Susan Catucci

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2022

Stories (61)

61 Stories

2407 karma pts

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“The Day the Rabbit Died” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #276

Mom and Dad:I have been thinking about what you said and I want to present my argument to you in writing so I don’t miss any of the points I think are really important. I know I’m only 12 but I believe what I’m arguing is right and I hope you see that.I am the youngest in this family and I’ve only had 12 years of Easter baskets. That means that Rob and Scott will have more years of Easter baskets than I will. It’s not fair to just cut off Easter baskets and I get gypped because Dad thinks we’re too old. I’m not. No one asked me what I though...

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“FRANKIE'S WILD RIDE” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #220

Francine ran up the porch steps, then tried stomping her Keds hard enough to make an impression. She learned quickly that sneaker soles had no impression-making ability whatsoever, especially on old, worn out carpet made a zillion years ago. It seemed the only thing Francine had accomplished was to release clouds of dormant dust from another era. Francine covered her nose and moved to the window seat a little quicker.She heard voices coming from the driveway just outside the big bay window. Francine concentrated on ...

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“THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A SOUL” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #218

***Potentially Disturbing Themes Involving Mental Illness***In the pitch black of time and space, I think I know three things. I am in a stranger’s car. I don’t know where I am going. I can barely breathe but I dare not move. The moldy blanket that covers me ensures my breathing will be shallow because I’m afraid I’ll gag if I take in its dank, suffocating stench. I might make some sound. The last time I did, he threatened to hurt us. So, I focus my efforts and attention on keeping the kitten nestled...

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“RAT TRAPS AND BAD EGGS” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #212

*** Adult situations, Mature language **** * *To Whom it May Concern:There comes a time in everyone’s life when they need to take a step back and ask themselves, am I living my best life? Am I seeing life as it really is, or am I seeing it as I wish it to be? Let me ask, are you the trusting type? When you buy eggs at the market, do you place the carton of eggs in your shopping cart without checking them first for cracks? For the price you’re paying for those eggs, would you run the risk of purchasing a bad one? Just...

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“CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #210

Navigation Coordinates J2000 Right Ascension to Saturn (Per the International Celestial Reference System)On board Spacecraft Module ZK8*11, two of Planet Exo’s top engineers sat together in the Goldilocks Lounge going over the day’s findings.EKK-&#@ and SPEC-%^+ studied a year’s worth of data points spread before them reflected in graphs and pie-charts. The table surface doubled as a computer screen. The two had their internal telepathy enabled so they could communicate without speaking. This had the advantage of blocking ...

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“BACK SEAT DRIVER” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #209

“End of Line for longtime fugitive Darrell Benjamin.”“Extradited from Canadian border, accused killer to face multiple charges.”Media outlets throughout the country ran similar headlines.And then:“Winter blizzard grounds multiple airports; record number flights cancelled across American Midwest.” * * * Rookie Police Officer Hap Davis sat behind the wheel of a partially thawed patrol vehicle. He had the heat turned up as high as it would go. He’d spent the better part of the morning scraping ice, brushing snow and cl...

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“A DRAWN OUT AFFAIR” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #208

*** Content Warning: Sexual/Adult situations **** * *It was the shank of the evening. A majority of the neighborhood had called it a day. The moon, nearly full, cast a warm glow over the small, sleepy town. On a manicured lawn sat an old Victorian home with wrap-around porch. A tattered black ribbon adorned the front door. The artist who lived there had spent as little time as possible in the main house since the funeral. He preferred to be in the studio nestled in the woods behind the home.A single ...

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“PREPARE TO BE AMAZED” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #207

Petre Vandomeir gazed out a cheap hotel window overlooking street lights and illuminated gas station signs, customary nightlights in a small town. “I’m not sure what to tell you, Poe.”Poe had been busy cleaning his face with rabbit paws, circular motions, swiping one long ear at a time, licking, preening, thorough; old habits that die hard.Petre turned a padded chair to face the window.“Poe, come.”The whiter-than-snow bunny stopped mid-stroke and flounced, the way rabbits do, over to Petre's chair, then nestled into the cradle of Petre’...

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“FEAR ITSELF” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #206

“Where do you think you’re going?”“Uh, the library.”“You’re supposed to stay here and watch me.”“Camden, don’t you have homework?”“Don’t you?”“Um, library?”“You’re not that kind of . . .”“Okay, okay. Camden, if I tell you, you can’t breathe a word to anyone!”“Allie, you can trust me. I never told anybody about you and, who was that guy . . .”“All right, all right. Well, this is an even bigger deal than that.”“I’m all ears.”* * *Just my luck, my little brother has big ears; I can’t get away with much having him around...

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“IN FULL REGALIA” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #205

Levi knew more about what he wasn’t than what he was. He felt like a rogue puzzle piece. He was not athletic, he was not exceptionally funny or bright, he wasn’t interested in smoking weed, nor was he gleeful enough for glee club, and so on. A natural offshoot to being a one-of-a-kind kid is isolation, exclusion, one-ism, enjoying your own company comfort-thinking, learning how to harness introspection so that you become your own think tank and you do quite well with it. Of course, you’re the only one who knows anything ...

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“MEDESTO HAD TO DIE” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #204

“Wake up, Christo. We’re about to land.”Christobal stirred, though his eyelids barely moved.“Love, you’re exhausted. I hope this trip there will be time for you to rest.”“We will see, Jovana.” Christobal yawned and stretched.“Little Havana. Do you know how long it’s been?”“Almost to the minute, Cielo.”“Thirty years, Christo.”Jovana’s voice drifted, along with her thoughts. Her husband took her hand and brought her back.“Let us see how Little Havana has grown.” Christobal and Jovana were soon escorted out of thei...

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“THE EDGE” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #203

“Please don’t die.”Freddie’s eyes were open but could not see. Her pupils were dilated to the extent that the greenish-gold color they once were had now all but disappeared. “Come back. Please come back.”Freddie’s face turned slightly to the sound of Michael’s voice. Her lips quivered. Michael lowered his head.“What is it?” he whispered, “I’m here.”* * *“Mike, we're over here!”Michael Woodman, a fourth generation Phi Beta Kappa, was filling his party goblet from the house keg. He'd be...

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“IF OSTRICHES COULD FLY” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #202

** WARNING: Violence, drugs, language, abuse. *** * *Howie ignored an urge to turn and look back in the direction of the only place he’d known for the entirety of his 14 years. Broken Hill would soon be left far behind. After adjusting the duffle on his back, he lowered the cattleman hat over his eyes. Relentless dust and shimmering heat rose from the hot floor that carpeted the Australian back country. “Bet Hell’s no worse than what we got here, eh Dad?” he’d said earlier. That was right before his dad had giv...

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“THOSE CRAZY K-KIDS” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #201

The stadium lights had all been extinguished, save a handful left on for the benefit of the cleanup crew. They were expected to arrive soon to begin the painstaking work of restoring the open field to its original condition prior to the evening’s concert.Just hours ago, the arena had held tens of thousands of K-Pop crazed fans, thrashing and moving as if one giant being, pulsating to the heavy electronic beat, screaming and clamoring to get as near their idols as possible.The only remnants of the frenzy that had been alive and kic...

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“TWO SAUCERS OF STRYCHNINE” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #200

**WARNING: A tad profane, though in keeping with the times. *** * *The telephone was ringing off the hook in Louella Parson’s penthouse suite. If a ringtone could fit the caller, this one would spit nails.“Hellooo,” trilled Louella.“Don’t hello me, you backstabbing little ingrate.”“Why, is this the Queen of Hollywood Gossip? Oh no, I forgot. That’s me." “I have a bone to pick with you.”“That’s hardly news, Hedda. You’ve gnawed on more bones than all the beasts at the San Diego Zoo.”“And don’t you forget it, Louella.”...

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Author bio

I have been reading and writing and loving both all my life. I recently had a children's book published and reedsy prompts is a wonderful way for me to practice and stretch my imagination. One of my personal favorite stories somehow has been listed separately and I don't want to lose track of it. It's entitled A Rat's Life, I wrote for the prompt to write about a character living through a major historical event, whether they know it or not. It was Contest #163 Leo Tolstoy and is categorized as creative nonfiction, drama, fantasy. I'm sorta proud of it. :) For ease of application, here's a link to A Rat's Life: https://blog.reedsy.com/short-story/eselcu/

Shortlisted 3 stories ⭐️

Contest #196

PRETTY LOOKIN' PEOPLE – read story

Contest #186

READ THAT BACK – read story

Contest #170

A LITTLE TRIP – read story