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Pete Gautchier

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2024

Stories (52)

Comments

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8 Followers

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52 Stories

837 karma pts

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It's Mine, but Everything has its Price

Submitted to Contest #268

Prompt: Your character gets everything they ever wanted-only to realize the true cost.It’s Mine, but Everything has its Price Have you ever wanted somethings so badly that you would do anything to get it? How far would you go? How would this compulsion change you? Would it fan the flames of moral decrepitude? Would there be any way to come back from these overwhelming urges? Listen to my words as I share my story. There was nothing startling about my childhood. I blended in with the kids on our block. ...

12 likes

Words that Hurt, Words that Mend

Submitted to Contest #267

Prompt: Your character overhears something that changes their path. Words that Hurt, Words that Mend You all know the adage ‘kids can be cruel.’ It became a silent mantra I would repeatedly say to myself as I ventured through my elementary school days. I knew best to avoid conflict and to deflect the disparaging comments I overheard with a smile. It was evident at my school. I was distinct. Sort of black, with a blunt, splayed nose. I was a child from a black dad and a white mom. I was still a big guy which put ...

4 likes

Storms a brewin'

Submitted to Contest #267

Prompt: Write your story against the backdrop of a storm. Storms a brewin’ My joints really ache today more than the typical soreness I feel in my older age. A lot more than any other day. I think I may have slept like a pretzel twist. Then again, when the weather changes all holy hell breaks out in my body. From my bedroom window I checked the skies. Not a single cloud; the sun was brilliant and hot. To confirm my amateur weather interpretations, I listened to the radio forecast. The weatherman...

17 likes

Oh, Come on, Not again!

Submitted to Contest #266

Prompt: Write from the point of view of a character in a story who keeps getting re-written by their second-guessing author. Oh, come on, not again! “Hey man, I am no Pinocchio and you are no Geppetto, so loosen up the puppet strings on my story, stop this madness,” as I shouted from the pages of my author’s tablet journal. There was silence. Outside the realm of the journal pages an introduction began. “My name is Buddy and I am a figment of my author’s imagination who calls himself Harry. But I know differently. If given the chan...

6 likes

A Wedding Feast Like No Other

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...

5 likes

More than Just a Heat Wave

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...

4 likes

A Eulogy of Gratitude

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 ...

3 likes

A Hero for a Hero

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 ...

7 likes

Mums the Word

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...

3 likes

Tucked Away and Almost Forgotten

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...

5 likes

It's All About the Game

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...

7 likes

It's Just A Piece of Paper

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...

5 likes

Tidal Waves in a Puddle: Despair into Hope

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...

6 likes

Adversary-"To Be or not to Be"

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...

9 likes

Watch Your Step or Step Out to be Heard

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...

13 likes