Peter Wallace

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2021

Stories (20)

20 Stories

367 karma pts

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“Don't Tell Anyone” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #273

Don’t tell anyone. That’s all he said. Don’t tell anyone. Then he turned around and walked away. He went across the street and walked into a shop. When I went over to ask what it was I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone I found that the door to the shop was locked. Upon looking in the window it appeared that the store was vacant, with nothing but cobwebs and debris occupying it.         So, what was it he wanted me to keep to myself? Maybe he didn’t want me to tell anyone that he disappeared through a...

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“The Celebration” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #267

“Here, let me get that.”           Jacob reached for the door handle as the striking young woman closed her umbrella before entering the building.           “Thank you, sir. Not a nice day, is it?”           “I guess not, but I suppose you could say it fits the mood of the event. Funerals aren’t generally that bright and cheerful.”        &...

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“Do I?” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #264

           It was the apex moment in my life. Everything, all at once. Every feeling, every thought, every sense engaged beyond their capabilities. People talk about time standing still. Now I know that it can happen.           I was hyper-aware of my body. Sweat beads on my forehead and one drop of sweat making its way past my left ear. I could hear each breath as the air coming in exceeded the air going out. That wasn’t good. Hyper...

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“Elaine and Betty” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #261

Elaine Jorgenson and Betty Hall lived across Oak Street from one another. They always had, at least as far as anyone could remember. They married and moved into the neighborhood at about the same time. They each had three children. One was the president of the band parents’ organization and the other chaired the school’s children’s theater group.They watched their children graduate, move away, and marry. They each lost their husband – Elaine’s due to a heart attack and Betty’s due to a blond waitress named La Verne. They were in their late s...

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“Shock” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #260

               Simon stepped out into his back yard. It was a warm summer night, but the steady breeze made it comfortable to be outside in jeans and a t-shirt. And it kept the bugs at bay. There was a bit of a moon which provided just enough light for him to find his way to the lawn chair next to the flower garden. He sat down and reclined and took in a deep breath of the fragrant nighttime air.            &...

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“The Negative” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #258

       I guess the way it came about was that I was looking through some old negatives in my father’s darkroom. He was quite a photographer in the days before digital cameras and cell phones came along. He took a lot of pictures for fun, but also did some free lance work for a couple of newspapers and magazines. He kept at it until the digital cameras came along. He didn’t want to betray the cameras that were his old friends, and he didn’t want to learn about a whole new technology in his late 60s. So, he s...

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“A Tragic Hero Remembers” by Peter Wallace

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #257

It was a lot like being in jail. Some people called him a hero, but he sure didn’t feel like one. He just did what seemed like the right thing to do at the time. That’s all. The worst part is that he could remember it all in startling detail. Stuart was born with a surprisingly good memory. It was a help when he played card games, but it made the games too easy for him. It helped him in school, all the way through college. He didn’t need to study much. Information just stayed with him. He was pretty sure he didn’t have an eidetic memory, li...

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“Ballpark Estimate” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #256

“So, this is baseball.”               Bill was thinking that perhaps it was a mistake to persuade his new girlfriend to come to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball game that evening. It appeared that she had dug in her heels about the sport and was committed to not having a good time.               “Yes, Ellen, this is baseball. Isn’t the field beautiful?”       &n...

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“Invitation to Dance” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #254

The quartet started the slow waltz as couples ambled onto the small parquet dance floor in the American Legion Hall. Gary had his right hand on the girl’s waist, and his left gently cradled her outstretched hand. “I’ve been waiting for a slow song to ask you to dance.”“I’m glad you did. I like the slow dances best, I think.”Ruby was self-assured, except when it came to romance. She felt she was attractive but felt awkward in courtship relationships. Now there she was, dancing with the best man. And she really thought he was the best man she’...

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“Five Minutes of Thought” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #253

They said the winner will be announced in only five minutes. Only five minutes? Only? An interminable five minutes! I don’t know how much more of this my heart can take. Waiting to hear the most important news of my life – so far, at least. Will I be the winner, or just another loser?Not that people who don’t win are losers, in a bigger sense. They may be, of course, but just because you lose at something doesn’t make you a loser. Or I guess it does, but just for that one thing you lost at. Not all things forever. I guess a person could actu...

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“Love Story” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #251

Jack originally took the job at the bookstore because he really needed the money. The joy of graduating with a degree in English composition was short lived, as he soon realized the career path for people with that degree was to get another degree and then another one on top of that. He didn’t want to teach, so, he was regretful of his collegiate decisions. Mr. Lyons, the owner of “Papyrus,” was a nice enough boss. Odd, but nice. It was a mystery to Jack how the store broke even since the customer traffic was, to be generous, sparse. The cus...

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“Sidewalk Collision, Manhattan” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #249

Sidewalk Collision, Manhattan                “You should apologize, you know.”               Sandra gathered her purse and her books from the ground where she knelt in the snow. Of all the places to fall down she was in Midtown Manhattan with thousands of people watching.                “Oh. Alright. I’m very sorry I was...

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“Exploring Real LIfe” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #247

         Oliver had been thinking about doing it for quite some time. He knew it would be tricky. He would have to somehow deceive the surveillance systems into thinking he’d taken his “Daily Dose,” as the managers called it. His Dose was formulated specifically for him, taking into account his genetics, state of mind, and God knows what else. Although, that was just an expression these days. They had been told there was no God.         Despite the effe...

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“Caturday” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #243

Caturday Interesting. The human opened the door after I repeatedly requested that he do so. He stands behind me now with his hand on the doorknob. He seems impatient with me. Of course, I don’t care. Standing with my front legs outside and my rear legs inside is good. I feel some warmth from the house and the cool, fresh air from outside. I would like to go outside to hunt for mice or birds, but the couch is very soft and, as much as I hate to say it, I do enjoy being with the humans. Being outside is fun, but it is not fun when the lit...

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“Converging Lines” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #242

Converging Lines “Hi.” “Oh. Hello.” “I noticed you sitting here a few minutes ago and, well, you’re still here.” “That’s true. You see, I’m watching that museum janitor to see how long it will be before he moves.” “Ah. That janitor with the broom?” “Yes.” “I’m sorry to tell you, but that janitor is a very realistic statue.” “No!” “Yes. The first time I was here he, er, that is, it fooled me too.” “That explains a lot.” “That it fooled me?” “No. It explains why he doesn’t move. Now I want to get a closer look. Wanna come with me?” “I do.” Th...

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Author bio

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Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #257
A Tragic Hero Remembers – read story