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Pete Gautchier

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2024

Stories (58)

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58 Stories

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Catching Up with the Past: Boys Will Be Boys

Submitted to Contest #303

Prompt: Write about someone who chooses revenge-even though forgiveness is an option. Catching Up with the Past: Boys Will Be Boys The air smelled musty and dank as I rummaged through the boxes in the basement of my parents’ house.It was easy to see that a multitude of years had passed before anyone dared to tackle this hording nightmare.Being the only child, I was tasked to forage through this outlandish pile of obsolescence and so-called memorabilia before the house was placed on the realtor’s market. I was doubting myself as to my inten...

3 likes

Clarity of Mind and Heart

Submitted to Contest #302

Prompt: Write a story with the line “I don’t understand.”Clarity of Mind and Heart My old man was a typical old-world Irishman straight off the boat.He would sarcastically say in his thick Irish brogue to my sister and I that we were living the “Life of Reilly.”Right after he would say it his mind and attention would slip away. He would start reminiscing about his former days and trials of his youth. Almost on cue, he would tear up when he reached his story about the ocean crossing and his early struggles to survive in New York City.I was...

7 likes

Even at My Worst It Still was a Beautiful Day

Submitted to Contest #301

Prompt: Center your story around something that doesn’t go according to plan. Even at My Worst It was Still a Beautiful Day There was persistent ringing in my ears. I just needed a few more minutes to rest my weary soul. I clumsily reached for my phone to silence the menacing buzz. I thought one of these days I need to change my ringtone. No sooner had I turned it off, I felt a tugging at my ear followed by loud incessant purring. My bleary eyes revealed my catatonic state to my annoyed observer. Toby, my lifelong feline friend, ball of ...

7 likes

Momma Flo and MTLC

Submitted to Contest #300

Prompt: Set your story in your favorite place in the world. Momma Flo and MTLC “Teddy, I’ve got something for you,” as my Momma called from the kitchen. Right away I knew it would be yummy. When I entered the kitchen, she looked at me with her saucer-like, loving eyes. “Teddy Bear, I know how much you enjoy licking my wooden spoon so I added extra for more tasty fun,” she smiled as she handed me the wooden spoon. It was heaven on a stick. My Momma, Florence knew how to feed my sweet tooth. She was in her element in the kitchen. Before televi...

9 likes

Funny Guy

Submitted to Contest #299

Prompt: Center your story around a comedian, clown, street performer, or magicianFunny GuyThe curtain goes up! The music begins to play as I dance onto the stage bellowing: “Overture, curtain, lights, this is it, the night of nights no more rehearsing and nursing a part. We know every part by heart. Overture, curtain, lights this is it; you’ll hit the heights. On with the show this is it! (1)Bugs Bunny would be proud of me as I gracefully sailed across the stage donning a top hat and cane. I saw the wonder in the wide-eyed gazes of my audien...

7 likes

Guilty of Despicable Behaviors-A Lost Cause

Submitted to Contest #298

Prompt: Write a story abut someone seeking forgiveness for something. Guilty of Despicable Behaviors-A Lost Cause The clanking of my chains was loud as I entered the room. Menacing eyes looked me over as I scuffled across the floor to the front of the room. My body labored under the weight of my restraints. A chain around my waist stole my freedom. Both my hands and ankles were shackled by the heavy leg irons that were chained around my mid-section. I felt strong hands stop my motion going forward. Then those hands pushed my shoulder...

6 likes

"It's Time: 0600"

Submitted to Contest #297

Prompt: Write a story with a number or time in the title.Prompt: Set you story before midnight or dawn. “It’s Time: 0600” The day looked dreary and cold even as the sun had just lifted above the horizon. The thick air turned the sunlight into straw-colored clouds as I looked out my window from my bed. The weather outside really does not matter anymore as I have little energy to do anything now. My breathing has been erratic even with all the gadgetry and tubes running into me. I spend my days now lying in this bed at the rehabilitation cen...

5 likes

F&F

Submitted to Contest #296

Prompt: Center your story around a character who has to destroy something they love.F&F I am a farmer’s son from central Illinois. My playground growing up was acre upon acre of corn fields.To overstate the obvious, my father and mother constantly engaged themselves in the business of corn. They figured they would pass it all down to my brother and me after they left this earth. I guess one could consider it a sizable fortune as my parents’ barn and garage were filled with heavy equipment, like a multiple corn head harvester, multiple...

8 likes

Rain, Sleet or Shine; Where to Mr. Postman?

Submitted to Contest #295

Prompt: Write about a portal or doorway that is hiding in plain sight. Rain, Sleet or Shine; Where to Mr. Postman? When meeting someone for the first time a typical question is often asked about their profession or occupation. When I respond that I am a postal carrier I am usually answered with silence or an indifferent, grunting sigh. I unashamedly respond with the postal creed, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays the postal courier from the swift completion of one’s appointed rounds.” I then add, “You would be surp...

4 likes

Too Late

Submitted to Contest #294

Prompt: Write a story in which the first and last sentence are the same.Too Late“What was the owner of this red corvette thinking when he ordered a vanity license plate saying “Too Late?" Why such a nebulous and ominous phrase? I wanted so much to ask the owner but he quickly drove by me. That stingray corvette was a gorgeous piece of machinery. It was sleek and painted in firehouse red without a ding or scratch on it. The owner really knew how to take special care of such a prized vehicle. I figured ...

7 likes

E62

Submitted to Contest #293

Prompt: Write about someone who strikes up a conversation with a stranger during a flight.E62I held my breath. Although I travel for a living, I loathe airports and the congestion. I detest hordes of people in general, especially when it comes to close quarters. Either they are over perfumed or are significantly lacking in proper hygiene. There is no place to hide. There are no oxygen masks for clean air unless your plane is in a mid-air crisis. Let’s hope there is no crisis. For now, I just have to g...

8 likes

Blinded By My Favorite Colour

Submitted to Contest #292

Prompt: Write a story inspired by your favorite color. Blinded By My Favorite Color I grew up taking colors for granted. One never appreciates the world of color until it disappears from one’s view. I never planned for it to happen. It just did. One day I woke up and I was colorblind. My ophthalmologist was as much dumbfounded as I was. I had experienced no trauma to my head; nor did I have a familial history of color blindness. My vision was now a black and white movie with silhouettes of people blurred ...

4 likes

My Destiny-Not in the Hands of Men

Submitted to Contest #291

Prompt: Center your story around a character who successfully — or unsuccessfully — escapes their fate. My Destiny-Not in the Hands of Men“Run! Run,” I screamed. There was no way out in any direction I could choose. If I turned right there was a twelve-foot, solid brick wall. If I turned left there was a fence of impenetrable barbed wire. Going straight ahead I would fall into a deep ravine filled with sharp rocks and huge, thorny bushes. A body already laid lifeless impaled on the rocks. Heading ba...

13 likes

A Melodious Yearning of the Heart

Submitted to Contest #290

Prompt set your story in a world where love is prohibited.A Melodious Yearning The monotonous voice in front of me droned on… “After the global conflagration and incineration of millions of people caused by warring factions in 2666, the World Council of remaining nations created universal laws to eradicate hostilities to abolish individual freedoms that caused contentious behavior.” (Music played in my head…)War, huh, Yeah! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!Say it again, y’all! War, huh, Lookout! What is it good for?&nb...

5 likes

This is Who I am...A Glorious Open Book

Submitted to Contest #289

Prompt: Your character is getting changed in the bathroom of a nightclub or restaurant then emerges looking completely different. Why? This is Who I Am…A Glorious Open Book My cell phone flashed the time of 6:00pm. I was running late for my dinner engagement with a friend from college. I had not seen Pauline for over six years after we graduated from the university. We had taken a few of the same classes together. Afterwards we often exchanged our personal interests and life stories at the campus coffee houses.&...

8 likes