Tanner Burke

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2020

Stories (8)

8 Stories

193 karma pts

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“The Catfish” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #140

There used to be a pond just behind my house on Terry Street. It’s still there, actually, I’ve just moved on. It was surrounded on all sides by reeds taller than me or Max or even Carson who was the tallest. We went there after school, left our backpacks at home and picked up our fishing poles then walked just past the Barbers’ house down the hill to the pond. Oh no, it was the Palermo’s house with the wind chimes that sounded like thunder, not the Barbers.  There were benches all around the pond to sit on and look out, little oak logs...

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“At All Costs” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #136

“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people.”  In Little League, we play six innings win, lose or, God forbid, a tie, the old sister-kisser or something akin to that like dying by a thousand fastballs to the head. Losing is almost as bad, but losing is a wrong I can correct sometime later on, with intent and malice and I can put myself back on top and feel great. Losing is a great motivator, but tying’ll turn a nun to drugs within a couple of hours. I don’t give a damn if you’re playing tee-ball or ...

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“A Meat Lover's Pizza” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #112

Man, that rain is really coming down. Probably pretty dangerous to drive in that. I hope the pizza guy isn’t having problems getting home. It would be a real shame if he got hurt or something. I mean, I already have my pizza, but I’d still be pretty bummed. Or maybe I’d never find out. I eat the first slice. This has to be the best one yet. Meat Lover’s Pizza, a large. I didn’t get an extra large because that would be absurd for just me, but I am rewarding myself. I lost five pounds this week, 5% of my total goal. Lots of miserable walks i...

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“The Beginning of Our Lives at the End of the World” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #105

Sam.“State officials are warning people to stay inside for the apocalypse, citing studies that state the home is the best place to experience the end of the world. Republican pundits say that only homes with holocaust shelters will allow any chances of survival, while the House continues to debate whether or not our impending doom should be embraced, as many Democrats are deciding to do. In any case, the end is drawing near.”The coffee is already cold. I must’ve got it started too early in an attempt to fill my day with things to do. I got l...

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“What's Wrong with my Wife?” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #103

It’s midnight in Mexico and I can’t be sure, but I think my wife just tried to kill me. We’ve been married only three days and I haven’t figured out her quirks yet. Still, I am very much afraid of my wife. Her name is Abigail. It was very recently that I realized her name is terrifying and I hate it. We met in school while I was studying painting and she was finishing medical school. Abigail specialized in neurology and my work consisted of paintings of old people eating various pastas. She pioneered a new procedure for removing brain tumor...

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“Take Me to the Sea” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #92

“Take me to the sea.” My dad’s voice jolted me awake. Somehow, I’d slept through the beeping of the heart monitor all night, but as soon as my dad whispered those words I was awake. It was all dark in the hospital room; the moon was beginning to fade in the window behind me. I turned to look outside and the sky was black and starless. I began to think I was dreaming that my dad spoke. I closed my eyes again. I didn’t need to watch over my dad if the moon was on the job. The armchair was some ancient fabric loosely folded over faux mahogany...

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“The Count din Umbra” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #65

“I must say, this is the latest I’ve ever moved anybody in, but you made it very easy. Here is your key, and you just call if you need anything Mr. din --” “Count, please,” Count din Umbra was quick to correct his real estate agent. Somehow quicker still to take the key from him and shut the door. “Okay, Mr. Count,” the real estate agent replied to the peephole, but he knew the Count was already gone. The poor real estate agent stood on the porch in his extra small polo freezing to the bone. But, he lingered on the front porch, partially ...

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“Whispering Walls” by Tanner Burke

Submitted to Contest #64

Pan down from a gray sky. We see a large, gothic manor, a black wooden frame used to match the white that’s starting to peel off the siding. Some of the windows are broken in and there is ivy growing up the walls. Brief close up shots of the house tell us that it’s abandoned. Nonetheless, the boards that used the seal the door shut have been brought down. They lay on the deck in a heap. We cut inside the house to Jack. He’s tied up, sat in a chair in the middle of a room. He tugs on his cords, bites on the gag in his mouth, but stays put. H...

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