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Rebecca Detti

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2023

Stories (52)

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52 Stories

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Rooms with a view

The room is unfamiliar. And come to think of it…so is that stench. What is that? It smells like rotten fish seeping through the gaps in the venetian shutters determined to find a path up my nostrils.There is a loud screech and the sound of wheels coming to an immediate stop.“Vafancullo! Stronza! Ma che cazzo!”Was that something about a cat? Maybe Italians, sorry Sicilians, are just not that keen on moggies? I feel as if my senses are being attacked from every angle. Time for a deep breath. I can do this; I can do this. I am lying in a huge b...

11 likes

What’s your dream?

Submitted to Contest #301

Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.Gloria SteinemAs a rather unworldly fourteen-year-old growing up in the small town of Bude, North Cornwall, and attending some fairly sheltered schools including a convent school with actual nuns alive and kicking (with an emphasis on the kicking) my mind was absolutely blown the summer I watched Pretty Woman. I was a week into my nine weeklong stretch of the summer holidays and bored out of my mind. I’d already worked...

32 likes

Being human

There is no nature that exists devoid of nurture; there is no nurture that develops without nature. To say otherwise is like saying that the area of a field is determined by its length but not its width. Every behavior is the product of an instinct trained by experience.The study of human beings remained resolutely unreformed by these ideas until a few years ago. Even now, most anthropologists and social scientists are firmly committed to the view that evolution has nothing to tell them. Human bodies are products of "culture," and human cult...

18 likes

Whatta time is it?

Submitted to Contest #297

‘In Venice they say, what time is it?’ Giuseppe started slurring his words in between taking a gulp of the local Donnafugata red wine we were all enjoying.‘That’s because we, we say, how do you say…the stereotype is that Venetians are always drunk.’ chimed in Chiara in her perfectly pronounced English.‘And in Milano they say, ‘Whattime is it?’ Giuseppe said very quickly raising the tip of his nose up with his finger. They have no time to even speak. It’s all work, work, work.’‘And then in Florence they say Madonna, fuck, what time is it? The...

21 likes

As one door closes

Submitted to Contest #295

In friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group o...

24 likes

How fragile we are

Submitted to Contest #294

‘What time is it?’ I’m quickly rummaging through my rucksack to check I’ve remembered all my essentials. Looking at my watch, I’ve probably got ten more minutes.Day wear. Check.Evening wear? Mmmm, maybe I can buy something there? Wherever there is? A treat to myself for finishing my contract. Or maybe this daywear dress with this cardigan. That’ll do. Check. Pyjamas. Darn it, my rucksack is too small. Check.Copy of captain Corelli’s mandolin. Check.Pants. Check.Toothbrush. Check.Make up. Check.I think that’s it. Will take out the pyjama...

22 likes

It's not goodbye...it's see you later

Submitted to Contest #293

Buon pomeriggio signore e signori, è il vostro capitano a parlare. Vorrei darvi il benvenuto a bordo di questo volo Alitalia per Roma. Vi auguro a tutti un piacevole volo.Good afternoon, ladies, and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I’d like to welcome you aboard this Alitalia flight to Rome. I wish you all a pleasurable flight.Short and sweet and a slightly different welcome from my last flight. Four months ago, I had been flying with British Airways from London Gatwick to Sicily after the Christmas break. Then, the captain thought ...

23 likes

Eyes like the blue blue sea

Submitted to Contest #292

 ‘Oh, Louise, will you look at your gorgeous granddaughter there. Hasn’t she got eyes like the blue, blue sea?’  ‘I haven’t got eyes like the blue, blue sea. They’re green.’ I would reply to Sister Etna as a very honest nine-year-old.  ‘Oh, it must be your sisters’ eyes then.’ continued Sister Etna in her soft southern Irish tongue. ‘Well Louise hasn’t she got eyes like the green, green fields of home?’ When she turned to my brother Jimmy who was five at the time, he would say ‘my eyes are brown like poo.’&...

29 likes

Rack off

Submitted to Contest #291

Rack off ‘Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain, Peter Jones speaking and I’m delighted to welcome you aboard this BA 537 flight from London Gatwick to Rome. I’m joined by First officer Simon Watkins who is an all-round top guy and top pilot you’ll be pleased to hear. I hope everyone's had a delightful Christmas. I know I had a bit too much turkey, so you'll have to forgive the extra baggage.'The air hostesses looked at each other trying hard not to let out a groan. They were clearly used to Peter’s wit. A passenger with a...

26 likes

She walks in beauty

Submitted to Contest #290

“When I ask myself why so many come to Italy to find a larger version of themselves, I wonder. Is it Italy, or is this where you come when you’re about to bloom?” – FRANCES MAYES, WOMEN IN SUNLIGHTIt was 6pm on Wednesday evening and I was feeling pleased with my small achievements so far. I had successfully completed my first lesson with eight five-year-olds and no one had cried or wet their pants including me. I had survived a whole four days of my new job as an English teacher. And my biggest highlight so far was that no members ...

29 likes

Rooms with a view

Submitted to Contest #289

The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here. And then it all comes rushing back. I had been lying on my bed reading A Room with a View as a short break from my dissertation planning. I had been thinking I wouldn’t be disappointed with a view of anything in Florence right at that moment when the phone in the corridor rang. As I assumed I was the only one in, I pulled myself up and slowly walked towards the phone expecting it to be someone’s boyfriend as it usually was. But no. It was my friend Fiona calling to ask me out. It star...

36 likes

Eat Teach Love

Submitted to Contest #288

‘Mummy I’m just going to take Fergie for a w-a-l-k-i-e-s’ looking at the bundle of energy that was out 4-year-old springer spaniel and hoping that she had forgotten how to spell. ‘Where are you off to?’ ‘Just down to Crooklets beach, over the cliffs and back home. Shouldn’t be more than about an hour. I want some fresh air before we consume our body weight in Turkey and Tiramisu.’‘You don’t need to worry about that love. You’re looking like a skinny bean. It’s all that Italian living agreeing with you.’Italian loving more like.I’m ...

36 likes

Jobsworth

Submitted to Contest #287

Ding dong.Ding dong the witch is dead. Which old witch? The wicked witch! I sing to myself. Who needs sleep? Sleep is for losers. I initially said that as a joke to my mum friends who also had a sleep depriving monster at home but it’s not funny now. I used to think I was quite smart but now I can’t string a sentence together and opt for singing. I can’t even remember the last time I picked up a book.Ding dong.Oh yes, back in the room… It’s my doorbell.Deep breath. At least this is the last time I will have to put up with her. That is unless...

26 likes

Bigger than the whole sky

Submitted to Contest #286

trigger warning: loss and grievingWe pulled up outside my parent’s farmhouse and grabbed George’s bag which was busting full of toys. You would think he was going for three days, not three hours. As we approached the front door, George suddenly had a barrage of questions.‘I cannot wait to play Lego Star Wars with Granny.’ ‘I know I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.’‘Where is it you’re going again?’‘We’re going to a church service for Emmerson’s mum.’‘Will Emerson be there?’‘Yes I’m sure he will be and I’m sure his big sister will b...

22 likes

It's just the beginning it's not the end

Submitted to Contest #285

It’s amazing, isn’t it? The power of music. It can take you back to an exact place, feeling, situation in a second. And that’s exactly what this song did:I thought that we would just be friends (Oh yeah)Things will never be the same againIt's just the beginning it's not the end (We've only just begun)Things will never be the same againThings will never be the same again, Melanie C, northern star album, 1999I remember sitting in the front of Dad’s burgundy volvo driving the 250 miles from North Cornwall to Gatwick Airport at a ridiculously ea...

23 likes