Murray Burns

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (122)

122 Stories

3793 karma pts

?

“Herb's Big Dinner Date” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #162

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.                                              Henry: hĕn’-rē;  Henri’: hĕ-nrē’.Herb forgot the lessons of Sister Mary Margaret. It matters wh...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Gift” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #161

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 to run some stairs in the bleachers this afternoon. Building up your calves will help with that first step off th...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Oasis in the Sky” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #160

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 football garb, you may have trouble relating to this snapshot in time. Try thinking of spending...

12 comments 12
Read story

“Stamps” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #159

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 on the other, and open at the end. Sketchy looking neighbors in full view just 4’ across the ai...

3 comments 3
Read story

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

Submitted to Contest #158

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.”                                                                      &n...

0 comments 0
Read story

“1-3-5-17-23-8” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #157

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 PearlWally was a simple man, not stupid but not too bright, not ugly but not handsome, not sickly but far f...

0 comments 0
Read story

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

Submitted to Contest #156

Dumb Ass and Shit-for-Brains                                           “How much love is in a friend? It depends                             on how much you give them.”   &...

1 comment 1
Read story

“1.72 Seconds” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #155

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

7 comments 7
Read story

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

Submitted to Contest #154

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 days tops! And I have to put up with this for nine months? Life ain’t ...

7 comments 7
Read story

“It Was a Snickers” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #153

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

7 comments 7
Read story

“It Takes a Child” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #152

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 better look.The blue cap, corduroy with a small beak,...

9 comments 9
Read story

“Gobbler” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #151

Gobbler                                                                                      “What we’ve got here is&...

7 comments 7
Read story

“The Furtive Adventures of Don Q. Hoty” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #150

The Furtive Adventures of Don Q. Hoty                                         “The danger of the past was that menbecame slaves. The danger of the futureis that men may become robots."                          &n...

4 comments 4
Read story

“The Shark and the Remora” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #149

The Shark and the RemoraThere are certain entities in life that would not do well alone. Apples need trees, rivers need riverbanks, Montana needed Rice, and Stockton needed Malone. Joey needed Frank. Or was it that Frank needed Joey? I guess we’ll find out.“We’ve got new neighbors, Frank. It’s a young woman and her ten year old son. She’s very nice. I didn’t meet the boy. He’s in school. Her name is Susan Clark, and her boy’s name is Joey.”“Just the two of them?”“Yes. She’s from here, but she married a guy from South Carolina. They just got ...

9 comments 9
Read story

“The Good Book” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #148

The Good Book(Perhaps a tad crude in places.)“Love your neighbor as yourself.”                                                        Mark 12:31“Be reasonable, Margie. If we go to the late Mass, I’ll miss the kickoff of the Packer game. Father Windbag talks forever. ...

2 comments 2
Read story

Author bio

Dartmouth, then Law School followed by years in mind-numbing law practice; now have more time to write. "Brevity is the soul of wit."

Shortlisted 2 stories ⭐️

Contest #195
A Simple Act of Kindness – read story
Contest #170
The Rosary – read story