Shanna Adams

“Fake It 'Til You Make It” by Shanna Adams

I couldn't see the future for years, but I learned the carnival tricks needed to do a cold reading. It came easy for me. But now, I am freaked out.  Before I went to bed one summer night, I was an average human with no insights into the future. None. I didn't believe that anyone could see life's destined path before us. But now… Well, I'll let you be the judge. I ran my "business" like any other con. I started out at the carnival, and then I moved up to the scene at a boardwalk in New Jersey. I put up the signs stating I am nothing ...

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“The Call of the Forest” by Shanna Adams

Submitted to Contest #61

I walk the same way every morning. It's so ingrained in my body that I don't even have to pay attention to where I am going anymore. I pop in my headphones, and off I go! I space out and drift into my own little world as I make my way to work.  Today went quite a bit differently. As I plodded along in my zombie state, a flowery scent touched my nose ever so slightly. Its vague subtlety awakened my senses enough to force me back into life. I stopped and looked around. Everything looked normal. Well, I think it does. I don't remember an...

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“The Train Car” by Shanna Adams

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” the man said. “What?” I answered, taking out my headphones. I spaced out a while ago, and I never saw this dude coming. “Can you keep a secret?” he asked again. “Yes,” I said. I decided to just play along with him. He seemed all right. He dressed well and looked unassuming. He looked utterly harmless, and my bored mind needed some excitement on this long train ride. “Well, there is a secret compartment in the caboose,” he stated. “Do you want to come with me?” “Sure,” I said, “Why not?” I gathered my things...

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“Second Life” by Shanna Adams

Submitted to Contest #54

He slammed his fists on the keyboard. Why he thought he would learn this was beyond him. Frustration welled up in his chest. Bookkeeping baffled him, but he wanted to learn it. John recently lost his job due to downsizing. He worked in the same place for almost twenty years now, but his company felt money needed their loyalty more than the older workers needed it. Years ago, money became the corporation’s patron saint. John noticed the budget cuts for equipment. It got to the point where they could barely do everyday tasks efficiently. T...

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“Fever Days” by Shanna Adams

Submitted to Contest #53

This summer set record highs, just like every year before it for the past decade. The weather forecasters drip with excitement reporting on the temperatures. The weather causes a creepy look on their face while they talk incessantly about its humidity, index, and whatever other terms they say on the television. Their delighted faces begin to look like a doll’s each time the temp rises, and the perpetual heat is their puppeteer. Ugh! Every time I watch them repeat the same five minutes, it incites such anger in me. They have nothing more to...

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