Vickie Culbertson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2020

Stories (30)

30 Stories

767 karma pts

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“SELF-AWARENESS CHECK” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #102

SELF- AWARENESS CHECK Losing faith in an institution happened for me when the pandemic struck our country. Growing up as an only child, the local church gave me a centered source of stability. Over the years, developing a sense of moral compass, other institutions crumbled long before the institution of religion. The first institution to f...

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“THE WINDOW BEYOND ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #97

THE WINDOW BEYOND Looking out the window in the middle of the night, I felt that the troubles in my life were righted. The solution developed over a crisis that nearly devastated me. Emily became bored with an emotionally unavailable spouse, as I provided a comfortable living for both of us. Brazenly unfaithful she desecrated our marital bed as I silently plotted re...

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“HOME AND HEARTH” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #92

HEARTH AND HOME By the lamplight, I wrote my mothers name in neat bold lettering Naomi Ruth (Dysart) Keene in our family Bible. The Bible had been passed down from one generation to the next with the previous entry entered only six months ago. Mother had placed fathers name: Joseph Allen Keene, born April 14, 1888- died December 23, 1937. Beneath his name was ...

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“VALLEY OF DECISION ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #90

VALLEY OF DECISION Winding through the mountainous region I drew closer to my destination. Murmurs grew in tight quarters as the conductor collected tickets from passengers. Wheels swiftly rolling toward the beautiful Shenandoah Valley my beloved childhood home. Scenic pastoral views eventually taking over crowded ...

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“STRANDED AT THE MALL ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #77

STRANDED AT THE MALL My manager had scheduled me to work until closing, weather prediction had called for flurries of snow. No expectation of any significant precipitation this evening of January 22, 1983. I changed the price tags on the items I was conducting an inventory on. Baseball shirts, blue jeans, and carton socks folded and placed in disp...

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“MY CHRISTMAS BIRD ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #73

MY. CHRISTMAS BIRD Initially, when you hear in reference to a Christmas bird, you might think of turkey or goose for a festive dinner. Instead, I was given a parakeet, when my grandmother died, and I was asked to pack her belongings and clean out her furnishings. I guess you could say I inherited a parakeet of lovely blue ...

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“GRAVEYARD DARE ” by Vickie Culbertson

GRAVEYARD DARE My name is Billy, I raised the window in my hedroom window as quietly as possible. I lowered myself onto and down the trellis of wild, rambling red roses to the ground. Scout his reddish brown in color German shepherd waited for me on the screened in porch. My devoted friend followed...

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“ SAVING FIRE ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #64

SAVING FIRE Watching Lydia toss and turn in a restless sleep, Chase Elliot had not left her side since he pulled her from the fire. As her mother, I feared she might not be able to recover from the intensive burns and injuries she sustained. Chase fell asleep in the hospital recliner, murmuring unintelligible words relivin...

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“REMEMBERED ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #57

. REMEMBERED Transported into a future I was no part of. It has been twenty years and I have cryonics and time travel to thank for this experience. The definition of cryonics is the practice of freezing a person who has died of a disease in the hopes of rest...

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“ THE FIRST TIME” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #56

Advice from a mother to her adult child when she becomes a new mother: The first time I saw your face, I was in love. You were soft to the touch, and crying uncontrollably. I was so emotional looking at your distress, desiring for your free flowing tears to stop streaming down your cheeks. Your arms and legs were flailing all about. Your father first held you in his arms before I had a chance to. When I held you in my arms, I was captured, forever in love. For nine months you had been protected in my womb and a...

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“A New Introduction” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #56

A New Introduction Two weeks had passed since their breakup, no text messages, no cellphone calls, no surprise home visits. Mindy had stopped by the Lakeview apartment they shared to pick up some paper work for the office. She walked in expecting to be alone since Jared had left at 7:00 a.m. as he usually did to go to work at a Sports Supply Store. Instead, she followed a trail of clothing: a dress shirt, a tie, a bra, a pair of lace panties leading to the bedroom. Giggling and sin...

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“LOVE REMAINS ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #54

LOVE REMAINS Looking out the window of the Pottery House Café and Deli I see my high school sweetheart loading a van with carefully packed boxes of functional and decorative pottery art. He has maintained his handsome physique, dressed casually in a white golf shirt and khaki shorts. Wearing sandals and his skin is tanned an attra...

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“ "DREAM COTTAGE"” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #53

In the dream sequence, all the searching was over and the twin sister I grew up not knowing was here. She is waiting for me with open arms. My longing in my aching heart is still with me and always will be. A part of me is gone from this earth and that void will never be completely filled. I do have the comforting presence of her son, his wife, and thei...

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“ " ON MY OWN "” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #52

Careless whispers drifted on the wind, finally resting heavily on my shoulders and deep within my heart. Twenty minutes before I am to walk down the aisle to marry the love of my life, my fiancee and mother are seen passionately kissing. This is not heresy, I ...

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“ " UP THE GARDEN PATH "” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #51

In a small English village, the town is in preparation for the upcoming garden competition. In midlife, pursuing detective tendencies, whose vocational skills expounded to those of professional gardener as a plausible cover. We specialized in concoctions for weed removal, fertilizer that promotes healthy and hearty growth. At times we joined one another on va...

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Author bio

Hello! My name is Vickie Culbertson and I live in Kingsport, Tennesse. I am a friend, daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. I have had a passion for creative writing since early grade school. I have worked at many different jobs, my most recent a community living specialist. My hobbies include riding my bike, hiking on nearby trails, crocheting afghans, reading and writing. I try to be a good listener.