Marty B

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (103)

103 Stories

4155 karma pts

?

“Same Game, New Season” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #157

One glance and she knew it was Her, Beth’s hands clenched on the steering wheel, squeezing as if they were on Her throat. In an instance the anger and shame surged back, like it was yesterday, and her dream of strangling Her, causing Her as much pain as-     -Ba-dump!  The van tires hit the curb, the small Eiffel tower dangling from the rearview mirror swung wildly.   “OMG, I am late!”  Tabitha said, mortified. Beth’s daughter, a long and lanky 12 year old jumped out of the car, her blue soccer jerse...

6 comments 6
Read story

“The Greatest Dog in the World” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #156

Sometimes it takes meeting someone in need, before I can appreciate what I have. I learned one day that you can meet someone with more than enough, and that can work too. It was back when I got my first dog. Now I wouldn't call myself a cat person, but I did not think of myself as a dog person either. However, after my sister moved in with her asthmatic boyfriend, I got her dog, Connor, a beagle mainly, with some terrier mixed in. Connor was a poor excuse for a dog, scared of its own shadow, and had a weird habit of twisting around...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Taking Flight” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #155

-suggestion of domestic violence-Her last, fervent wish was to land on the bed of roses and crush them all.  As she soared in the air, her hat floating above the seat next to her, she looked down and saw the gorgeous roses next to the roundabout, reds and yellows, blues, purples and whites, no dead heads, no weeds and she loathed them with all her heart.A memory was launched as well, of a similar roundabout, 10 years ago and a choice to be made: take the third exit and turn off into a chance for adventure, or the fourth exit t...

0 comments 0
Read story

“A History Lesson” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #154

“You have to admit, it is a great story! Proof of a personal connection of a freed slave to US president!” “Rumblings of an old man with dementia-” “These books are over 150 years old, and first editions of President Grant’s memoirs!” Kiara said, trying to pass her optimism over to her boyfriend Terrence. “I looked them up on the internet. The dark leather editions can bring $5 to $6,000 depending on condition.  And-  with what I showed you, and the story Grandpa told me,  I think we can get 10 times that.” Kiara said.  “...

4 comments 4
Read story

“X-ray Vision” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #152

As he opened the door and turned on the lights that morning of the miracle, the dust particles glittered in the air, a sparkling portent of the day to come.  Floating and drifting, they were brighter than Bo had ever seen them. JP, another X-ray technician and Kailani, the nurse receptionist followed right behind him into the Radiology office. Bo tried to act normal while he anxiously waited for the reaction, any moment… “BO!  What the heck!” JP shouted, staring at his workstation.  Slight with a thin beard, he was the token...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Mining for Gold” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #151

Brinnng!!The shrill ringing echoed across the fairway as Bill went into his back swing. He swung through and watched his drive go straight and true down the fairway. “Damn, that worked!” Bill said, walking back to the cart in his matching branded golf shirt and pants. Older than me by 10 years he had the easy athleticism of someone 20 years younger.“That helped more than this club.” He threw his custom made Calloway driver in his bag. “I told you, sometimes, you need a distraction to break a habit. Gives you something els...

5 comments 5
Read story

“Tell-Tale Light” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #149

CW: discussion of suicide and mature themes I sensed the ghost before it tried to speak to me. Just sitting here in the living room, I felt the cold, the terror.  It has been a week now since the Procedure. I thought everything would go back to normal, but nothing will ever be the same again. The dining room chandelier seems to flicker, but only when I am near.  I know it is the ghost, and it is mad.  I don't know what the ghost wants with me.  It is not as if I had a choice.  Bam! A window slams shut.  M...

0 comments 0
Read story

“La Celda de la Muerte” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #148

Before the tent crashed in, the arguing voices had already woken him up and Juan's skin prickled with apprehension, how could he protect his sister and himself? Looking out into the bluish tint, something was new, the noise and talking outside were always loud, but the shouting voices were fighting, over what? He couldn't make it out, fear bounced around in his head like a soccer ball. Living on Broadway of the migrant Camp, there were people around their tent all hours of the day and night. He tried to fall asleep but could not get comfor...

4 comments 4
Read story

“On The Kisser” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #147

The anger growing in me feels good, my fist clenches, I am going to knock this guy into next week. My whole life I took the hits, the curses, well no more. I am Rocky, the greatest boxer who ever lived. Standing at the bar, half listening to Lori, this asshole bumped me hard, I know it was on purpose. I snap, throw my glass at the floor, the crash echoing the sound in my head.  Adrenaline and whisky course through me, the din of the crowd recedes into a bubble of silence. My blood pumping, loud and fast, while the driving guitar of ‘Eye...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Assistant Quality Control Coordinator” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #146

Johnson had never noticed how large Lourdes’ eyes were until they narrowed at him, filled with fire.  Her voice, deeper than Johnson expected, skipped over any polite discussion of ‘maybe a mistake was made’, and erupted in fury.  In the Factory break room, with an audience Lourdes didn't even notice, she described the sexual proclivities of his mother, the despicable vices of his father, the poor character of his ancestors, all in such colorful language that Tommy, the General Manager of the Factory, had no choice but to move her,...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Three Anns'” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #145

“... walking down the runway, she unzipped and dropped her flowing black cape to expose her outfit, a vinyl, deep red asymmetrical top over a white long dress- she looked like a wet, used tampon!”  The girls almost spit out their drinks laughing at Hannah's story of a runway look gone wrong.  All three women were doing their best to ignore the celebrities and glamorous fashion elite at the NY Fashion Week event happening just on the other side of the velvet ropes at the restaurant. Not able to score a ticket,  they were...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Tosca, by Puccini” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #144

Handcuffed and sitting in a red velvet chair, the suspect is bleeding from his mouth and nose, the top buttons of his white ruffled dress shirt are ripped with threads dangling, his bow tie hangs loosely around his thick neck like ratty socks.  Detective Sergeant Hope Mirabella paused her interrogation to give the suspect a chance to breathe.  She looked again at the Tosca poster on the wall. The huge, vintage opera poster pictured a woman in a white dress holding a crucifix, standing over a dead man against a blood-red background....

2 comments 2
Read story

“Future Gazing” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #143

“Damn, there is no way she can make that.”  The boy said looking up at her on the stairway landing, the light from the 2nd floor window vibrating around her. Dense bass and drums with screaming vocals was pouring out of someone’s device, adding to the chaos of the high school lunch period. Tali held her board by the truck, it dangled next to her long baggy canvas pants while she looked down the stairs stretching into the first floor hallway. Her arms, lean and dark, looked extra long against her white tank top. The crowd coming from t...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Library Of People” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #142

Under the ‘Ask a Librarian!‘ sign, Emily smiles warmly to Elgin. “We bring them to you,  I understand your confusion, but we are not that kind of Library, trust me.  I am your Librarian and I will find just the right Book for you.”  Several strands of her frizzy black hair pop out of her bun, and the pen behind her ear moves along with her understanding nod. She points to a chair,  “Please sit down.  Tell me what you are looking for?”  Unclear on how his simple question, ‘where are the books?’ has not been ...

7 comments 7
Read story

“The Gray Lady” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #141

Lizzie had no one else to talk to about the Gray Lady, except Mildred, the Inn’s housekeeper.   “She’s generally benign, as ghosts go, I mean she does have that odor, and makes strange noises, but she is driving out all the guests! The Inn is not going to make it past summer if we don’t get better reviews, and more guests”  “Something changed when you showed up, dear, she’s more active." Mildred said.  “I have even seen her walking around more.”  “What do you think keeps her here, I mean not passing on?” Lizzie asked...

0 comments 0
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 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