Valerie Preston

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2020

Stories (19)

19 Stories

282 karma pts

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“Autumn of Life” by Valerie Preston

Autumn of Life By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The paper would already be ash and once the leaves had burnt completely the rest underneath would go up in smoke. There would be no trace of anything and I would be safe. ‘Oh no’….”Hello Linda, Linda, where are you darling? Are you ok? I could smell smoke and got worried. I did call out but you obviously didn’t hear me. Where are you? What are ...

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“Predictions No 3” by Valerie Preston

Predictions No 3 It was very dark and smelt musty. I couldn’t see a thing and I felt uneasy, as if I shouldn’t have come. I had been summoned to his bedside, and I really didn’t know him. I’d heard the stories, strange and sometimes creepy stories. Tales about mean and nasty things he did to people whom he took a dislike to. “I don’t like my wife” he had said, and a few weeks later ...

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“The Fire That Shaped My life” by Valerie Preston

The Fire that Shaped My Life She cleared her throat and began… “It was a disaster. Black acrid smoke filled the air for kilometres. Bright orange and red flames licked the sky and danced around the forest, taunting bushes and trees, surging in for the kill – hot and furious. They had no mercy. All that was living was now dying. Birds fled their habitat in fright, squawking as they flapped wings wit...

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“The Outsider” by Valerie Preston

The Outsider Old newspapers blew across the veranda and slammed the peeling front door shut. Jenny jumped, and waiting for her heart to slow down, she pulled the woollen blanket around her shoulders and sank back into the grubby and lumpy couch. White nylon curtains blew across dirty windows sending particles floating across the room. She watched, mesmerised as the bits went up into the a...

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“Plunged into Darkness” by Valerie Preston

Plunged into Darkness He looked in the full length mirror and liked what he saw. No, he loved what he saw. ‘A good impression, and all that’ he mused. The Italian custom tailored suit was a perfect fit. He was glad that he went with the mix of linen and w...

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“I Am Glad I've Moved On” by Valerie Preston

I don’t know how I got here and I don’t know how I’m getting back. Am I going back? It’s a strange predicament I seem to be in and I’m not sure quite what to do. I don’t really know where I am but things seem vaguely familiar in a way. I see an overweight elderly lady, rather ‘well to do’ by the look of it. “Excuse me” I begin and she ignores me. “Hello” I repeat louder this time. But there’s no reply. Not even ...

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“All that stress for nothing!” by Valerie Preston

“Hmm I’m not really sure about the blue dress. I do really like it but….. I think it shows too much cleavage. It’s a little bit too racy for my style”. “What about the red skirt with the white shirt then?” the shop assistant asked, already showing she was fed up by the lack of positive vibes coming from the customer. She had to put up with the indecisiveness and the same old ‘I’m not too sure. I’ll try it on one more ti...

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“Family Secrets” by Valerie Preston

Family Secrets “Are you joking?” he asked, mouth wide open. “That can’t be true. Who told you? When did you find out? Come on tell me what you know”. Jake shifted about in his leather office chair. He was enjoying being the ‘town crier’ for once, although the thought that it was scandal about someone from his own family was difficult to believe. Usually it was him who was asking the questions from Phil. H...

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“Life does give second chances” by Valerie Preston

I looked up and there he was – on the other side of the road waiting to cross at the traffic lights. Was it really him? Would I recognize him after all this time? I wanted to get out of the car and run to this person I once loved, and still loved. After all these years the thought that he was here in Australia was hard to believe. He looked tall and slim, slouching a little – hands in pockets. As he stood leaning ...

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“I can't bear it!” by Valerie Preston

As I swung my bare legs out of the bed I could already feel the heat. Flimsy curtains weren’t enough to stop it coming through the thin glass – it had penetrated the walls and roof of this small house for weeks - an unwelcomed guest, irritating and annoying to the people who lived here. I picked up the face cloth from the floor that had been my helper in the night – my soggy saviour who I dabbed on my hot and swea...

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“Lost Love” by Valerie Preston

Lost Love It was a magnificent day outside. It sounds like a cliché but…the sun was shining, the birds were singing and I was over the moon! This was my wedding day. Well actually it was my second wedding day that I was about to have, but I didn’t really count the first one. I was too young, too naïve and too stupid to get married. All my friends had made it quite clear to me from the day I introduced Tre...

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“The much anticipated Return” by Valerie Preston

I felt excited at the thought of seeing it again. Forty years after that magical time in my childhood. Was it really that special – was I really that good at it? I think it was and I think I was. But forty years is a long time – I can’t remember what I did last week sometimes. I gazed out of the window and let my mind drift…..”Oh Louise is such a talented dancer” Mrs Grierson, the very thin and wrinkly dance teach...

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“The Tree” by Valerie Preston

THE TREE Oh how I love this tree. The pungent smell of leaves and wood and sun dried flowers all mixed together, and with each inhalation it gently swirls around inside of me, warming my bones and my soul. I lay on my back feeling the soft rug spread out beneath me, warmed by the summer sun and giving off a perfume left from a previous user. I remembered the green tartan rug that we would all sit o...

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“The Long Wait” by Valerie Preston

A LONG WAIT: I parked the car and walked into the basketball stadium. It was quite full tonight but I saw a couple of free seats and they happened to be next a father from the same team, John, so we watched together. There’s something about basketball stadiums ….. Firstly the smell that hits you as soon as you walk in – it’s as if a half-eaten cheese sandwich has been left under each seat for at least a week. As s...

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“Who would have thought......” by Valerie Preston

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? I never knew I had superpowers until the day I had to rescue Major Drummond. I was sitting in my PJ’s on the lounge reading. It was a Saturday morning and my day off and as usual I felt lazy. I usually stayed in my PJ’s for most of the morning, ate my breakfast, read my book, watched TV, and drank copious cups of tea, all in my floral flannels. The only thing that was importan...

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