Trudy Jas

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2023

Stories (71)

71 Stories

5358 karma pts

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“Summertime” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #262

“Lawd almighty.” Aunt Velma lifts the hem of her cotton housedress and lets the fan blow air under the fabric. I look away, could have done without that picture. Fishing a washcloth from the bucket with the last of the ice water, I wring it out and hand it to her, get another one to rub over my face, neck and wrists.“What’s keeping Junior?” She grumbles. “He’s taking his good ole time. Bet he’s hanging around Arnold’s, soaking up the cool air.”“I guess.” It’s too hot to talk. It’s too hot to think. I press the cold washcloth behind my k...

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“Keep Walking” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #261

If I have a neat little heart attack, right here at the bottom of the attic steps, then the kids can throw away all that junk up there. But no, I had to tell them I’d do this myself. Why? I can’t imagine that there is anything up there that they shouldn’t see.Sam and I bought this house when the boys were still little. Around forty-five years ago. It’s going to be an ordeal emptying this memorial to my marriage, our younger selves, before I bury myself among the old and discarded. I’m sure it won’t be just the mountain of dust bunnies I’ll s...

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“Just one more minute, please!” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #260

Just one more minute, please!Friday nights have always been special.Back when, those evenings were full of fun and games. You were an expert at Monopoly, usually taking all your parents’ and brothers’ money. Sometimes the evening was spent peeking between your fingers while being half scared, half thrilled by blobs from outer space. Staying up way past your bedtime, begging for five more minutes, one more story, one more hand of cards. Sometimes the pleas were heard, other times not.Later Fridays meant a movie with your friends and a curfew ...

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“Pablo's Wisdom” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #260

It caught her eye, winked at her, made her fall in love. She just had to add it to her collection. Right there, on the modest table, among all the other market stands was the vase. A beautiful, ethereal pale green jade vase. She stopped, carefully, almost reverently lifted it off the table, felt its weight, held it up to the light and knew it was hers. Exploring, traveling, learning about cultures different from her own, attempting to master at least a few words of the language, as well as seeing the sights, comparing architectural styles an...

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“T, D & H” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #259

It would have been an ordinary day, one that would have passed like every other if she hadn’t seen him. If she hadn’t heard the roar from the motorcycle as he pulled into the slot in front of the pharmacy. If she hadn’t stood at the window, mesmerized watching him swing his leg over the bike, tuck his aviators in the chest pocket of his leather jacket. If she hadn’t watched him finger comb his brown hair while he did a slow 360, taking in Main Street.To say he was tall dark and handsome would be too easy.Later they would say that they had kn...

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“The Train” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #258

I feel I spent a lifetime on this train.Enlessly being jostled from side to side. Blindly staring at the scenery through dirty windows. Startled by a sudden whistle blast announcing a tunnel, then squinting against the hazy yellow sun. Occasionally all is obscured by the billowing white smoke from the engine. Dozens of unwashed bodies. Fragrant and pungent food shared with neighbors and whining children. Cigarettes, joints, pipes, and drink handed around with a wink and a smile. Voices sharing news and gossip, whispers, and giggles. A young ...

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“Being Her” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #257

Mason Campbell, reporter with the Atlanta Constitution, feels frustrated. For the past fifteen minutes he’s been trying to interview Miss Chancey Jarvis. Though Miss Jarvis is patiently answering his questions, her answers are vague.“Miss Jarvis, you have lived here for more than sixty years, Is that right?” He asks.“Yes, it is my home.”“But people don’t live permanently in homeless shelters, do they?”“So, I’ve been told.”“How come you have?”“This is where I live. Will you be much longer? I need to put the towels in the dryer.” She fidg...

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“In From The Cold” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #256

In From The ColdThrough the rain spattered window of the dimly lit coffee shop I watch a pair of bicycles pass. The riders draped in yellow oilcloth ponchos and sou-westerns are hunched over their handlebars while negotiating through standstill traffic. Inside, the air is thick and warm, the coffee strong. I am growing mellow on second-hand smoke. The neon sign reflects on the dregs in my cup. It’s time. Leaving a few guilders, I shrug back into my still wet coat.Water splashes on the wet cobblestones. Light from nearby windows and lamp post...

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“Night Shift” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #255

.Night ShiftJack is two minutes late for work. Nothing unusual about that. He’s actually ahead of his own schedule, just not his boss’ schedule. He would have been on time, maybe even a minute or so early, if he hadn’t knocked Mrs. Compton off her feet in his rush to leave home. Apologizing profusely, hauling her clumsily upright, chasing and returning DeeDee, her toy poodle, had taken what little extra time he had allowed himself and then some.Catching all the red lights is as normal as his toast landing peanut butter-side down.With a grunt...

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“Cheers, Mom.” by Trudy Jas

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #255

Cheers, Mom. One morning before sun-up, I stand in the shower shampoo threatening to drip in my eyes, my heart sinks, my gut clenches and cold sweat breaks out all over my body, only to be mercifully washed away. The thought, ‘Oh, my god! I have to do this 35 more years’, paralyzes me with fear, loathing and despair. I, a virtual princess, should not have to suffer through thirty-five years of indentured servitude. I had, to my surprise, allowed myself to be swept up in the idea of a professional education, never fully understanding that I’d...

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“Whispers” by Trudy Jas

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #254

Whispers.Did you hear the latest? Oh, my! Do sit down, have a cup of tea. You have met Lady Farnsworth, have you not? Exactly! At the Wendtworth ball. Yes. Her garden is legendary. Or so I’ve heard. I don’t really know anyone who has seen it firsthand. With the exception of Lady Creason, but all she will say about it is that the garden is simply magnificent, divine.No, really, it’s almost too much. She does it herself! Can you imagine? I shudder to think … Oh, the horror! Dirtying her gloves as she digs in the soil, as if she’s a common maid...

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“Temp Work” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #253

Temp Work“Come in”. The dark brown velvet voice flows invitingly then swirls down a sewer drain.The solid wood, interictally carved, twelve-foot-tall door is awe-inspiring. Gargoyles and gremlins look down with malevolent grins from the frieze above. By all rights I should be terrified or at least intimidated. I should be cowering on trembling legs. But I feel calm, one might even say cool and collected.“Name, date of birth.” The larger-than-life figure behind the enormous desk is hunched over a comparatively undersized keyboard.“Gloria Mess...

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“Cruel and Unusual” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #253

Cruel and Unusual.I imagine, like most people you’d prefer a sunny day. Not too hot, not too humid. A day to spend outside doing whatever floats your boat. Including floating in a boat on a placid lake.However, some rain must fall. Ideally, as in Camelot, rain will only fall at night and never obstruct the sun. But life’s not ideal, is it? You will need to put up with a shower now and then. A mere sprinkling, barely enough to turn on the wipers. The kind of minor nuisance you hardly notice. If someone would ask later how the weather had...

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“Something Came Up” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #253

Something Came UpYou won’t make it home for dinner tonight.Bet if anyone could choose how they'd want to die, they’d choose to die in their bed, in their sleep, wouldn’t they? Sure, anyone would. Granted, they'd leave a tangled mess for someone else to deal with. But what the hell, they'd be dead. Not their problem anymore.Maybe, at some point, if someone'd live long enough, they may become more mature and have a lawyer write up a will. They might even name an executor, make bequests, and ignore all those relatives who are hovering with thei...

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“The Witch” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #253

The WitchShe was the only one getting off the four-thirty-seven. The light was behind her as she walked toward the tiny station house. Her white cotton dress with the large sunflower print danced around her long legs. The sunlight broke into a million rainbows as the breeze played with her ginger hair.The train only stops twice a day in these parts. The ten-fifty-two going east and the four-thirty-seven going west. Being station master is not a full-time job. I merely close the feed store twice a day. Everybody knows.The advantage of the job...

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Author bio

Past the mid-life anguish, staring old age down, knowing which one of us will lose. There is no truth. There are no lies. Everything is relative.

Shortlisted 5 stories ⭐️

Contest #255
Cheers, Mom. – read story
Contest #254
Whispers – read story
Contest #245
The Light at the Edges – read story
Contest #242
The Night Watchman – read story
Contest #237
For the Last Time – read story