Marty B

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (103)

103 Stories

4157 karma pts

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“The Birdcage” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #219

****discussion of domestic abuse****The formica table stood tight on thin chrome legs in the small space under the window overlooking the 18th Arrondissement of Paris. The rain beat against the window, while the cold air leaking through battled the heat from the wall furnace. I paused in the middle of the kitchen, the spot where the two temperatures balanced out, before continuing to the table. My boy Amir, just six months old, began to cry and squirm in my arms reaching for his grandfather, Nasir.“No, stay with me Amir. Your Grand...

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“Johnnie Walker, Blue ” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #218

-mention of alcoholism- Death poured out of the blue labeled whisky bottle. The fragrant peat smell of the tawny liquid triggered Oshea, his hand clenched as if grasping for a drink himself. The musky scent promised a release, the calming and letting go he had leaned on for so many years. His body wanted it, shoulders relaxed at the redolent tang, expecting it.No, he rubbed his hand over his bald head, he was on the job. Oshea looked around the small back room of the Oaks Card Club. A thick haze of cigarettes hung in...

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“A Day on the River” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #216

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 thrashing just below h...

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“The Court House” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #215

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, appeared now to fit him well, his cuffs were no lon...

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“Anand's Lamp” by Marty B

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #213

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 against the snake for its ...

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“Tap Dancing” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #212

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 quick Samba steps to avoid slipping on th...

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“Cafe Veritas” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #211

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 Amelia, no matter where it is! And I haven't ...

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“Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #210

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 are played on the instruments of prejudice and fear.  Lois knew this, had lived it as a brown-skinned woman in snow-white Idaho,...

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“Show and Tell ” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #206

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 sh...

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“The Bake Sale” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #206

“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?” Jane said as she focused on removing the saran wrap on...

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“A Special Friend” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #202

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 became more and more needy. For all her...

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“The Wildlife of LA” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #199

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 strolled in front of shop after shop of high end retail ar...

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“Beast in the Jungle” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #197

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 walked through to the office her steps echoed in the concrete ‘Jungle’, as the officers called this dark cement landscape, wire...

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“Click” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #196

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? Maybe, when he was younger, before…...

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“Good Yards Make Good Neighbors” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #193

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 street f...

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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