Viga Boland

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2022

Stories (23)

23 Stories

1426 karma pts

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“T.G.I.F.” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #191

T.G.I.F. Not because it’s the end of my work week. I retired a decade ago. T.G.I.F. Not because I’m heading south for a week of surf and sunshine. No chance of that. My only income is old age pension and some pennies I’m paid for reviewing books. But T.G.I.F., because that’s the day that Reedsy teases me with 5 new writing prompts and I feel myself coming alive again. No, I’m not kidding. You see, after not writing anything but reviews for 7 years; after being bored stupid during covid and too scared to attend writer meet...

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“DOLORES-DELILAH” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #191

Dolores sealed the last box of her mother's memorabilia and shoved it into the corner of the bedroom. All the furniture had been sold off weeks earlier. Now, at last, mother's knick-knacks, photos, hymnals, holy cards, and sets of rosary beads were neatly buried in the boxes. Packing up these religious treasures made Dolores feel guilty, but Delilah, her rebellious alter-ego didn’t."Just do it!" Delilah coaxed. "There's no point keeping this stuff. My plans for the future don't include reminders of the past. They're good for nothing more tha...

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“SPEAK NOW!” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #190

***Are you ready for more bickering between that loving couple, The Banters? Well here they go again!***“Ok. Speak now…”SILENCE“Martha? Are you there? I need you to speak now.”“Oh, sorry. I was reading.”“You’re bleeding?”“No, READING!”“You don’t have to shout!”“Yes, I do or you don’t hear me. What did you want anyway?”“Well, I’m trying to adjust my hearing aid and I just wanted you to say something. There, I’ve just adjusted it again. So speak now.”“What do you want me to say?”“Say anything!”“Anything.”“Marrrthaaa! Stop being smart. Geez whe...

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“The Shaman’s Apprentice” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #188

It was another glorious day at the Revitalizus Resort in sunny Barbados. The shaman’s young apprentice took his time trimming the bougainvillea bushes in the lush gardens surrounding the resort’s sparkling “adults only” pool. There was no need to rush. Islanders conserved their energy especially when it was well past noon. It was too hot to work fast.The apprentice worked slowly. He liked to listen to the tourists to learn their language. Perhaps one day he might go to North America. It would be wise to be able to speak English.Snip, snip, s...

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“CAT-BRAINED” by Viga Boland

***Please note: this humorous story was born of frustration in trying to come up with something for contest #187 cat prompts. It is submitted here for my followers’ enjoyment, rather than as a contest entry, since I simply couldn’t just come up with a way to START the story with a stray cat leading a character somewhere LOL. ***A CAT-BRAINED TALE“Good evening folks. It’s time for another episode of Life with the Banters, your Seniors Storytime radio show coming to you live from the M.E.O.W. Network, and sponsored by our friends at Purry Furr...

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“UNTASTY PASTIES” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #186

***Please note: “In case there’s any confusion caused by the title, “Pasties” are also a food item eaten in the UK and Australia.***——————————————————“Matthew, you have to see this!”“What is it now, Martha?”“Well, can you get your nose out of the paper long enough to take a look?”“Is it important? I’m reading an interesting editorial on climate control. Can it wait?”“Matthew, if I wait for you to finish reading the paper, all those articles on climate control will be out of date. Besides, I will have already moved onto a million other storie...

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“There’s Always Tomorrow” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #185

“Am I a hoarder?” my darling 81-year-old husband, Ralph, asks me. I know this is one of those Do or Die moments i.e. I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t answer him honestly. With over 50 years of marriage behind us, I know how sensitive he is and I don’t want to ruffle his drooping feathers. He’s always told me he likes me to be honest, but when I am, most of the time he doesn’t like my honest answer. What do I say? “Um… do you want me to be honest, Ralph?” “OK, so I AM a hoarder eh?” Ralph shouts, not realizing he’s shouting. He...

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“Life is what happens when things go awry” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #184

I smiled, but inwardly, I was seething.“Is there any chance you could put those phones away while we share our first dinner together since Covid?” I asked my two adult daughters and son-in-law. “Surely this is more important than whoever’s on the other side of that screen.”“Sure mom,” replied Brynn. “Was just checking the pet camera to see where Misha is. She’s curled up on the couch as usual…”As if I cared where the darn cat was!I tried not to glare at Valerie as she clicked off her iPhone. “I just sent Alex’s mom and dad a photo of this de...

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Author bio

Author of 7 books…the first earned a gold medal from Readers Favorite. Still wondering if that was because it was good or judges decided anyone who could write a memoir about incest deserved it 😂. Since leaving my first job as a high-school English teacher after 7 years, I’ve worn so many hats I need a new hat-rack. Now, in my retirement, I’ve coached memoir writers in live workshops but currently spend most of my time doing paid book reviews for 2 reputable online websites. I love encouraging other writers in their aspirations, and now, thanks to Reedsy Prompts, I am finally writing again after a 7-year hiatus. What is it about me and 7 year cycles? 🤔 About time I found the courage to do what I tell others to do i.e. just write! At 77 years of age, I hope I have 7 years left to do that plus rediscover a talent I’d forgotten I had: writing poetry. Speaking of poetry, I have just published a photography/poetry project that features my husband’s beautiful photography…yes he was professional…combined with my long-forgotten poems from the 70’s. The book, available as an ebook now on Amazon and FREE to those who subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, is titled WHERE SHADOWS DANCE, and it’s just received a 5-star review from Readers Favorite. Stoked! By the way, though I am a book reviewer, I do not take on reviewing books by friends or writers I meet here. That’s an uncomfortable undertaking, plus it requires time I don’t have. So please don’t ask me to review your books. Let me just enjoy your wonderful short stories on Reedsy. Thanks for understanding 😉 http://www.vigaboland.com http://www.facebook.com/vigaland Instagram: viga_boland