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Ralph Aldrich

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2021

Stories (109)
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61 Followers
18 Following

109 Stories

2545 karma pts

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Devil's Pit, Arizona

Submitted to Contest #289

The desert wind blows dry and hot. The sky is pale blue due to the lack of moisture. Beneath the cloudless sky rides a solitary rider slumped in his saddle, his head bobbing with the pace of his pony’s steps. His hat is pulled low. A bandanna covers his face to fight the blowing sand.            On the rise of a dune, the dappled mare stops and snorts sand from its nose. Its master lifts his head and rubs the dust from his eyes. He squinted at the town ...

21 likes 7 comments 7
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The Incident of Mars Hill

Submitted to Contest #288

In 1954, Chester Candler built a log cabin in a quiet little meadow at the foot of Mars Hill Mountain, Maine. His daughter and granddaughter live there today, although it has undergone many modern-day improvements. The homestead lies about six miles from the center of town.Madelyn Collins, a trim 39-year-old, is busy looking through the junk drawer for the keys to the truck. She stops when she hears the weather report come on the radio.“Well, folks, it looks like we’re in for a big one! The snowstorm that was beginning to...

14 likes 2 comments 2
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Grubs

Submitted to Contest #285

A small gathering of people quietlysit, staring into a cracking fire they built inside the remains of a convenience store. Having only recently come together, they are all strangers each person has losty all of their memories. They are timid and leery of each other but feels safer in a group than alone. The world is a strange and scary place, especially at night.A man sits hunched over on the check-out counter, his long, lanky hair covering his face. Like everyone else, his clothes are filthy and raggedy. He calls hi...

17 likes 1 comment 1
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Wonderful Time of the Year

Submitted to Contest #283

Lawrence Shafer wakes to the sound of Tony Bennet’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” on the radio. He winces and covers his ears. His head feels as though it is full of thorns. Lawrence tries to pry open his eyes, but they’re glued shut. Still, Bennet sings. “Oh, God! What has happened to me? I don’t remember coming home, let alone getting into bed. I last remember being at our office Christmas party and talking to Xiao, the receptionist.”   Lawrence turns to look at the alarm clock and notices how the numbers seem to be ...

8 likes 4 comments 4
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Christmas Lights

Submitted to Contest #282

Bill struggles down the attic stairs carring an oblong box with a picture of a pine tree on its side. Holding the box on his shoulder, he shouts, “Which corner do you want me to put the tree in, Mom?” His mother, Dolores, is following behind, hauling a plastic tub with an ill-fitting green lid.  Written on its side in black magic marker are the words “Xmas lights.”Dolores smiles wickedly as she declares, “Let’s put it in the corner behind your father’s chair.” Oscar jumps up, sputtering and snarling. H...

17 likes 3 comments 3
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For Better or Worse

Submitted to Contest #281

Master Meow lives in a lovely, comfortable apartment in Toyko with his human companion, Mr. Sato. Mr. Sato is retired and lives on a small pension. He has enough to keep himself and Master Meow comfortable and well-fed. Master Meow is a beautiful white and light brown cat, part Persian and part Angora. He is very fluffy. He spends his day grooming and purring on a satin pillow in the window. He also has a very high opinion of himself. He loves it here because his food dish is always full of fresh red salmon, his water b...

14 likes 3 comments 3
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The Conversation

Submitted to Contest #280

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, Cillian and Finn relax as they sip beers in their favorite pub, The Red Rooster. Cillian gazes out the window to watch the clouds float gently past. The silence is broken when he poses a question.“Answer me this, Finn. Why is it that if a man donates a kidney, everyone loves him and thinks what a wonderful soul he has?  But, if that same man donated five kidneys, he would be considered the prime suspect in a crime investercation?”Finn blinks at Cillian and sits a little straighter in his c...

8 likes 3 comments 3
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The Post-Apocalyptic Life of Harry Milk

Submitted to Contest #279

How do you describe someone like Harry Milk? He stands five feet seven inches and weighs one hundred and eighty-three pounds. Harry is forty-nine years old and is balding, though he combs the few strands he has neatly across his head. If asked to describe his facial features, all anyone can recall are his thick horn-rimmed glasses. Unfortunately, for the most part, nothing is outstanding about him. Another thing is that Harry is a creature of habit and lives his life by the clock. He rises at five-fifteen sharp every...

13 likes 1 comment 1
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Legacy of Terrance Wheelock

Submitted to Contest #278

Terrance Wheelock is the current patriarch of the Wheelock family. The Wheelocks arrived in Massachusetts in 1702, settling in a small hamlet along the Blackstone River.  They opened up a mill, The Wheelock Woolen Mill, which provided a source of revenue for the town of Riverdale and its citizens.  The river was vital to the manufacturing of cloth. As the factory’s success grew, so did the Wheelock’s wealth.  Their name became associated with such prominent buildings as the town hall, the library, and the high school.&nbs...

10 likes 0 comments 0
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A Simple Twist of Fate

Submitted to Contest #274

 Melbourne O’Day doesn’t like people. He goes out of his way to avoid them. It angers him that he has to deal with such fools but must work to pay his bills. Melbourne is the manager of a hamburger restaurant, where the employee turnover is tremendous. Everyone he hires quits a few weeks later. The hamburger has been voted the best in town for six years, so the constant flow of new employees doesn’t seem to affect business. As a result, the spot on the wall for employee of the month is always vacant.The onl...

22 likes 6 comments 6
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The Long Night

Submitted to Contest #272

High atop the Carpathian Mountains sits a medieval Romanian castle. It is eerily dark as the wind howls through, disturbing the cobwebs and thick layers of dust. Deep down in its bowels lies an ancient coffin containing a dark secret.As the last rays of light kiss the castle’s pinnacle, the wolves of the forest begin to howl. The lid of the ancient coffin starts to creak and snap as it slowly opens. Within lies the body of a man. It appears as though he was placed there just the day before. His hands are folded ...

20 likes 1 comment 1
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A Tale of Two Sisters

Submitted to Contest #270

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Valamire, twin sisters came into the world. Fern and Fawn. They weren’t identical; Fern had raven black hair, and Fawn’s hair was golden.  Fern was the firstborn and considered herself the oldest, so she had assumed authority over Fawn. Fawn is gentle and kind, as well as unassuming. She willingly gave in to Fern’s demands. Their mother was happy the girls didn’t argue or fight and seldom saw any need for correction. On the other hand, their grandmother didn’t approv...

21 likes 14 comments 14
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Trials and Tribulations

Submitted to Contest #268

Ninety-two-year-old Silas Townsend is at death’s door. His eyes are half-closed and are sunk deep in their sockets. His skin is blotchy and pale. His jaw hangs slack. A deep rattle comes from his chest as Death presses down on it. Still, his old, cracked, hardened rubber ball of a heart continues to beat.           Death leans closer and smells the sweat breath of the dying and whispers, “It’s almost time, Silas. I hope you are ready. Think back on your...

9 likes 3 comments 3
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Jack Flynn's Brillant Plan

Submitted to Contest #267

The week before the annual county fair, I’m in me favorite pub, The Big Potata. I’m with me very best friend, Liam Skehan, a fellow farmer.  I lift me empty glass to the bartender Mick O’Day to show him I need another. When he doesn’t respond, I lift it higher and shake it a little. “I see ya empty glass there, Jack, and I’ve got to tell ya your glass is as empty as your credit.”  Me mouth drops open, and me eyes grow wide. “What are ya tryin’ to say? That I’ve got bad credit, and after all the years I givin’ ya go...

22 likes 6 comments 6
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OH! Come on!

Submitted to Contest #266

The brave and dashing Sir Jamerson smiles victoriously each time his sword rings after striking the scales of the fire-breathing dragon. The dragon is holding the fair princess Lola captive until her father, the king, surrenders his kingdom. Sir Jamerson has vowed to slay the beast in exchange for her hand in marriage, so he is fighting fearlessly. Jamerson feels he is being roasted alive with each blast of flames. While ignoring the pain, he pushes his scorch shield forward and attacks. Jamerson lifts his shield hig...

19 likes 4 comments 4
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