurrying over the trash pile. Anand held up one open hand, and then a single finger on the other, examining the years of his life in nicked and dirty scars. His family was Dalit, the untouchables, only suited to garbage collection, or cleaning toilets, as anything they touched turned to trash. He wanted to get to two full hands, and then he could join the men picking up the trash in town and not battle again...

31 comments 31 SHORTLIST ⭐️
Read story

“Tap Dancing” by Marty B

warning: languageOf course in hindsight, she should not have told her boss to go to hell, but damn it felt good. Alicia kicked the door of her apartment open, slamming it into the wall before it rebounded against the cardboard box of detritus from her office desk. The box collapsed onto her, spilling the office supplies, pictures and files on to the floor of her tiny one room apartment. She kicked the logo’d coffee mug from her ex-company toward the kitchen, and left the rest, doing several quic...

11 comments 11
Read story

“Cafe Veritas” by Marty B

Grandma Bobbie’s unassuming old, wrinkled hands squeezed Amelia’s hand once, then twice to bring her back to reality. Amelia’s attention turned back to the small woman across from her at the Café table. “Thanks for coming to see me at work, Grandma.” One of Amelia’s legs bobbed rapidly over her crossed legs.   An attractive old lady, short and thin, with pink cheeks and light brown eyes, Grandma Bobbie had an easy smile and a gentle manner. “Oh I love to see you...

11 comments 11
Read story

“Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing” by Marty B

The sound increased in volume each time someone opened the glass door of Joe’s Diner, a cacophonous emphasis to Lois that she had to make a decision. Does she choose the fate of her life, or of the entire planet? She gritted her teeth, and kept working, her small frame flitting between the tables of the small Diner as a hummingbird dips from flower to flower.  The notes which make up the song of history a...

27 comments 27
Read story

“Show and Tell ” by Marty B

Tuesday is my day for drop off, and I was already running late when I rang the doorbell to pick up Janey. We needed to move fast so she could get to school on time, and I could make my 9 AM meeting. I am firm with her, I don’t want her to think she could slack off just because I don’t live with her anymore. And for me, being on time is important. Janey did not like rushing, and was not in a good mood when she climbed into the back seat. Her eyes went wide when I told her I was visiting her classroom later that day. She...

25 comments 25
Read story

“The Bake Sale” by Marty B

“I think they should have a card, or a sign, you know.” Lois said. “A brooch maybe, those men might even like it, a dash of color!”Jane giggled nervously along with the other woman working in the back kitchen of River Oaks Baptist church.“We need to know, to keep ourselves safe.” Lois continued.“It's God's hand, punishing that immoral behavior. It's as plain as day.” Barbara said, unwrapping a large chocolate sheet cake. “Don’t you agree Jane?”“Did you wash your hands Barbara?” J...

15 comments 15
Read story

“A Special Friend” by Marty B

Killing off his friend, Sam realized, was going to be harder than he thought. He knew it was time, he could not put it off any longer. He had to ‘rip off the band-aid,’ as Dr. Tong said.  Sam sat in the car, waiting, trying to get up the nerve. He touched the heavy metal gun in his pocket again. Could he really do this? Patricia had stayed behind, in his old neighborhood, while Sam left for college and the big City. But they had stayed connected, talking often, even as Patricia ...

10 comments 10
Read story

“The Wildlife of LA” by Marty B

It was a gorgeous day to be discovered in Hollywood. The road was filled with luxury cars, the shops with glamorous, beautiful people, and the sunshine followed her like a spotlight.Maggie had on her best Spanx jumpsuit, the drawstring cinched tight, with flared pantlegs, and color coordinated Vans hightops. In mauve brown, it offset her raven black hair, and matched her eyes, sparkling under the Eric Javits wide brimmed hat. She felt good and knew she looked good. She s...

9 comments 9
Read story

“Beast in the Jungle” by Marty B

Violent subject matter: death She saw the Beast, finally, saw the terror she had feared her whole life, and it was worse than she ever imagined.    That night had started out simple enough,  like so many before.  Abbey had parked her car in the vast garage, back in the darkness of the employee section. She was wearing the light blue scrubs of her profession, clean and pressed.  As she walk...

21 comments 21
Read story

“Click” by Marty B

A good photograph tells the truth, but slant, a trick of light and shadow, at times telling what could be or, could have been. Cory scuffled at the envelope, his thick fingers unable to release the simple tabs tucked into the slots, until he gave up and ripped it open. Once a professional photographer, he knew the power of photographs, and still in his suit jacket and dress shirt sat down at his kitchen table, anxious to see what was on these photos. Did his son Ethan take the pictures?&n...

20 comments 20
Read story

“Good Yards Make Good Neighbors” by Marty B

It was the the hottest day of the year when the old man came over to mow my lawn. It was not the first time. Bing was our neighbor, a small elderly man with dark gray hair and a ready smile. He would not say his age, but his heavily wrinkled face and stooped back gave credence to the rumor he was in his 80’s. He walked the neighborhood every day with his fat chihuahua, Bijou. He knew everyone’s business, and regularly checked-in on the home- bound seniors, many of whom were younger than him. Bing had lived on the stree...

16 comments 16
Read story

“The Pigovian Payment” by Marty B

“Let me tell you how I got this flower." I rubbed my lapel with the white rose boutonniere and stared across the hard wood surface at the man in the bowtie, his gaze stern and expressionless."OK, Let me start at the beginning-"I smelled her outside the door before she ever knocked, aromas of spring flowers, lavender, and crisp $100 dollar bills.It was 11 AM and the sun was streaming through the dust floating in my cramped office. Coffee thick as tar slowly steamed next to me. I was wearing my pow...

20 comments 20
Read story

“Friendship is Magic” by Marty B

Sonam knew the rainbow sparkle glitter would be important, he just didn't know how.He put the small jar in his bag to add to his costume later. He looked at himself critically in the mirror. For a man dressed up like a cartoon pegasus, he thought he looked good. To the light-blue pajama onesie he had added a rainbow-colored mohawk, a rainbow tail and gossamer wings, slightly off center. He spun slightly to look at the cutie mark, the rainbow colored lighting bolt. The costume was tight across his wide chest, and bagg...

20 comments 20
Read story

Author bio

It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there. Asphodel, That Greeny Flower [excerpt]   by William Carlos Williams

Winning 1 story 🏆

Contest #161
Long Distance Phone Call – read story

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #213
Anand's Lamp – read story