Michael Jefferson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2022

Stories (92)

92 Stories

1729 karma pts

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“Things is Gonna Even Out In the End” by Michael Jefferson

Carlo Rovino softly moans to himself when the movers drop the last box containing his mother’s belongings. Sifting through the boxes, Carlo comes across a bundle of yellowing envelopes stamped Return to Sender. His mother, quiet, close-lipped, and diligent, had been better known for filling out police reports than emulating Emily Dickinson. Her most recent letter, written two days before her death, com...

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“The Good Thing About Living in Pleasantville is You’re Never Really Dead” by Michael Jefferson

Ainsely Verloren politely shakes the hand of another stranger, who quietly utters, “Sorry for your loss.” “I didn’t know Missy had made so many friends,” Ainsely says to Cutter Klein, one of his few acquaintances. Judging by the turnout, most of the 428 residents in Pleasantville, Iowa, have come to pay their respects. “While you were designing houses, Missy was helping out at the bake sale, volu...

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“Repro” by Michael Jefferson

Roman Hand waves at his neighbors, who are quietly heading inside after an entertaining night out. Smiling politely, Ricky and Lucy Ricardo wave back. Sliding into the passenger seat of the Repro Services van, Roman says, “That never stops being weird.” “Are they bad neighbors?” Fletcher Fixx asks. Fletcher smiles at Roman. They’ve been partners for five years and have a loose, friendly ...

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“If Opinions Were Dollars, Rockefeller Would Envy You” by Michael Jefferson

Francisco Bonilla laughs to himself when he sees Grady Quaid’s landscaping truck pull into the gas station’s parking lot. It’s Sunday, which means Francisco will have the company of a quartet of four opinionated sixty-year-old men to entertain him during his shift. Wiry, with a caterpillar mustache, gentle brown eyes, and ruddy but pleasant features, forty-two-year-old Francisco has worked at the Cumber...

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“Take Me Out of This Ballgame” by Michael Jefferson

Three curious teenagers sit on a hill above the baseball field watching Jovanny “Jumbo” Rotelli lumber around the bases. “It’s ninety-eight degrees and he’s been running wind sprints for the past half hour,” Aiden Burke comments. “When we beat Jumbo’s team, Mr. Rotelli is going to wonder why his son was gassed after three innings.” Pushing her glasses up off the end of her nose, Polly Progreski gives Aid...

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“Skeffingtown” by Michael Jefferson

“Cut!” director Carlo Romeo yells as Cosmo Skeffington wallops Monty Mulhare with a knee-buckling slap across his cheek. “Hey, what the hell was that?” Monty protests, rubbing his throbbing cheek. “We have to make it look good, don’t we?” “Yeah, but you don’t have to enjoy it so much.” “Three’s A Crowd,” a top ten comedy in its second season, centers around three men in their sixties who ...

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“Cheddar” by Michael Jefferson

The last person Nelson Donovan expected to see at the airport was Carol Austin. Carol still has her dimpled smile, freckled features, and hourglass figure. The girl holding her hand is her mini-carbon copy. Carol sighs with regret. Ten years have passed, but Nelson still has his striking good looks and athletic body. “What brings you here?” Nelson asks. “Gary Banks. I’ve been dreaming abo...

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“You’ll Want to Stay Away From the Spare Ribs” by Michael Jefferson

“I didn’t know I even had an Uncle Viktor, much less an uncle who was a national hero.” “He’s from the old country, and we seldom speak of LaRocca,” Pavel Pushkin replies. “No, you never speak about the old country. What’s it like?” Misha’s father gives him a loving but patronizing smile, saying, “Not exactly a playground for the Kardashians.” “From what your father has told me, ...

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“Dirty Dan” by Michael Jefferson

Buckeye, Arizona 1888 Dan Dobler slithers down Main Street spitting tobacco juice, his blind, milky left eye enhancing his threatening personality. Dobler’s poverty-stricken appearance and penchant for violence have earned him the nickname “Dirty Dan.” Townspeople find it hard to believe that the twenty-six-year-old Dobler is heir to Calvin “King” Coleman’s “King’s Ransom...

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“I Was Gonna Offer You a Brewski, But I see You’re Covered” by Michael Jefferson

Her hand shaking as she wipes the tears away from her rosy cheeks, Modesty Naylor, soda mogul Percival Warren Naylor’s shapely twenty-seven-year-old widow, leans against her mother Empress for comfort. Modesty’s babyish lisp endears her to the reporters and photographers gathered by her Olympic pool to interview her. “I wuved him. I weally did. But people wouldn’t wet me.” Embarrassed by the cutting head...

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“You Killed My Daddy” by Michael Jefferson

Casper, Wyoming 1891 Buck Brumley takes a long pull off his whiskey glass. “I wanted to run away, but I didn’t have any money, so I’d stay anywhere folks in town would let me. After a few days, I’d go home and face my daddy’s wrath. One time, Cade caught me sleepin’ in his brother’s livery stable. Despite him bein’ well off and educated, and me bein’ poor and stupid, we hit it of...

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“And You Have to Pay for the Elephant Too” by Michael Jefferson

London Langtree continues to twist the tuning pegs on his guitar, a task he began over an hour ago. As if to excuse his obsession, the frail, blonde-haired musical genius smiles boyishly at his bandmates. Axel Welch, Rails Rainsford, and Steady Eddie Evans glance nervously at each other as the rumble from the impatient crowd thunders in the background. “Gimme that!” Axel, Mystic Touch’s husky, short-temp...

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“Death Cab Confessions” by Michael Jefferson

The first thing Cliff Farren notices about the Director’s office is that everything is pure and blinding white. Looking at Margana, the Director of R.R. (Reprobate Renewal), Cliff’s thoughts turn less than pure. A striking beauty with platinum blond hair, Margana’s wide brown eyes cast a doubtful look at him. “When I was told I’d be seeing the Director, I was expecting some scrawny librarian with a hunc...

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“The Guardians of Yin and Yang” by Michael Jefferson

“Slow down,” Burton Bradshaw says, watching Matt Omar down his third vodka tonic. “Just getting my shore legs back.” “You think so?” the suave English bartender says. “Another one of those and you won’t be able to feel your legs. I think it’s odd that you work on a ship with unlimited booze- which you never touch - then you come here to drink like a fish.” “Maybe I like the company bette...

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“Bouncin’ Benny and the Bonehead” by Michael Jefferson

Bouncin’ Benny, the kingdom’s testy enchanted crow, caws, laughing. His mocking laughter echoes throughout Baldor the magician’s extravagant living quarters. “So, this is the kid you think can turn back the rebel army?” Chip, Baldor the magician’s seventeen-year-old apprentice, smiles meekly, his reed-thin body, freckles, and crippling shyness making him appear even younger. “Yes, he’s the one,” ...

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Author bio

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