Ruth Smith

“New Year, New Me!” by Ruth Smith

It was New Year's Eve, 2022, and I was sitting at my desk, writing out my New Year's Resolutions. This is a tradition I've had since I was 15 years old. It is a time of reflection on who I had been over the past year and how I want to improve myself. It is a time for critical thought and planning. I took pen to paper and began to think. What was the year 2022 like for me? 2022 had been a bad year. I was unemployed, but I had attempted to start several businesses. All of them failed. I started out doing freelance web design, but my software...

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“Unexpected Death” by Ruth Smith

Kilgren looked out over the valley, noting every nook and cranny that could be used as a hiding spot for his enemy. How many years has he been a Warrior? How many wars has he fought in? He was weary of battle and longed for the peace and quiet of civilian life. Kilgren glanced over his back at his army, who was preparing for conflict. They looked as tired as he felt, the allure of fighting replaced with fatigue and disillusionment. This had to stop.A piebald gelding approached Kilgren from his right, its rider covered completely in armor and...

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“Ferries and Trains” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #103

Barb and Tom got off the ferry and walked over to the sign that listed the times the boat came in and when it left. “2:30,” Tom said, setting his wrist alarm. Barb nodded. She flung her beach bag over her shoulder, grabbed her husband's hand and they walked towards Manly beach.It was September 2000, and the Summer Olympics were being held in Sydney Australia. Tom's brother and his Ozzy wife lived in a suburb of Sydney and were kind enough to host Barb and Tom for the Games. The couple saved up for 4 years for this once-in-a-lifetime opportun...

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“Newcomer on 4th Street” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #102

No one knew anything about him, that man that showed up last Spring. He had purchased the Mainsfield house, which had been vacant for at least 10 years. Most people in town didn't even know his name, they referred to him as “that newcomer on 4th Street.”Jack, from the Hardware Store, knew him a little better than most. Mr. Cromwell was a regular at the Store, buying various supplies and tools a person would get when fixing up a house. One week it would be paint and paintbrushes, along with a drop cloth and some painter's tape. The next week ...

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“Return to Me” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #101

She listened to the sound of the sea as it crashed into the shores of the sound. The tide level was high in the waterway and the winds were blowing strong. Kayla looked out, searching for his ship. There was nothing in sight except for storm clouds. “He better make it home safe,” she said to no one.Kayla turned from the shore and walked sadly inland. She hated this waiting. She blamed herself for this anguish. Kayla had known before she married him that James was a sailor. She knew the risks as well, having lost her father to the sea. Yet sh...

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“The Birthday Dinner” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #100

The clock struck 11:00 and Darlene looked over at her oven. How did she mess that up, she wondered. She was sure she had timed out the turkey so it would be done before the 12:00 dinner, yet the timer said there was 1 hour and 45 minutes left to cook. She checked her rolls and they were raising perfectly. They would be ready to go in on time, but that turkey worried her. In Darlene's world, you don't undercook turkey. Jeremy was turning 18 today. It had been a difficult year, 2020, and Darlene was determined to give her youngest son the be...

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“The Beach House” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #99

We stood at the end of the dock, looking out onto the lake. Tera, my younger sister, sighed loudly. Sissy, the eldest of the sisters, turned towards her and smiled. “Do you remember the first time we were here?” she asked.Tera laughed. “How could I forget? You pushed me off the dock into the freezing water!” She threatened to push Sissy in, but I stepped between them.“The sun is about to go down. Let's not ruin the beauty of the moment by causing a ruckus.” I rarely used the word ruckus, but being at this place reminded me too much of Grandm...

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“Tradition” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #98

Joshua laughed loudly as he raised his glass to the others at the table. “What a heck of a party!” he said and he threw back his beer, then placed the container loudly onto the table. “Hey, why do we always get together on the 5th Wednesday of every month?” Adam asked as he hailed the waitress for another round. Billy looked at Adam with a strange look on his face. “Don't you remember? We started doing this our freshman year of college. The last day of finals fell on the 5th Wednesday of the month and you said we should go out to celebra...

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“Empathically Yours” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #97

They say your eyes are the windows to your soul. To some extent, I think they are right, whoever “they” are. Allow me to explain.My name is Gadura, and I am what some people call an empath. But I'm not the kind who can feel your feelings when you feel them. I am the kind who can look into your eyes and see everything you have ever done in your life and know how you felt at the time. Believe me, this is a much scarier gift. My job, here in Worthwillow, is to solve mysteries for the local law enforcement. And, as expected, that leaves me with ...

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“Shipwrecked!” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #96

As the fog cleared in her brain, Margaret realized she was still alive, laying face down in wet sand on a shoreline of some kind. How did she get here and where on Earth is “here”? She pushed herself up off of the ground onto her hands and knees, spitting the dirt and sand out of her mouth. From there, she got up shakily and glanced around. Still wiping the sand off of her face, Margaret could barely make out her surroundings in the dark. Maybe off to her side was some debris that had washed ashore along with her. She stumbled towards the wo...

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“It Happened One Evening” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #96

It was a dark and stormy night when my life was shattered.It all started innocuous at first. We were eating dinner, George and I. I had planned the night as a quiet, romantic meal with candles, flowers, and our best dinnerware. I set the table with a fine white linen tablecloth, my good cloth napkins, the real silver flatware I inherited from my grandmother, and our crystal champagne glasses we purchased on our honeymoon in Paris.I was serving George's favorite foods; filet mignon with fried onions and mushrooms, fresh green beans cooked in ...

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“No Hesitation” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #95

“You need to wear this jacket with that dress,” Karen's mom said as she placed the garments on her daughter's bed. “It makes you look more professional.” Karen nodded absently. Her mom was always giving her fashion advice. More than that, she was always giving Karen advice and was usually right. Karen had learned long ago to listen to her mother about everything. “Thank you, Mom. I need to get ready now so I won't be late for the interview,” Karen ushered her mother out the door so she could start getting dressed. “Don't forget to review...

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“It's A Coverup” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #94

“Masks do absolutely nothing to protect people from this virus,” Allen stated defiantly at the entrance of his local Menard's Home Improvement Store. “I'm sorry sir, it is store policy to require masks in this store. If you don't want to wear one, you can't come in. This is your choice,” said the employee at the door. Allen watched as other customers walked freely in and out of the store. He needed to get that joint to finish fixing his washing machine. If he didn't come home with that part, Abby would be very upset at him. Reluctantly, ...

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“Reluctance” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #93

I know I should be writing right now. I have a goal to write at least three pages per day. But today I am too wound up to concentrate on anything other than that stupid party Tanya wants me to go to.“It will do you good to get out and see people,” she says.“I don't want to see people,” I reply.“Stop kidding yourself, you want to see people,” she counters, her voice betraying her irritation with me. We had this talk multiple times and it always ends the same.Ha, Tanya doesn't know I can be very difficult if I don't want to do something. And I...

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“You Never Know What You Might Find” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #93

What time was it anyway? Lizzy looked at the clock on the wall and sighed deeply. It was now 10 am. She glanced around her living room in dismay. Everywhere she looked she could see nothing but garbage, remnants of the party her roommate had thrown for their friend who was moving to Alaska to start a new job. Lizzy grabbed a black garbage bag from the kitchen and began putting the littered red solo cups into the bag.MaryAnne came out of her room, rubbing her bloodshot eyes. She nearly tripped over a pile of beer bottles piled up near the hal...

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