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Robert Grandstaff

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2020

Stories (8)
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1359 Followers
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8 Stories

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Ghost Ship

Submitted to Contest #83

Deep blue waves launched our sailboat higher as the storm darkened the skies in the southeast. My brother David and I woke this morning to heavy seas and high winds. We’d never seen so much lightning in our lives. We checked the radar and saw the hurricane had shifted overnight, looking for warmer water. With the storm headed right at us, we turned further west to go around the outside. The Caribbean was no longer a safe option, so we hoped for Bermuda or the outlying islands. All morning we struggled against the wind and waves, and our prog...

147 likes 93 comments 93
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While Writing

Submitted to Contest #78

While Writing   Sitting alone in my office, I began my latest short story when this happened.    “Hi dad!” said my daughter Tyler, age 9.    “Hi babe,” I said. Not looking up from my computer.    “Whatcha doin?” she asked.   “Working on a story.” I said.   “You sure have a lot of hobbies,”    “I don’t think so. I really don’t have many.”    “Look at all these different books. You should know how to do everyth...

87 likes 27 comments 27
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Murder at Kasserine Pass

Submitted to Contest #70

Murder at Kasserine Pass The Bou Chebka road, deep inside the Kasserine Pass, narrowed to little more than a camel track along a dry riverbed and steep cliffs. Rooted in the pale sand, a grove of palm trees jutted out from the ground as if thrown down and forgotten long ago. The remnants of the US 26th Regimental Combat team used the shade of the palm trees to dig their foxholes. Covered in sand and blisters, men hacked until the exposed roots of the palm trees aggravated their progress. Collapsing exhausted, they lay where they fell, swol...

80 likes 56 comments 56
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Achieving a dream

Submitted to Contest #66

Achieving a dreamOnce, it mattered most, being independent. Fulfilling a lifelong dream. All it took was education and hard work, the proverbial toss of the dice, and a little luck. Then one day you learn you can’t make it alone, no one ever does. The person who said they did it all by themselves is a liar. To say, “I walked down this road through the rain, sun, the good, and bad, you name it, I always had you by my side.” Those are the words of an achiever.The house door slid open and closed with the ease of a firm grip. Evening flies hover...

87 likes 37 comments 37
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December 6th, 1941

Submitted to Contest #64

December 6, 1941 A bright blue sky for a hundred miles west ended the day. Cool mountain breezes, from the snowcapped Sierras, blew across the lowlands. A short hike to the edge of town, Alex and John searched for the house known as “Decay and Splendor.” Hidden among a neighborhood of pines, the gothic manor sat empty and foreboding. Boarded-up windows and tangled vines hid a once beautiful home fallen from glory. Dead leaves scented the air and swished along a buried sidewalk as they approached. Statues and figurines of white marble pe...

83 likes 89 comments 89
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Annabella

Submitted to Contest #61

Annabella A small Victorian cottage sat on the shores of New Hampshire, the last one in the row, with nearly endless views of the ocean and it’s shores. Two brothers approached the house with an unending discussion about the conversation they needed to have with their father.  “You know I can’t stand talking to him.” said Andrew.  “Yes, but he’s Father, and you know how he is,” said Michael. “Well, you’ve known him longer than I have, why don’t you tell him?” said Andrew.  The two men stopped at the top of the steps to the...

164 likes 195 comments 195
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Just Say it Already

Submitted to Contest #47

Just Say it Already As we walked along the street for the dozenth time, holding tight to each other’s hand, dogging on comers, and avoiding the broken sidewalk, I gazed at her when she wasn’t looking. The sky was cobalt blue with a trace of white cloud too thin to interfere with its grandeur. I’d only looked at it twice since we’d started walking because she was the most beautiful of God’s creations I could see. She knew she could talk to me all day, and I’d listen without interruption. She also knew we’d been walking for well over an hour,...

71 likes 14 comments 14
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Moving Day

Submitted to Contest #43

Moving Day There’s always something special for a child on moving day. A new house, new areas to explore, and being the oldest child getting to call dibs on the room of your choice.  “Moving day, moving day, moving day!” shouted Christopher as he ran through the house. There was an unspoken rule that on moving day a child had the first twenty minutes to run around the house and explore every room without question. Closet doors were flung open, lights were turned on, basements and attics were explored without fear. Christopher was twelve...

73 likes 35 comments 35
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