Trudy Jas

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2023

Stories (82)

82 Stories

4891 karma pts

?

“In Memory of Friendship” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #251

In Memory of Friendship.I hold it true, whate’er befall;I feel it when I sorrow most;‘Tis better to have loved and lostThan to never have loved at all.Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote the elegy In Memoriam A.H.H in 1850 to his late friend Arthur Henry Hallam. I have often wondered if Tennyson was right. Is it really better to have experienced a friendship or is it better to protect oneself against that inevitable loss?I’m clumsy. I can be awkward, shy, reticent and self-involved. Have often put my foot wrong, stumbled and accidentally hurt others ...

Read story

“The House With Five Doors” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #251

The House With Five DoorsA little over a month ago, while walking my dog, I saw the for-sale sign. I admit, I’ve had my eye on this little Victorian for a while. The two turrets at the front corners just beg for tea and a book. I called the agent at once and waited for her.The three of us toured the house, but in my mind I had already moved in. I admit that I was surprised to see that one of the small bedrooms in the back, the one overlooking the small civil war era cemetery, was furnished with an antique desk, overstuffed bookcase and well-...

Read story

“Can We Talk?” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #250

Can we talk?Hey, thanks for stopping by. Didn’t want to say this in front of others. You know how people will take things the wrong way, right? And I do appreciate if you wouldn’t blab it about. No, it won’t take long, but have a seat, anyway. Coffee? No? Yeah, right. Get to it.Well, how do I start? Just jump in, right? No, no. You did nothing wrong.I have certain powers. No, hear me out. I didn’t believe it either. But I can’t ignore it any longer.At first, I thought it was just, you know, plain luck, coincidence, you know. I’d pray for a g...

Read story

“Garden Variety Secrets” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #250

Garden Variety SecretsNon-essential Research America.March 2024 Issue 567 .We, at Nonessential Research America (NRA), pride ourselves in obtaining the latest in any groundbreaking research. In the field of horticulture scientists have known for years that plants communicate with one and other. (NRA Jan. ’21 issue 234). We have known that plants of the same species, and in some cases the same class interact through their root systems.What has recently come to light is the extent to which they interact. Below follow transcripts made from reco...

Read story

“The Final Match” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #249

The Final MatchCherry had been quietly watching the tournament all week. Now and then, someone would come and pause by her for a moment, but then they’d move on again. Using almost supernatural concentration, followed by periods of boredom she had managed to pick up a rudimentary understanding of the game.The fact that the ball was supposed to go over the net, while staying between the lines, was obvious to any preschooler. That it couldn’t bounce more than once before it needed to go back came to her by Monday evening. Often, in the warm af...

Read story

“What Lies Beneath” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #249

What Lies BeneathSummer 1972.“Road trip!” Pam screamed over the sound of the juke box. She had shoved her chair aside, since there was no dancefloor in this hole-in-wall bar, her arms in the air, hips bumping and grinding to the beat. Feet barely moving. After half a pitcher, she could sway her hips or move her feet. She opted for swaying to Otis Redding.“Wastin’ time!” Barb was still capable of doing a fair lip-sync of Sitting on the dock of the bay. Pam a tad too wasted to remember all the words.Fancying themselves the last hippies, the tw...

Read story

“Paradise Lost ” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #248

Paradise Lost(Paradise Found?)I almost let the phone go to voicemail since I didn’t recognize the number and suspected I would have to be rude to yet another salesperson.Yes?Mr. Samuel Makarov?Yes?I have a story for you.Those are magic words. I’m a freelance reporter. I’ll take whatever news I can get. Excluding who is sleeping with whom, who had a face lift or tummy tuck or who got who pregnant.Talk to me.Not over the phone.The man gave me the address of a coffee shop just out of town. We agreed to meet in thirty minutes.Mr. Ahmed Sharuff a...

Read story

“The Wind in the Willow” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #248

The Wind in the WillowThere is a tree, a willow tree in the middle of a field near a small pond. The branches hang low, the slightest breeze will caress them, urge them to dance. When she was a child, the tree was Leena’s refuge. She could hide under the veil of branches. Here she’d read fairy tales, dream of ever after and wish for magic and her very own prince. But like everyone else, when she grew older, she had to come out from under her tree and leave her dreams and wishes behind.At the edge of the field, near the street, is a...

Read story

“The Grey” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #247

The GreyResembling a surly teenager, poised to unleash its unreasonable fury, the leaden clouds hang low in the pewter sky. It isn’t long before it makes good on this threat with a temper tantrum any two-year old would be proud of. Complete with a rain of crocodile tears, a wind howling like a banshee and the thunder of doors slamming.Cerise is driving through this miserable weather because her grandmother, who she has never met, had written, asking her to come and “finally grow into who she’s supposed to be.” Whatever that means. She c...

Read story

“Little Brown Wren” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #246

Trigger warning: Sexual violence, suicide/self harmA little brown wren is unremarkable, easily overlooked while it hides under bushes. It doesn't have a big voice, just a small chirp. It slips in and out, you never know it's there. Being a brown wren has served me well, I've never had to deal with admiration, attention, conflict or pressure.Nobody sees me so, I don't exist.I earn a scholarship to an expensive east coast school. My roommate belongs here. I don't. She is a force stronger than anything I've ever known.She looks me over and find...

Read story

“The Light at the Edges” by Trudy Jas

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #245

She has almost gotten used to looking at the eclipse, the dark grey void in front of her. She has almost learned to discern what lays at the edges of the corona, the periphery of her sight."Please don't," Candace begs Wanda, the pink fuzzy shape that is her nurse. "Please no fuss, no singing, no candles. Just let it go, okay?"It has been years, decades really, since she celebrated her birthday. Well, if pressed, she'll admit to occasionally having killed a bottle of wine on that day. In general, though, those days have passed in blessed negl...

Read story

“Witness” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #244

Once upon a time I was a princess.No, not a real princess. But I was pampered and made to feel special. I was well educated, had servants. My servants had servants. I was allowed to focus on my work. Never had to think about where my food came from or how the house was kept clean. The mundane tasks in life were foreign to me. My life centered around assisting my father with his diplomatic work. I managed his correspondence, international travel and entertaining foreign dignitaries and their minions.Once upon a time I was a hostess.I thought ...

Read story

“Danke Schon” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #244

Grandmother - never granny or grandma, always grandmother - passed away two weeks ago. Emily had accepted condolences and casseroles from a handful of people. People she didn't know since she had never really lived here. Grandmother had sent her to the best boarding schools money could buy, while telling Emily that she was lucky to have this opportunity to make so many friends from all over the world, to get such a wonderful education.With a sigh, she settles at grandmother's desk. She knows it's time, can't put off sorting through her grand...

Read story

“Respite” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #243

The bar opens at eleven. Bart props the door open, lets fresh air in. He wipes the tables, bags whatever trash wasn't cleared the night before, and sweeps the floor. I slip in when he's not paying attention. But then, most people don't see me, unless I want them to. Then they are surprised that I'm a petite woman with long red hair and coal black eyes. I'm not unpleasant to look at, I think.It's not long before the first of the regulars arrive. There is John, 81, a retired mail carrier. His gait is worn, his eyesight is going, his wife of fi...

Read story

“The Night Watchman” by Trudy Jas

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #242

He comes to work just before closing time, as he does every night. His uniform is pressed, cap on his head, belt with keys and other useless stuff hanging on his hip. Every evening, he politely listens to whatever the man from the day shift wants to tell him. He knows nothing will happen. All will be well. He'll make sure.After he has smiled warmly, listening to everyone wishing him a cheerful goodnight, after he has locked up and turned off most of the lights, he walks to the small side room and sits on the bench.The man sits quietly and wa...

Read story

Author bio

Being single and retired left me with no one to talk to. So, I started telling myself stories. To keep from becoming (even more) eccentric, I decided to write them down. I find I kinda like doing this, and like the good little perfectionist I am, I want to become better. So, any constructive feedback, (and praise) is always welcome.

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