Marty B

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (103)

103 Stories

4155 karma pts

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“The Blue Horizon” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #240

Christian Jones felt a breeze on his arm and almost jumped out of his skin.Was it a dream? He rubbed his shoulder against his cheek, and felt the dry sandpaper of a five-day stubble, skin burnt by the sun. The deep blue ocean surrounding their small boat had been playing tricks with his mind, mirages of land, and what did those looks from Rafe mean?Again, a gentle movement on his skin, and he leapt up.“Rafe! Captain Rafe, a breeze!” Christian turned to look at the mainsail, eager for it to fill with wind, to pull them out of the ho...

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“The Cajun Cafe” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #239

Chef Tyla straightened the last chair on the beautifully decorated patio, huge palm plants surrounding brightly colored tables, fairy lights glittering, glasses and silverware set just so, ready for the guests coming that evening. “Everything looks perfect!” She said to Elbie standing next to her in his white apron.  “With the money I’m going to make tonight, I just might make it." She looked around at her restaurant, what she stressed about, sweated over, fought for, during the past five years, all on her own.  If everything wen...

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“The Writers Workshop At Lake Manitoba ” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #238

 A grin exploded across his face as Harold Jones walked through the rows of desks to the front of the class to receive his award for the best story of the day.  He could be a great writer, knew he had amazing stories stacked up inside him like shelves in a library, but just couldn’t get them them.  He had always known this Writers retreat, held at the historic Arts Building at the University of Manitoba, would be the key to unlocking his success, and he finally was on his way. The writers gave up technology to create stories...

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“Amigurumi” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #237

The spindly shop reached up through the Lego block office buildings and crawling freeway ramps as if reaching for the sun, to escape from the street below. The plate glass front looked out with sad eyes on what had become of its home, doing all it could to grip the ground, to hang on and not be sucked up by the great maw of progress. This little building, a colorful grandma, held tight, though the rest of its neighboring shops had left, away from the dark shadows, and detritus of the street below.When it had been planted into this ferti...

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“In Memoriam” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #236

***themes of violence***Ron’s knee bounced up and down, banging against the small antique desk over and over. The once orderly desk had papers torn and disheveled, drawers yawning open as if screaming at the assault.'What's that noise, is someone at the door?”  The small voice behind Ron added to his impatience.“No Ma, it's just Dad’s stupid desk. God, what’s the last time you logged into this thing?”He looked again at the ancient computer, reloading software updates to the current decade.  The hourglass graphic mock...

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“Cuando el Sol Sale Ror el Oeste” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #232

It was the last day of our summer break, and it was expected that the world would end.“Today is the day, but I don’t know when...“ Anna said, her hand shielding her eyes against the bright, midday sun sparkling off the blue ocean waves. Me and my cousins, Anna and Miguel had been on the beach, playing cards on towels on our last morning, maybe ever. A solar eclipse had been forecasted for sometime that afternoon. A rumor had spread widely that this year, in the complete darkness of the total eclipse, natural disasters would en...

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“Seeds of Gold” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #231

“There is a hole in his stomach, I think that is where the money goes.” Chico said to the other small boys kicking stones in the alley outside the dingy Public House.  Like Chico, only 5, or 6 years old, the other boys nodded, sensing the truth. They had all known despair, watching their own fathers lose themselves, pouring golden, liquid drinks down their throats. Many of the boys had been sent by their mothers to the Public House to get their fathers to remember they had a family at all, to encourage them to return before all the mo...

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“Schooner Racing the Storm” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #230

The rain rumbled against the glass in the hospital room.The spare, small room smelled of disinfectant and dust. The crisp white sheets shone bright against the yellow curtains and peeling trim. Sara Ann saw the concerned look of an elderly nurse, tilting her head at her as the door closed. She took off her rain soaked jacket, and looking around found a hook behind the door to hang it on, before turning to finally acknowledge the figure on the bed.A pale gaunt man, hair thinning and gray, lay still, only his arms uncovered by the sh...

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“The Gingerbread House” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #229

Having lost her own house, Mylee knew exactly what she wanted in this one, though being ten, she didn't quite have the words for it. She added a chimney for her fireplace, and then squeezed icing in hopeful, repeating swirls across the roof.Of course, kitchens and bathrooms were important, but for Mylee, the Hideout Closet, the Secret Attic door, and the Comfy Corner were absolute priorities. She needed places where she could escape and be alone. Staying at her Uncle’s apartment, crowded now with two families and a cat in just two ...

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“The Spread” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #228

“Tell me, how do you think I ended up here, in prison?” Lourdes leaned against the heavy metal door, muffled voices echoed from the hall outside; shouting, laughing and cursing. Lourdes wore a clean and pressed inmate uniform, her white tennis shoes glowed white. She pushed her thick framed glasses tight against her face with a knuckle. Gloria sat on the bunk, her attention on her wine red nails, picking invisible fluff off her bed, anything to not look at Lourdes. Her few possessions, still lay crumpled in a pile on...

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“Farmhouse Dinner” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #227

Christina wondered how long she should wait before she reported her husband missing. Two days seemed too soon, but a week too long. Who would take a whole week to notice their husband missing? She held her hot cocoa in both hands, sipping it slowly as she watched the gentle flakes drifting through the pine trees. The first cold snap of the season had come with several inches of snow, and it covered the ground in a white, soft blanket.  She loved being alone in her kitchen, and had spent the morning rearranging her utensils, th...

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“Scape Goat” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #226

“Marcus, What if we host Thanksgiving at our house this year?” Marina asked, her voice soft. I squinted my eyes, looking for the catch, but my wife’s wide smile seemed to have good intentions, for once. Marina, my beautiful over-achieving wife, knew I couldn’t stand her family. After the disaster last year I never wanted to see them again. Hosting her family could only be a disaster. But, this dinner could give us a reason to work together, instead of drifting apart. Lately we barely speak, Marina blamed me for the cold drafts...

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“Galerie des Glaces” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #225

**** themes of violence *****1681, Versaille, France.Maestro La Motta saw his dead father walking toward him through the arched alcove, and pure terror washed through him. Had his Father has come across the world to haunt him, to torment him for destroying his legacy? Workmen’s voices shouted in French and in German outside the open windows of the long hallway. When he heard the vibrant tones of his own language, Venetian, La Motta looked out to see his two apprentices, the only people he could still trust in this foreign city.&nbs...

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“Live at the Five Spot” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #224

Ethan assumed he dreamt the jazz club and the beautiful woman, until he saw the revolver on the floor of the basement. He looked down at his hand, his knuckles scraped and raw, and smiled.       It had all started because of the damn gray wall. Earlier that morning, he had stood at the edge of the basement, blinking the sleep away. Four hours only made it worse somehow, his body craved rest. The basement, cluttered with scraps of metal and wood, stank of damp mold, bringing back memories of high school...

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“Super Nova” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #223

“This is your assignment, just get it done.”  Jennifer, Assistant Editor of the City on The Hill newspaper kept her eyes glued to the computer monitor as she typed. “If I cared about these human interest stories- I would be working at, Santa Cruz Style Magazine, or High Times!”  Rosie Bear, newly promoted Investigative Journalist, clenched her fists as her face turned red. “I’m going to be a real reporter, that’s why I’m here.”  The stacked books and papers surrounding her in her Boss’ cramped office began closing in, making...

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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 Copyright © 2023 Marty B - All Rights Reserved. Using content without written permission is prohibited.

Winning 1 story 🏆

Contest #161
Long Distance Phone Call – read story

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #213
Anand's Lamp – read story