Steve Uppendahl

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2020

Stories (4)

4 Stories

108 karma pts

?

“Final Weekend Fare” by Steve Uppendahl

Submitted to Contest #182

Just four minutes shy of ending my shift, a fare slides into the backseat of my cab, slams the door shut, and says, “Follow that car.”  A rapid flood of emotions and thoughts cascade through my brain at lightning speed. Most of them are positive because this is my favorite kind of fare. No matter what happens, I enjoy myself and still make some money.  Being a cabbie means dealing with all kinds of people in different parts of their day, in a full spectrum of moods, and wearing various levels of deodorant and perfume from non-exi...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Love Before and After Death” by Steve Uppendahl

Submitted to Contest #52

1. Jessie Williams is sixty-nine years old when she spots her dead husband across the street. Of course, she does the classic double-take, closes and opens her eyes several times, and pinches her arm until her eyes water. He is still there each time, giving his patented closed-mouth smile. (She has always wondered how he could smile that wide and still not show his teeth. But, when he did show that open-mouthed smile-pow!-right through her heart every time.)  Like many in her age bracket, Jessie’s worried about dementia, being calle...

6 comments 6
Read story

“The Cosmic Waiting Room ” by Steve Uppendahl

Submitted to Contest #49

Danny Evans is dreaming, but not peacefully. In his deep subconscious, Danny assumes he’s dreaming. But, the rest of his brain is busy with the realization that something is wrong. This nightmare is like no other he has experienced. One moment, he’s falling at such a high rate of speed, he can barely breathe, as if falling from a plane without a parachute. The next moment, he’s being pushed or pulled (it’s impossible for him to tell which) faster than he’s ever driven. Back and forth, back and forth, falling then being pushed/pulled. All the...

2 comments 2
Read story

“A Cliched Dalliance” by Steve Uppendahl

Submitted to Contest #47

Your grandma used to say, “Most people are like most days, ordinary and average. But, once in a while, there are exceptions that alter your world and you’re never quite the same after.” As you close your mailbox, then stoop to pick up the mail you dropped after seeing the manila envelope, you’re reminded once again of your grandma’s wisdom. Picking up your scattered mail, you notice that again, most of your mail can be recycled without even opening them. But, today has an exception and it’s not a bill, though you instantly wish it was.&nbsp...

4 comments 4
Read story

Author bio

I'm a middle school English teacher with four daughters. (Yes, seriously.) I coach high school varsity boys' tennis, as well as the eighth-grade boys' and girls' basketball teams where I teach. My time to write is more limited than I would like. But, so is the amount of money, patience, sleep, and energy, I have. Write on, brothers and sisters. Write. On.