Maureen MacLennan

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2020

Stories (17)

17 Stories

322 karma pts

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“Imagination can be tiring” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #266

Imagination can be tiringDeirdre strolled confidently down Ash Street, turned a corner at Haight, stopped and waited. She’d been down this road several times before, twice the street signs changed names, and more than once, so had she. So far, she’d been a Heather and a Joy, the author finally settled on Deirdre. She felt a subtle push, so continued down Haight. Her thoughts turned to the date ahead with David, nope that was the last alternative, this was Graham. She daydreamed about his blue eyes, and black curls and hoped they’d stayed tha...

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“Harry Hears All” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #203

Harry Hears All The earlier morning haze that defined Miami had broken up leaving a hot pavement and wilting pedestrians. Harry saw it all from his perch on the two-foot squared cement doorstep. He’d been residing there for a while now and found that it was a prime people-watching site. He glanced down the street, then up at the sun, shielding his dark rheumy eyes from the glare. His world was all about sensation now, his ears, nose and eyes picked up clues about people that he hadn’t noticed when he was still working. He’d lost his wife to...

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“Family Picture” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #186

Family Picture “I don’t want to listen to this anymore Jack,  it’s ridiculous.” “Come on mom, you haven’t even heard the whole idea, we’re still working on the details but  It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” “It will be once in your lifetime if you die! Open the door for me will you and take one of these bags. I don’t understand the point of having children if they can’t even help their aging mother once in a while.” “You’re being ridiculous mother, you don’t just have kids so that they can open doors for you when they g...

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“From Prison To A Barn” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #175

From Prison To A Barn The echo of crunching snow under his boots irritated his ears and he found it odd, it was nature after all why after all the things his ears had picked up in the last decade would the sound of his boots on frozen water be the sound that annoyed him? After brushing it off, he sat on a short bench outside the public library. He was almost an hour early but his apartment bordered on petite in size and was claustrophobic for longer than two hours at a stretch. His gloved hand cradled the fast-food coffee cup, he’d bought...

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“Karma” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #174

 Karma Ivy could feel the waistband of her nylons digging into her stomach and it was all she could think about. So, every time the waiter came by with a tray of nibblies she would be tempted but then change her mind, her pudgy hand hovering over a mini sausage roll before retreating once again. She sipped on her soda and lime wishing to the good lord above that it had a double shot of vodka in it. Her eyes scanned the crowd and with each gray or bald head they landed on she wondered again what she was doing here. Tapping her feet to ...

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“What Wus Witnessed” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #169

  What Wus Witnessed The weather was cooling, he could feel the chill through the window over the sink, the light too was changing it no longer made his steel shine when the sun shone on him. His full name was Wusthof Classic (TM) but his friends called him Wus, at least to his face. He was created in Germany but only when he was in use could you truly appreciate his eight inches of superiority. He’d been spending most of his time lately standing at attention on the magnetized knife shelf with his siblings...

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“Satisfaction Seminar” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #163

Satisfaction Seminar Professor Hannah Riley scanned the crowd as they milled into the auditorium, after a decade of teaching at the university she could spot a first-year pack in seconds. It was October so she knew that they’d been on campus for over a month but the evidence was still in their lost expressions, the backpacks full of paper, extra pens, and textbooks. She knew from teaching at all levels that by the time they hit the third year their whole outlook would change. They’d saunter in with just a notebook or would record the lectu...

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“Icarus” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #161

Warning: one expletive.  Icarus “Good morning Mr. Dolion, and welcome. Anything you need?” Chris grinned charmingly at the flight attendant. She was a regular and knew he didn’t enjoy flying. “I’m fine Brenda, boggles me that I can be twenty-seven, but still panicky every time I fly.” He turned to walk the short aisle to the first-class seat set up for him.  After the jet took off and swung towards the Los Angeles sunshine he opened his cell, clicked on an email, and read the speech his PA had written for him the day before. T...

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“Night Fire” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #148

Night Fire The memory of the acrid smoke seemed to hang in the March air, and the sounds of that night lingered in my heart. It was nearly impossible for me to still hear or smell either, I knew that. A mind has its own recall though. My ears picked up the slowing of tires on the tarmac behind my post. Everyone who called themselves human was drawn in by misfortune, a fact of life on this planet. If it was on the news you’d shake your head sadly, your finger hovering on the remote. If it was in your neighborhood you could grab some frien...

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“A Letter from the Pool House” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #146

 A Letter from the Pool House                                    Lilies sent their perfume from the yard next door and it was distracting to say the least. The last time I’d  been subjected to those particular flowers was at dad’s funeral. The oppressive melancholy perfume was a tad lighter out in the garden but it was still a type of hit. I’d just moved in two w...

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“Millennium Mindfulness ” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #146

 Millennium Mindfulness First thing I notice on entry are the signs everywhere instructing people on what do to and where to go, and no one pays any notice. Question marks hang in the fetid air of the station, ‘where does the train leave from and what station do I need to get off at? Is there a map somewhere?’ There are maps everywhere by the way but pointing it out is not my job. I don’t work here, I don’t even live in the city but I’ve been here enough to know, you have to look up. In this city, well hell in any city now there’s ...

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“Peasant Style” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #145

Peasant Style  Packing her clothes was the last thing she had to do before leaving. Vail had been her home for years but with their recent divorce and Martin working at the same lodge, it was time to leave. The large maroon bag was zipped and hauled onto the floor, ready to be rolled out into the tiny kitchen. The house they’d shared was only a rental, the pile of ski’s, poles, and pieces of clothing she couldn’t fit in her luggage was just stuff. Her job as a ski instructor was cliché for a Colorado girl, but she’d loved it. Growing up...

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“Wanted: Notoriety” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #141

Wanted: Notoriety Munching on a slice of bagel with her left hand, her right hand clicked on the mouse until finding her submitted piece in the contest section. She wasn’t really expecting glowing feedback in this case, but one never knew. She’d had a couple bad appraisals in the past and it had taken her some time and mental strength to move past them, it was time to see if she’d been successful.  She understood that her grammar and punctuation needed work that she wasn’t ‘all that’ as a writer. It had also been pointed out to he...

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“The Long First Day” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #138

The Long First Day Her body was still, standing at the floor to ceiling window and though her gaze appeared to be aimed at the sights outside, there was only her own reflection. It was dark on the lake, hell it was dark everywhere nowadays she mused. She had no work in the morning, those days were done, but there were duties that required a refreshed body and mind. Her head turned to see the clock, nearly ten and she wasn’t tired enough for bed. Her heart ached for rest though, it wanted to not be beating for awhile, if that were possible...

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“Denny's Downfall” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #136

Denny's Downfall Denny scrunched down so she wouldn’t see him sitting in the car. He’d borrowed it from his mate Matthew and she’d likely not notice him but he didn’t want to take any chances. It’s not like he was officially warned against seeing her; it was her and not the courts setting the parameters here. They’d been a young couple in love not that long ago to his mind anyway. She’d argued that and told him two weeks ago that his reality, and the schemes his brain came up with were beyond comprehension. He really hated when she used b...

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Author bio

Living a retired life on the West Coast of Canada. Married for over 20 years, no kids but lots of great family memories. I worked in social services, and now I'm just reading and writing my stuff, not reports!