Nina H

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2023

Stories (43)

43 Stories

1511 karma pts

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“Lunch Box Bandit” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #228

Somebody has been stealing my lunch. Not the whole thing, mind you, but there have been definite and distinct bites taken daily from my meals. A tell-tale hole in the pasta, a mysterious inch missing from my soup container. You think I’m imagining it, don’t you? At first I thought I was imagining it, too. I mean, who would go around taking sample portions from somebody else’s lunch box every day? Who is that strange and unhinged to do so? But no, it’s definitely been happening...

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“Snow Day” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #227

I opened my eyes and slowly stretched my arms above my still-sleepy head. I stretched my legs under my soft, gray, fleece blanket and felt Porkchop’s razor blade cat fangs sink right into my bare big toe. “Ouch! That’s my foot!” I pulled back my foot and checked for blood. He stared at me unfazed and began to lick his black paw with the little white spot that made it look like he was wearing socks. A name I refused to suffer upon him. Rather, he took on the name of the first meal he swiped from my dinner plate. The first of man...

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“The Black Box” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #225

Gabby double checked the address in her phone as her small Toyota climbed over rocks and roots down Orchard Road. After confirming she was indeed going in the right direction, she squinted at what appeared to be a massive, ivy covered, red brick building in the distance. The morning sun was cutting through just enough autumn fog to allow her to see it must have been built ages ago. The brick was crumbling, the ivy stretching, the windows coated with dusty memories. She had received an email giving her a heads-up that a very worthwhile...

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“Self(ie) Portrait” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #225

For the third time, Reilly’s phone slipped off the table and hit the floor, with a dramatic thud that seemed to say “you failed!” once again. She sighed, picked up the phone, repositioned the selfie circle light attached to it, and checked the timer on the photo setting. Carefully this time, she leaned her phone at an angle she thought would make her face look skinny. She swiped the mode to “Portrait” setting, and mentally prepared herself for her best smile in 3,2,1….. Finally! A picture she can work with. She had been setting up he...

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“The Most Silent Night” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #224

Holly wreaths and red bows swam around in a blurry sea in front of me. I sniffled as a stray tear dropped onto the wrapping paper I had just taped down. I put the gift aside and looked around the room for another to wrap. I could hear the faint sound of my mom’s television in the next room. Late night television held limited options, but I’m pretty sure she wasn’t paying much attention to it anyway. It was 2:03am. Christmas Eve. About six hours since Dad went into the operating room. We hadn’t yet told my sister, out of town with her in-laws...

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“Midterm Exam” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #223

Don’t panic. Don’t panic. As long as the exam questions don’t involve the French and Indian War, or anything from like the 1700-1900s, I’m golden. Well here we go… Name: Jennifer Carver (Do we get points for our name? I hope so, and it seems fair to give points here.) Please read the questions carefully and answer completely for full credit. Question 1: Evaluate the extent to which the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War, 1754–1763) marked a turning point in American relations with Great Britain. Further a...

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“Uncovered” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #223

Victoria Mary Beth Keegan was about to stumble upon the most monumental story of her fledgling journalistic career. How did I know? Because I was the one planting it right in the palm of her naive little hand. I met Mary Beth in my History of the English Language seminar class, three months ago. Sh...

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“The Guide” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #222

Gerald gripped the side rail in the entranceway of the museum, turning his knuckles white and palms red. His tie was too tight, his shoes too big, and his socks rather sweaty. They were probably gaining more strength in stench the longer he shuffled his awkward feet near the guest desk. It was opening hour on a Tuesday, so the crowd was rather light so far. He watched as an older couple entered, followed by a group of smartly dressed women who were holding arms with each other and chatting as if it’s been years since they’ve gone ou...

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“The Fall” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #221

TW: Sensitive Content, death “It wasn’t supposed to be this way…” Becky whispered as she stood next to Connor’s hospital bed. Connor’s heart monitor beeped in rhythm, as Becky looked at his pale face. Nurses bustled around busily outside the door, and Connor’s parents sat in the room with their heads in their hands. “Why did this happen?” Kathleen asked the air. Dan put his arm around his wife, offering his presence, not answers. “The doctor thinks he’s going to be o...

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“Death 101” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #221

I accidentally died the other day. And do you know what? It didn’t come with a manual. Shouldn’t there be a manual? I’m used to everything having a “How to…”, a YouTube tutorial, “Haunting for Dummies” even. But no. Heart stops, here you are, don’t forget your towel. So far it’s been a whirlwind of adjustments. Once I realized I was dead, as I stood by my body, I wasn’t sure if I should just hang out for a while there or if I needed to check in somewhere? Again, no manual. Was there a Hotel Death awaiting my check-in with a mint on the ...

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“Ghostly Characterizations” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #221

Raising the dead is not an easy job. Just ask Gretchen. She has been tasked with this tricky venture for years. How is it she got so lucky? Well, she sort of just stumbled into it. Gretchen is a 60-something, introverted, book loving, people loathing, crochet crafting librarian. Every day, she wakes up, drinks her tea, and sets out on foot to the local library where she rules the roost and rafters. She demands silence, respect, and book spines perfectly aligned on the shelves. Soldiers in the fight against screens, ignorance, and illi...

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“The Gingerbread Man” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #218

“I don’t want to go there…” I whispered to nobody in the soft dim light of the Café, closing my eyes tight as if that could stop the memories from taking me back. I stopped, not five paces from the entrance, and knew I had to turn around and leave. I just wanted to run in for a coffee and danish on my way to work. The morning walk through the city was brisk and chilly, typical late November, yet steady streams of sunlight soaked into me. I’d felt happy and energized, until now. The smell of gingerbread, warm and brown and sweet, fille...

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“No Stars for You” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #218

Luigi’s Palatable Palace 🌠 0.0 Frederick T. said: “I consider myself a food connoisseur. I grew up eating three meals a day. I often made my own breakfast cereal, with a range of milk choices to complement the selection. For example, always use a 2% with Raisin Bran. Almond milk goes best with Cheerios, while whole milk is definitely the best with Rice Chex. Shredded Wheat: just throw that straight in the bin. Nobody should eat that garbage with any kind of milk. Why am I sharing my expertise? I feel you shoul...

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“Teacher of the Year (Understudy)” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #217

Here’s a little secret. I have no idea what I’m doing. How is it they don’t know? After all these years? I placed my travel mug of hot coffee (and only a little Bailey’s) on my desk and checked the time. It was 7:45am. I had fifteen minutes until my class of adoring students filed in, took their seats, and performed whatever tasks I found on the pages of the yellowed lesson plan from the closet. I took a sip of coffee and opened my school email. Trainings, new sign in procedure, nothing exciting. I noticed an email from my prin...

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“Check, Please” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #217

The quaint Italian restaurant was nearly empty, with plenty of seating available inside and out. Zoe always loved the romance of a meal outside on a summer night, the sun disappearing, the moon and stars lighting the sky. The cool night air caressed her arm, causing tiny goosebumps that made her soft blonde hair stand on end. Ben took his dark brown eyes from her face for a moment and noticed, placing a hand on her and running it softly and slowly from elbow to wrist, collecting her chill and making her burn instead. He looked back to her fa...

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Author bio

I live on a mountain, but not the kind in Heidi. There are two grocery stores here, a post office that is often open, and a train car visible from the main road as an “attraction”. It could be a caboose. I’m not really sure. I work in a school, and as a news photographer. But not the cutting-edge kind, more like the warm fuzzies kind. Though I recently snapped a shot of a Church’s expired gambling license at their Instant Bingo booth for their summer picnic fundraiser. That *could* be my big break if they don’t renew it. Stay tuned… I paint bricks to look like books in my spare time. But then I end up with a pile of really heavy artwork that I end up giving away. I coach my kid’s soccer teams, but we don’t often win. I DO have a clipboard, a whistle, and all sorts of official looking coaching things. I was a self-published author by the age of 7, writing a heart-felt non-fiction piece about my sister contracting chicken pox. You may have read it. Actually, you likely did not. It was a stapled-together booklet I made from cut up computer paper then hid in a drawer. I look forward to reads of my stories, and reading yours. I love comments and suggestions, as I try to grow as a writer. *** If you’d like to talk books or writing, find me at NinaHerbst@mail.com

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #212

Resigned – read story