Pete Gautchier

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2024

Stories (33)

33 Stories

512 karma pts

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“A Wedding Feast Like No Other” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #264

Prompt: Center your story around two people who meet at a wedding. A Wedding Feast Like No OtherI entered the lobby of my apartment building noting that one of the mailboxes was stuffed full of paper. Whoa! It happened to be mine! I thought I had emptied it the other day. Apparently, in my absent mindedness I had ignored the obvious signs of the postman to “please empty your box.” I struggled with my key to retrieve the contents. As I rummaged through the various ads, bills, and political flyers one textured envelope...

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“More than Just a Heat Wave” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #262

Prompt: Heat wave: Write a story about a summer vacation gone amuck (with an unexpected summer fling thrown in). (In an era before cell phones and texting.) More than Just a Heat Wave I was humming “my bags are packed and I am ready to go” when the radio announcer interrupted the song with the ominous warning “this is going to be the hottest summer on record. Stay cool and stay hydrated.” This was a warning I did not need to hear. “Oh, this is going to be fantastic,” I sarcastically quipped to myself. I looked i...

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“A Eulogy of Gratitude” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #261

Prompt: Write a story in the form of a series of thank you cards (and as an expression of gratitude to someone.) A Eulogy of GratitudeThe late Frank Sinatra made popular in his song, My Way1 these words:“Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption I planned each charted course Each careful step along the byway And more, much more than this I did it my way”Yes, I did it my way and now I am scurrying to jot down these thank you cards before I fall asleep. Thank you…Mom ...

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“A Hero for a Hero” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #261

Prompt: Write a story about some unsung hero. A Hero for a Hero “This is 911. What is your emergency?” And the litany of questions begins to pour though the earphone. “Tell me exactly what is happening now?  What is the address of the emergency? Are you safe? Is this the number you are calling from? The voice over the phone extends a calming, soothing tone. After a deep breath, the caller responds with the important information. The operator says “Help is soon on the way.” Most of us are old ...

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“Mums the Word” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #259

Prompt: Dystopian- Set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned-but there are ways to get around the rule. Mums the WordImagine a state or society where there is a totalitarian government with suffering and injustice. Yet that society is situated in picturesque rolling hills, verdant forests, and agrarian farmlands. Parades frequently occur showcasing the nation’s greatness with thousands of spectators showing their devotion. Are these words merely descriptive, theoretical, or deceptiv...

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“Tucked Away and Almost Forgotten” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #258

Reedsy Prompt: A forgotten photograph tucked away somewhere is the catalyst for an unexpected journey. Tucked Away and Almost ForgottenThe year was 1965. It was no longer possible to delay the inevitable. It was spring cleaning day at our house, and my wife insisted I tackle the daunting task of organizing and downsizing the mess in our attic. No one had ventured up into that space since the day we moved in back in the early 50’s. I cautiously opened the door but to my surprise there were only a few boxes and a small...

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“It's All About the Game” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #256

Prompt: Write a story about a moment of defeat. (with two rivals coming together) It’s All About the GameThe summer of 1969 came alive for many of us.   The popular song “Summer of 69” by Bryan Adams became our mantra although we never understood what it really meant.  Events like the moon landing by the Apollo astronauts and the throngs of thousands gathering at the Woodstock Music Festival riveted our attention. Some people soared at supersonic speeds on the Concorde jet. Despite these positive thing...

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“It's Just A Piece of Paper” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #255

Prompt: Center your story around a character bargaining for something that is important to them.IT IS JUST A PIECE OF PAPERIt was a blustery cold day when a group of us passed through the entrance gate with the words “Arbeit macht frie”. I was a young lad of 12 years so I was ready to do what the sign said. I will work hard to secure my freedom. My head was still hurting from the impact of a soldier’s gun during Kristallnacht. Others were not so lucky as they bled from their wounds caused by the shattering of windows that were Jewi...

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“Tidal Waves in a Puddle: Despair into Hope” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #255

Prompt: Start your story with a character in despair Tidal Waves in a Puddle: Waves of Despair into Hope The time is right to tell my story. It is not an endearing story. My desire is for you to know the Truth. No adoring relatives ogling over my cute infant form. I learned that I was birthed on the street from a crack-head, deranged mother.  My cradle was a cardboard box. It was the first of my cardboard homes. Social services eventually caught up with her. The first of my many foster families decided to call me Dam...

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“Adversary-"To Be or not to Be"” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #254

Prompt: Write a story about two characters who start as mortal enemies but learn to embrace their differences.Adversary : To Be or not to BeThe cry “Help Me” was whispered by a terrified voice fearing it would be heard by his nemesis. With supersonic hearing, our hero Superman appears on the scene. He uses his super powers to battle his nemesis known as Rex Luther. The hostage is released, but Luther escapes to continue his rampage of terror on other unsuspecting humans. Superman’s adversary has not been brought to j...

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“Watch Your Step or Step Out to be Heard” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #252

Topic: 1) Write a story with a character being followed. 2) who struggles to do the right thing. Watch Your Step or Step Out to be Heard Was my imagination running away from me? Everywhere I went I would see a sinister shadow lurking in the dark corners. At times a hot, sulphury wisp of air would trace across the back of my neck. When I would turn around there was nothing. There were no visible signs that anyone or anything had been following me. I felt convinced, however, that I was being stalked. I now av...

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“Look for the Evidence” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #251

Topic:  Your protagonist is a writer who discovers a new favorite author. How does their writing, or even their own personality change as the protagonist falls under the writer’s influence?Look For the EvidenceGrowing up I was a wizard in math and science. I excelled far beyond my classmates in high school, but I was not considered to be Mensa material. My IQ was only about 125. Needless to say, that did not deter my endeavor to follow a rigorous program in college studying astronomy and physics. I felt my ...

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“Ms. Privy” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #250

Topic: Your teacher tasks you with writing a story based on an eavesdropped conversation. When the story is published your subject isn’t happy. Ms. Privy It is my senior year in high school! Yes!  Oh, this has been a great year! I have had a blast with my friends in school. On top of that, assignments in my classes have been few and far between. Even my least liked class, English Composition, had been enjoyable. But that enjoyment was all about to change.  My English Comp teacher, Ms. Pr...

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“Daddy, I Do Not Understand” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #250

Topic: Write a story about a child overhearing something they do not understand.Daddy, I Do Not UnderstandYoung children are mini sponges on what they see and hear from others around them. They have an amazing sense of awareness on how others perceive them.  With my child I try my best to exhibit my best behavior especially at controlling my speech and actions regardless of the situation. Unfortunately, when the child enters school, that all goes out the window and my control is totally lost. Often, I have to do dama...

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“So Sure” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #249

Topic: Write a story about a character driving and getting lost.So SureFriends and family that claim they really know me say that I exhibit obsessive behaviors. Usually, they use words such as persnickety, finicky, or picky to describe me. How can these words be character enhancing? After all they contain an “ick” derivative. I rebut them by saying that I need to be this way because I travel the highways and byways of the country for a living with the certainty of knowing where I was going.  Yes, I am a travelin...

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Author bio

Self-publishing author who loves to write fictional stories in the Christian genre.