Valerie Preston

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2020

Stories (121)

121 Stories

2156 karma pts

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“I'll Miss You Too Joe - Not Just The Coffee” by Valerie Preston

The pungent aroma of coffee filled my nostrils. I ranked it in the top three of my favourite smells. It beat fried onions but was on a par with the perfume of an old-fashioned rose, delicate and sweet. Just the smell of the coffee seemed to bring me to life – like an addiction. It must travel straight up to the brain, and tell it ‘wakey, wakey’! I enjoyed the cafĂ© more when it was almost empty. Truth be kno...

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“They Are Only Games After All” by Valerie Preston

The dark and stuffy room was silent. Linda was nervous, she knew that she shouldn’t be doing this, but it was just because she cared. She walked on tiptoes – she knew he was at work but it was just instinct to keep her heels from touching the tiles. And to shut the door. Switching on the light she blinked with the sudden brightness and looked around his bat cave. It was a tip. Chip packets and empty ...

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“Whatever It Takes To Cope” by Valerie Preston

Milly had been my pet for fourteen years. The day she died was when a part of me died too, another little piece of my heart. She was given to me at eight weeks of age, a tiny soft bundle of fluff. From the minute I held her, she clung to me as if her life depended on it, and in a way it did, and mine on hers. “Mrs Wilson, this is our way of saying sorry for your loss. We know how lonely you ...

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“Not For Everyone” by Valerie Preston

Spindly and spikey spinifex rolled across the yellow floor, over and over it went at a dizzying speed into the barren beyond. Howling winds picked up sand and carried it across the dessert plain, swirling it into the air. It was hot and the fireball of sun glared down on the dry earth, scorching and drying everything beneath it. “Windy again” the old bearded man spat out through toothless gu...

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“I Never Knew You But You Will Change My Life” by Valerie Preston

“Right, gather around everyone. One, two, three, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Richard, (‘old man’ someone yelled out), Happy Birthday to you”. “Hey, what about the ‘Hip Hip’s” 
 “Forget about those, and ‘why was he born so flaming ugly! Let’s eat the cake!” The noise of the party had lifted. It was of course the alcohol that did that. No matter who it was, even th...

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“A Very Unlikely Friendship” by Valerie Preston

I will be the first to admit that I was born with the proverbial ‘silver spoon’ in my mouth. I’m not a snob though. I know that a lot of people believe that if you are rich, have a well-paying job in a good company then you must be a bit snobbish. I just think of myself as extremely lucky to be born into the family I was, and really, I had no say whatsoever about which mother and father I would belong to. <...

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“It Comes Back To Bite You” by Valerie Preston

“Luke, medication time” the familiar voice said. “Sit up now, here you are. Hold out your hand, two tablet, here’s your water. That’s it, pop them in your mouth and drink your water down. Good man. I’ll be back later to check on you.” Luke could just make out the silhouette of Lucy leaving the room. He knew she was one of a few people who came in to his room to check on him, give him medication, and just ch...

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“My Lips Are Sealed” by Valerie Preston

 I couldn’t believe what I had just heard! Of all the people for that to happen to - our close friends. I was a bit shocked to say the least. I had known John and Lily since we all met at anti natal classes, and my oldest child was now twenty nine, so nearly thirty years. My husband Tim and I had been laughing about something while I was puffing and panting on the carpet, pretending to give birth! Th...

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“So So Tempting” by Valerie Preston

It had been a rough day. I felt depleted as I walked to my car and pointed the keys at it, waiting for the beep noise. Sitting in the worn dark velour seat cover I put my face into my hands and began to cry. ‘This is so silly that I cry every time a patient passes away. They’re not my mother or father’ I told myself sternly. But it made no difference, as all I could imagine was the soft skin on the bony che...

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“It Only Takes One Interested Person” by Valerie Preston

I hated school. In fact, I hated everything. I felt as if I had never fitted in anywhere. I just don’t think I was born with the enthusiasm or interest genes! ‘You’re just different’ My mother told me during one of my ‘woe is me; I’m good at nothing’ times. ‘Different, who wants to be different” I thought after she told me that. I didn’t really know what she meant by it and I wasn’t going to ask her to expl...

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“I Always Mean Well But......” by Valerie Preston

Someone was crooning ‘Why me Lord’ on my car radio. The windscreen wipers seemed to be going back and forwards in rhythm with the tune. I don’t even know what the words were to the song but it sounded sad and I felt sad. My tears were falling like the rain outside. “Why me?” I wailed along with the voice. I think I picked up somewhere in the words that he was talking to Jesus but I was talking to the universe. “Wh...

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“You Never Know Where you Will Find a Treasure” by Valerie Preston

Not everyone likes charity shops. For those who don’t shop in them for a genuine need, if no treasure is found, they are terrible! I actually call them ‘opportunity’ shops. And it is a great opportunity when you are in the them for a few reasons; Firstly, you CAN get a bargain - like a two-hundred-dollar dress with Virginia Westwood on the label for five dollars. Now that is what I call a great bargain. T...

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“Flowers - Nature's Soul Nurturer” by Valerie Preston

“Hello Diedre. How are you love?” Mrs Lincoln the florist asked as she cut off some surplus leaves from a bunch of carnations. “Pretty good thank you” came the reply from Jennifer as she walked around the light and airy shop. Today there was a delicate perfume floating through the air that Diedre hadn’t smelt before and she was intrigued. “What’s that lovely perfume I can smell?” she asked Mrs Lincoln, who ...

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“Precious Time Wasted - If Only We Knew -” by Valerie Preston

 I wanted everyone to like me, to take me into their groups, invite me home, be my friend, but they didn’t. I learnt to put on a brave face, and act. So, I hated school. I was extremely bright so it wasn’t the work; it was the kids. I went to a school where I didn’t fit in and I felt it, from day one. I hated the teasing, being the butt of jokes and worst of all the talking behind hands, whispers and giggl...

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“You Won't Spoil My Special Day No Matter How Hard You Try” by Valerie Preston

She woke up excited at the prospect of the day - brilliant sunshine peeping through the side of the drawn curtains. Untangling herself from the sheets she sat up and took off the furry cat eye mask, surprised it had even stayed on all night. Adie’s mind was bursting at the seams thinking about what she had to do this morning before the big occasion. Desperate to see the girls were in the other room she threw her ...

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Author bio

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