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Mary-Claire Hanlon

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2020

Stories (5)

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19 Followers

13 Following

5 Stories

127 karma pts

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With a Catch

Mary-Claire Hanlon

Submitted to Contest #72

Viv was a city girl, living in a fast-paced world. She worked hard, went partying most nights, and (truth be told) she’d go home with just about anybody. She lived her life like there was no tomorrow. To call her a hedonist, would be understating it just a bit. She’d plan her holidays months in advance, so she could do as much in, and get as much out of, the time she spent away. If she was going to fly, it was business class. The sooner she got to her destination, the more she could pack in to her break. And it wouldn’t hurt if she met som...

5 likes

The Emperor of Our Nation

Mary-Claire Hanlon

Submitted to Contest #64

“Jack, can you imagine if we had Twitter in our day?”“I know, Bobby. The civil rights movement would have happened a lot faster.”“What about in your day, Abe?”“I dare say, young Bobby, the war could have gone very differently.”Jim and Billy entered the room, our favourite to get together and spook the staff when they worked late for the sitting president. “I wonder how many conspiracy theories would have surfaced if we had Twitter back in our day,” said Jim, referring to the stories about my brother’s murder.“He, he. Fake news!” It was Billy...

12 likes

The Velvet Portal - Part 2 - Flames and Fire

Mary-Claire Hanlon

Submitted to Contest #64

After the great bushfires of 2020, I spent a lot of time just trying to recover. I didn't have the energy to rebuild my home. I didn't even have the energy to fill in the insurance claim forms and take photos to add to them. Thank God my sisters were there to help me. One had come over from New Zealand as soon as she heard there were fires in my area; she just drove straight to Auckland and got on the first plane here. The other set up her spare bedroom, so I could live with her when I was discharged from hospital.Sometimes, it took all I ha...

14 likes

Into the flames, for you .. - Part 3 - Flames and Fire

Mary-Claire Hanlon

Submitted to Contest #64

On a normal day, you would hear the birds chirping. This was not a normal day. On a normal day, you would smell the scent of the Christmas bush, softly hinting of honey and buzzing wildly with bees. This was not a normal day. Today, the birds were quiet; the air, heavy with soot. The cracking of tree-limbs, as they broke under the pressure of fire and cloud, was deafening. This was definitely not a normal day.In a fire, we’re taught from an early age, to “Get down low, and go, go, go”, because that’s the safest place to breathe. There are no...

10 likes

Fire Family - Part 1 - Flames and Fire

Mary-Claire Hanlon

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The bark on the trees was starting to singe, and the earth was so hot that I thought I wouldn’t make it. I could hear the cracks; some loud, like branches were about to break and fall; some softer, as the trees began to release their seeds. The small brush-tailed rock wallaby that was panting near my home, was obviously distressed. I needed to get to her with a damp blanket, and try to pick her up. Then I had to get the hell out of here. I had gone home as soon as I heard the news abo...

12 likes