Murray Burns

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (35)

35 Stories

850 karma pts

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“Arachnophobia Comes To Cleveland” by Murray Burns

Arachnophobia Comes to ClevelandThey promised Billy a pet when they dragged him away from his friends in Omaha.“You are going to love it in Cleveland. They’ve got the Browns, the Indians and a Great Lake. And we’ll have our own house. You’ll have your own room, and you can have that pet you’ve always wanted.”“What’s so great about the lake?”Moving is tough on an eight year old kid. The pet idea was just one of the many carrots Fred came ...

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“What For?” by Murray Burns

What For?“I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me cry.”-Charlie Chaplin1963. Freshman year in high school. Spanish class. I never met him, but I will remember him forever.A foreign language seemed like a good idea. Besides that, my mother insisted on it. Spanish sounded easier than Latin, so I was dazzling my friends with “cómo estás” before day’s end.

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“Herb and Mr. Reaper” by Murray Burns

Herb and Mr. Reaper“Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.”-Muhammed AliHerb wished the end had come during the football season. He had little interest in the baseball games on TV, the news was always bad, he found little merit in today’s sitcoms, and he had seen his old favorites so many times he could predict nearly every line. H...

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“Herb's Big Dinner Date” by Murray Burns

Herb’s Big Dinner Date“Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.”-Mark TwainWhat’s in a word? Herb was about to find out.                                   &nb...

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“The Gift” by Murray Burns

The Gift“Remember, Tommy, thumbs together. You catch with your hands, not your body.”Legacy. It’s only natural. Kids often follow in the footsteps of their parents, from Bushes in the White House to Sanford and Son in the junk yard. Maybe it’s the planting of seeds of interest, or readily available instruction, or perhaps a desire to please. Sometimes it might just be a good shove.“You should probably get yourself up to the field t...

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“Oasis in the Sky” by Murray Burns

Oasis in the Sky(Perhaps a bit crude in places.) Two-a-days. The dreaded curse of any young man who ever squeezed a football helmet down over his ears, high school through the pros. It’s hard work, the bone shaking “hamburger” drills, the mind-numbing repetition, the harsh scoldings for a misplaced footstep, and …the heat.It’s like trying to explain parenthood to someone who never had children. If you haven’t spent two hours in the hot sun in full f...

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“Stamps” by Murray Burns

Stamps­­The sight was disturbing, overwhelming. Matt froze in his tracks, shaken by the scene before him. His first thought was that he would somehow die in this awful place. He didn’t know how he would die, but he knew he couldn’t survive it. The moment foretold an inglorious end to what had once been a pretty good life.Sixty-five grown men stuffed into one large room, two to a 7’ x 10’ cubicle, bordered on one side by bunkbeds, desks and lockers o...

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“Herb's Plan to Become a Better Person” by Murray Burns

Herb’s Plan to Become a Better Person“If you’re trying to find yourself , a good place to start is where you were yesterday.”                                                             &nbs...

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“1-3-5-17-23-8” by Murray Burns

1-3-5-17-23-8                    "For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more. And this is said in disparagement, whereas it is one of the greatest talents the species has and one that has made it superior to animals that are satisfied with what they have.”-John Steinbeck, The Pearl

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“Dumb Ass and Shit-for-Brains” by Murray Burns

Dumb Ass and Shit-for-Brains                                           “How much love is in a friend? It depends                   ...

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“1.72 Seconds” by Murray Burns

1.72 Seconds                 “Youth is easily deceived, because it is quick to hope.”                                         ...

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“Hey! What About Me?!” by Murray Burns

Hey! What About Me?!                                    “I don’t get no respect.” – Rodney DangerfieldThis is nuts. Dark, crowded and wet. I about can’t take it anymore. Day after day, week after week, month after month. Dogs are two months. I could live with that. Or how about mice? Twenty-five ...

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“It Was a Snickers” by Murray Burns

It Was a Snickers                                                           “Every man’s conscience is a thousand swords."           &nbsp...

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“It Takes a Child” by Murray Burns

It Takes A Child(Reference to domestic violence) It was indeed an unusual sight, a small child walking alone on the side of a dusty county road. He appeared to have proper upbringing as he was well dressed and walked on the correct side of the road, well off onto the shoulder. The sun was still sitting low in the sky, but he was observed by many as they retrieved their morning paper, let their dog out, or watered the perennials’ spring shoots. For some, curtains were pulled aside to get a b...

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“Gobbler” by Murray Burns

Gobbler                                                                         &...

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Author bio

Dartmouth, Law School, 35 years in mind-numbing law practice, now have time to write. Firm believer in "Brevity is the soul of wit."