Richard Thompson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2020

Stories (8)

8 Stories

178 karma pts

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“Farting at a Funeral and Other Life Lessons” by Richard Thompson

Ever since I can remember, my mother has blamed me for the death of my father. I honestly could not tell you why. I was just four months old when he fell down a manhole. I guess maybe she thought I crawled all the way from my crib in Queens to downtown Brooklyn in rush hour traffic and gave Pops the ol’ heave-ho while he was on the job. I suppose that is possible (I was an exceptionally good crawler for my age), although I can’t imagine that I had enough upper body strength to physically thrust my father to his tragic demise. My therapist...

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“Gerald's Dilemma” by Richard Thompson

This story contains strong language.What is that noise? Is that the smoke detector? Can’t be, I still need to replace the batteries on that thing. Oh, right, it’s the kettle. How could I forget I put the kettle on? Hibiscus tea before every shift. It's supposed to be good for the heart rate. Get it together, Gerald. Get it together.You heard what those guys said. Don’t do anything to arouse suspicion. Just act like you would during a typical shift. I’ve forgotten to lock up before. Haven’t I? I...

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“Brief and Random Conversations During the Apocalypse” by Richard Thompson

This story contains references to drugs and violence.“When I was 16 I killed a man.”“What?”“I said, when I was 16 I killed a man.”“I heard what you said, Beth. I’m just not understanding the premise. Is this one of those new games the kids are playing now? You know I’m not on social media.”“No, I’m literally telling you that when I was 16 years old, I ran over a man in my daddy’s 1965 Chevy pickup truck and flattened him out like a pancake.”...

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“The Redemption of Calvin Bushytail” by Richard Thompson

Don’t you remember the story of Calvin Bushytail? You don’t? That’s odd, considering it was on the front page of every major squirrel news website just recently. What? Yes, of course squirrels have news websites. What kind of question is that? Okay, fine, I’ll tell you the story, but please pay attention, because I’ll only tell it once; you should probably put your phone down for this.First off, you should know that hardly anything newsworthy ever happens in Squirrel Town. After all, it’s not a hustling and bustling metr...

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“Deerfield Park” by Richard Thompson

This story contains strong language, drug and alcohol use, and violent thematic elements.The mushrooms were just starting to kick in for Tommy as he stood at the top of the metal loop-de-loop slide that he used to launch himself from in middle school. He thought about days that seemed like a whole other life ago when he, Dante, and Louis used to skip Mr. Hedgeway’s ancient history class and come to the playground at Deerfield Park to talk about the girls in their class, throw rocks at the old utility closet, and...

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“Whacked” by Richard Thompson

Ronnie Combs had been a hitman for 17 years since last Tuesday, and he had a reputation for being incredibly efficient. All he needed was a name. No lengthy dossier with a backstory or snapshots of the target’s last-known whereabouts. Just first name, last name. Bang, bang.Most individuals who worked with Ronnie were grateful for his efficiency. But, when Leonard McIntosh accidently hired the assassin, he didn’t know he would later come to severely regret the man’s harsh approach to conducting business, as well as his in...

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“Tales from the Eye” by Richard Thompson

Bumbletown, Kansas had been smack-dab in the middle of a “twisted-up funnel mess,” as Sheriff Lincecum called it, for weeks now. It was the “calm before the shit hits the fan,” he would say. Destruction slowly closing in.Twice a day, Father McEleney would offer last rites in the town's church. Before going to bed every night, husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters would say good bye to each other like there wouldn’t be a morning. Only the Sun continued to rise.“Get on with it, Lord!” Farmer Jessup screa...

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“Strange Beginnings” by Richard Thompson

Mr. Butterfly longed for the days before metamorphosis. Back when he and Mrs. Butterfly lived the humdrum caterpillar life. A quiet leaf dinner and an early bedtime.But they were social butterflies now. Either hosting a gathering or fluttering off to one. He didn't care for it, and as Mrs. Butterfly went on and on about that evening's dinner party, Mr. Butterfly snapped.“Enough, Muriel!” Mr. Butterfly screamed. “Enough!”“Aren’t you tired of always fluttering about?! Ever since we’ve be...

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