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S.E. Reed

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2021

Stories (8)

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21 Followers

34 Following

8 Stories

244 karma pts

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Have a Blessed Day Sweetheart

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there God? It’s me, Iris,” I say looking at my reflection in the bedroom mirror. “IRIS! Get your ass downstairs, the bus ain’t gonna wait much longer,” Grandma shouts from the bottom landing. “Crap,” I grab my backpack and run down the stairs two at a time. I’ll have to finish my conversation with God later. I give Grandma a kiss and grab my lunch sack from her hand and fly out the front door, the screen slamming hard behind me. The bus is already starting to pull away and I have to run fast to catch up. ...

19 likes

A Peaceful Life in the Swamp

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #127

Remember that one day, when it should have been too hot to be a day in late November? You had an aching feeling in the pit of your gut that something bad was going to happen. That was the day he came into your town and tried to steal her, to take her from you. He wanted what wasn’t his to take. So you shot him dead… You live in the Florida Everglades, on a three-acre piece of land you bought a few years ago, where the endless sunshine beats down on your leather-cured-back. The humidity blankets your hardened north...

22 likes

There's a Hole Where My Heart Used to Be

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #102

You know she’s a loaded gun. Click, click, boom. “Lucy, what the hell did you do?” Benny says when we walk into the house and he sees the glass on the floor. “What needed to be done,” I reply. My cheeks are burning. “She’s going to lose her mind!” “But Benny--” I punch my hands into my pockets. “God Lucy! You can’t just break shit. Anything sets Mama off these days--” “Just shut up Benny!” I cry. I don’t have to be reminded how bad it is. She’s moody, bitter, drunk… and she hates me and Benny more t...

13 likes

You’d Think He Was a Logger

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #101

Father of forest the green protector Mossy beard face cradles baby sapling Prayer chain to stop the chainsaw monster Crying and weeping, big sweet maple tears I take a deep breath, ready to perform the next stanza of the poem I’m reciting for my Dad. But, before I can spit out any more poetic words, Dad coughs and opens his mouth, “Wait-- so let me get this straight-- you’re telling me you plan on standing up and performing that in front of your class?” I blink my fake lashes a few times, letting them dance like dandelion fluff ...

10 likes

Gram Lenn's Cornbread

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #100

There are various times throughout a woman’s life when she gets nostalgic. Like around the holidays or at the birth of a new baby or with the passing of a loved one. She can’t help it. She’s just wired that way. (I should know, I’m a Neurosurgeon). For me, the nostalgia is strongest when I smell cornbread. The savory-sweet perfume carries me home. Back to Savannah-- to nights at Gram Lenn’s house, sweet tea on the wrap-around porch, cousins laughing and racing around the yard, and her famous cornbread in the oven. I spent most...

16 likes

2HOT in Arizona

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #99

The front vanity plate on her vintage red mustang read “2HOT”. She thought it was funny. This was Arizona after all. “You know dear,” Mrs. Tanesky started in, “If you want Bill to propose, you’re going to have to sell that car. Men don’t like to compete. And that car just screams--” “Ooops look at that, I’ve got someplace to be.” Esther Rae rolled her eyes at the nosey neighbor as she wiggled by in her jean mini-skirt and wedge heels. Her faded hemp bag was slung over one shoulder, filled with the essentials. She ...

19 likes

(Un) Lucky June

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #98

“June Li wait!” She is shouting through the crowd. “JUNE LI!” “No,” I croak. I’m out of breath and desperate to get away. My leg is twisted at the knee, but I’m still trying to run. I knew jumping off the roof was going to hurt. But I had no other choice. Seriously. My luck has been so shitty lately! I push my hair out of my eyes to see where I’m going. There-- The lights twinkling over the Zhu Jiang River, the Dragon Boat Festival is about to start. If I can make it there before they light the floating Dragon, maybe I ...

19 likes

Sweetness in Seattle

S.E. Reed

Submitted to Contest #97

“You have something on your chin,” Chayce shouts over the electric pulsing of the deep house music. The beat is about to drop and the crowd is roaring wildly. I’m moving in my not-really-a-dance-move sway. Chayce and I come to the Underground in downtown Seattle after our night shift at the docks every Friday. “What?” I shout back at Chayce. “Your chin!” he yells. “WOOOO!!” the drugged up candy-kid next to me yells and pumps his fist. His jaw churns side to side and his eyes roll along with the beat of the music. I smile...

13 likes

Author bio

Check out my blog on writing!
https://writingwithreed.com

Follow me on Twitter @writingwithreed

I grew up believing in magic.

Every fairytale was real, palm readings were gospel and ghosts lurked in the space between twilight & dawn. Surrounded by the shimmer of Evergreen trees in a mossy Seattle suburb, I stitched costumes for the school play, edited the yearbook and wrote politically charged poetry for our student literary magazine.

As an adult, I've lived all over the United States which gives me a unique American perspective that flows into my writing. Many of my pieces have a strong Southern theme, but I also like to dabble in the strange, the bizarre and the fantastical.

I currently reside in Florida-- nestled between the swamps of the Everglades and the salt of the Atlantic Ocean. If I'm not writing, you can find me and the fam planning our next adventure.

xo
S.E. Reed

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