Stevie Burges

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2021

Stories (35)

35 Stories

1073 karma pts

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“Love Amongst the Portraits” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #242

Emma was a single woman in her early 40s who adored art galleries and museums. For her, they represented sanctuaries where she could revel in solitude without succumbing to loneliness. The serene ambience of these spaces allowed her facial muscles to unwind from a week of stress and transformed her into a more radiant version of herself. As an independent soul, she relished mingling with others who shared her passion for art, enjoying the silent camaraderie of fellow gallery-goers. That spring Saturday morning, in bustling Central London, wh...

13 comments 13
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“The Robot” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #239

Life had been good to Claudia. She’d never married or had kids but was friendly with her area's local children, neighbours, cats and dogs. She’d bought a cosy two-bedroom bungalow when she’d retired. Her tranquil property provided a peaceful sanctuary and was adorned with a quaint front garden enclosed by a low wall and a hedge. At the back of the property was a verdant backyard with many colourful blooms in lar...

15 comments 15
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“The Blind Date” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #237

The Blind Date Becky pushed her way through the swing doors of the bustling open office she had worked in for the last eight years. Becky, a slim, good-looking woman, about 30 years old, is a proofreader for the renowned ‘Whiz - The Young Persons’ Lifestyle Magazine.’ “Whiz” had just received the Magazine of the Year Award (1982), and Becky, like all those who worked for the magazine, was justifiably proud of the achievement. In the 1980s, the magazine’s large office was mainly staffed by young, excitable women whose main goals in ...

9 comments 9
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“NY Resolution: How to be Cool 2024” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #231

Hi Both,As the year draws to a close, it's that time again - time to jot down our resolutions. I'll be honest; I've never been too keen on this task. But this year, why not share my vision for a dazzling 2024 with you both?Resolution 1: Unleash the New MeReinvent me entirely. How hard could it be? Isn't that what resolutions are all about?Resolution 2: The Eternal Diet StruggleWhy is it that every New Year, I find myself chanting the same mantra - g...

5 comments 5
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“Xmas Lunch” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #228

Lilian despised Xmas—the frantic rush to buy presents when the shops were teeming with customers. Navigating through the overcrowded shops, wondering what the hell she would buy. Each counter was knee-deep in potential customers, and given her petite stature of 5 feet, the whole experience was a daunting task. Once the gift shopping was complete, the next challenge would await her - boarding a bus or struggling to the un...

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“The Replica” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #225

Martha raced down the lengthy deserted corridor that stretched along the Relaxation floor of the Starship Enterprise. Usually reserved, she would timidly shuffle along, keeping her eyes glued to the floor to avoid any potential eye contact or smiles. As a Yeoman on the Enterprise, she was initially assigned administrative duties in the Canteen and Restaurant. However, seeking alleviation from the solitude of her...

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“Early mornings at the Condo” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #224

Early mornings at the CondoThe compound where her condominium was located was only a five-minute walk to the nearest shopping mall in an area that housed many cafes and international restaurants. It was a lively, enjoyable place in which to live. The pavements were squeezed tight with innumerable tourists from around the globe, and the cacophony of the various mother tongues could be heard in ebullient, loud tones. It was a happy, vibrant place, full of life—a blissful haven for Sofia as her encroaching su...

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“The Horrors of Work” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #219

Her face remained totally stolid as the Number 26 rattled towards her. Quite how it was possible to ignore the noise of squealing brakes and loud horns blaring, but the whole queue never flinched or reacted and stood as if made of stone, lost in their thoughts. Standing at an unprotected bus stop in a traffic-polluted, grey, cold, wind-blown street, Sylvie’s expressionless, dead-eyed face never changed. Glancing...

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“The Coffee Club” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #216

Well, what a surprise getting a text from Carole inviting me for a coffee. It was bizarre to get a text when we had only ever emailed each other, but an invite for coffee, as such, wasn’t a total surprise. Of all the things we two women loved, it was good coffee. I remember our relationship sparked because Carole shared an essay describing her love of coffee. However, it wasn’t just the text that I foun...

10 comments 10
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“The Island” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #214

They watched the sun slowly dipping, unaware of the darkness gradually enveloping them. She could feel the comfort of his warm body sitting close to her despite their bodies not being close enough to touch. As she took one more deep, satisfied breath, she almost sobbed. If only she could stay here forever. She looked around and thought about the idyllic eight days of her holiday. The location, stunning...

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“The Fortune Teller” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #213

‘Make sure you bring some paper and a pen’, said Lynne. We were off to a fortune teller called Ada. I always thought fortune tellers were rubbish, but Lynne was convinced they could predict our future events. I was in my early 20s and a dedicated people pleaser, and if Lynne wanted to have her palm read - well, so be it! ‘Why do I need paper and pen?’ I asked, confused by this req...

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“Sharon's corral” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #204

Sharon was a tall, well-proportioned, stunning attractive woman who had recently arrived in Fort Worth from Hereford in the Texas Panhandle. She had met Phoebe one evening in a popular bar near the Stockyards where most of the cowboys went. Phoebe saw David chatting to the slim, sexy woman tossing her mane of thick, luxurious hair around, ensuring she was noticed by half the bar as soon as she had entered. <...

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“Caught” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #193

This story mentions sex. The city Nathan and Heather lived and worked in had an international airport a mere 5 miles from where they lived. After a careful discussion, it was decided an airport only 5 miles from the office was not a good bet. There was instead an airport approximately 50 miles away - surely no one from the office would go there! Heather’s sister knew she was having an affa...

14 comments 14
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“The Rescue” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #192

‘Oh look, here she comes. Look at the way she waves to ‘mummy’. Do you think she’s quite normal?’ The girls stood at the street corner in their school uniforms hitched, pulled, and twisted to try and make them look appealing, sexy and fashionable. They stood around looking at her as she ran past them in her little girl’s dress, too neat, too clean, with her beautiful, youthful skin and s...

16 comments 16
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“The Visitor” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #190

This story mentions sex. ‘Oi, who the hell are you?’ Sonia shook the inert sleeping body. ‘Wake up! Speak to me!’ In the dark of the bedroom, she could hear the sheets rustling. It was too dark to see the body's outline, but she felt sure it was a naked male. Sonia had had enough. Suffering from terrible jet lag, dirty and exhausted, an electricity blackout, and no...

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Author bio

I live in Chiangmai, Thailand, but I am from London, UK. I retired from teaching in China in 2020 and have taken up writing as a hobby. I find writing very challenging but getting slightly more manageable as I practice. I love reading the stories on this site and am so impressed with all the skilled and talented writers that contribute to this site. smburges@icloud.com