Stevie Burges

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2021

Stories (12)

12 Stories

210 karma pts

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“Evolving” by Stevie Burges

Yes, she could have made some different choices in life, but she did what she did, both good and bad, and she turned out to be who she now is. It's simply just growing up and moving on. But as the years passed, she continued to dream that all was not too late and that something genuinely romantic might eventually happen to her.   In her wild, heady past, most female friends had a similar...

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“The Fountain” by Stevie Burges

Sitting in the cafe, sipping hot coffee, she absent-mindedly swung her feet, first quickly and then more slowly, whilst thinking. She had a deadline for a short story for a women’s magazine where she worked as one of their freelancers. She knew what she was supposed to write about but didn’t have a single original idea.  Across the road from the cafe was a park. It was a crisp late-November day a...

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“The Plan” by Stevie Burges

It is only when looking back, now that I have reached the mature years, that I realise all the sections of my life have contributed to a far superior life plan than I could have chosen.  Apart from the purchase of a house and a pension plan I imagined myself a ‘free spirit’ jumping carelessly from event to event, without thought or care. I little knew all those earlier escapades and adventures were the...

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“Lights, Camera, Action” by Stevie Burges

Lights, Camera, Action She fell into the pub, her pub. She loved this pub, her second home. But tonight, standing behind the bar, was a new staff member. She hated it when it was someone new, and a scowl immediately appeared on her face. At the best of times, new staff never seemed to know where things were and, much more importantly, often failed to recognise the important customers. But tonight...

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“An Excellent Friend” by Stevie Burges

That sinking feeling of being called to a ‘three-line whip’ meeting. The guidelines to all staff, if not based in London, were to use the conference video service and dial in from the various offices based in the UK. It was clear that all must attend. She knew her team of work colleagues were perked up, finding this type of compulsory meeting exciting, as indeed was any interruption to thei...

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“Sleepless in the Square” by Stevie Burges

Bloody Remi. During the night, Sophie would be aware of Remi banging on the dividing wall from her flat next door to Sophie’s. Sophie then would have to suffer the indignity of being whispered about and covertly pointed at should Remi catch sight of Sophie in the garden. Sophie, feeling awkward, would attempt a pleasant smile at her ‘warring’ next-door neighbour, but Remi’s face would freeze, horror-struck that Sophie wo...

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“The Clay Mountain” by Stevie Burges

During the summer of the late 1950s my family and I lived in Chessington a town based in the South East of England - a short journey from Central London. My story centres around when I was about 7 years old. I was the youngest of three girls and next door lived two young boys of similar ages and we were all great friends. Childhood memories are never totally accurate, but I’m guessing it must have been the school summer ...

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“A summer's day out” by Stevie Burges

‘The wheels will roll at 8.30. You need to get up now, we don’t want a big hold up in the bathroom. Get up now don’t just lie there!’ ‘mmmmm’ ‘Open your eyes - the wheels will roll at 8.30 - precisely’. I look at dad through screwed up eyes that are totally unwilling to open wide and inwardly silently groan: ’I’m asleep go away’. ...

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“The Square on the River” by Stevie Burges

During the early 2000s not long after moving to London from Cardiff, on a rainy, dull Saturday afternoon I sneaked in through the gates of Dolphin Square and found myself in one of the most glorious gardens I had ever seen. I felt sure my friend had made a huge mistake by telling me to get a flat here. This was not for the likes of me - it was - posh. I was convinced if someone saw me in the gardens complete with tourist book in hand I would be marched out of the garden and told not to come back. However, I was persua...

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“Xenia and the Woman from China” by Stevie Burges

Several years ago I went to an Exhibition in London called ‘Get a Life’ which had representatives from every possible walk of life suggesting new job opportunities, new lifestyle ideas, all kinds of things that went from the sublime to the ridiculous. I was so depressed I found the Exhibition really boring. My head shook from side to side constantly and I wore the expression of the completely beaten and downtrodden woman. No, nothing appealed. Towards the end of the day just as I was about to leave the Exhibition...

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“The Dilemma” by Stevie Burges

I remember casually walking into the office and announcing I was taking a year off work to live with a tribe in the Borneo Jungle. I had volunteered to support a Charity carrying out an organ-utan population count. Everyone was so excited for me, and all the awkward questions I had envisaged just never came. When discussing my jungle plan I heard them using words like ‘helluva girl’.  Why on earth my colleagues had got i...

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“The Mistaken Identity” by Stevie Burges

Many, many years ago I decided to give up smoking. My smoking levels were high and definitely getting higher. If I could have only stayed at ‘a pack a day’ I’m sure I would never have noticed that I had a problem. However by the time I was on at least two packs a day I was beginning to understand that the addiction had a vice-like grip on me. I felt I had tried everything - except just giving up - and so finally...

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Author bio

Trying to learn how to write and have enough confidence to put work on a public site. Critiques really welcome.