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BRUCE MARTIN

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2022

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51 Stories

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AN ATHEIST AND A RELIGIOUS ZEALOT GO PARASAILING

Weekly Contest #189

Allan Rivers had always dreamed of visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Several of his friends had been there and raved about the wonderful hotels, lavish dining, and excellent water activities. Most of all, Allan wanted to try his hand at parasailing, and the main resort specialized in that.  Arrangements were made, and Allan and his wife flew in for a week of relaxation and fun. Allan made sure to register for parasailing at the hotel concierge desk, while his wife signed up for an afternoon of spa treatment.   The following mor...

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THE POOL ROOM AT PELICAN POINT

Weekly Contest #188

In the quiet retirement community of Pelican Point in Boca Raton, the residents enjoyed lavish facilities and an active lifestyle. The clubhouse had an Olympic-size, heated swimming pool, a resistance pool for walking, two heated spas, a Swedish sauna and a steam room. There were three restaurants, offering everything from breakfast omelets and French toast to the finest steaks, chops and salads. Friday night seafood extravaganzas, Saturday night brisket and stuffed kishka specials, and Sunday morning bagel, lox and chopped liver jamborees k...

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IT'S ALL RELATIVE

Weekly Contest #184

In the doctors' cafeteria at a prominent medical university hospital, two young physicians were discussing their current patient census. Sitting at a table at lunch, one of the two was quite annoyed. Dr. Gary Houston exasperatedly complained about one patient in particular, an elderly man in serious condition. “I can’t believe how stupid this old guy is! It took me an extra 15 minutes just trying to find out what medications he is taking. The guy couldn’t remember a single one. Look, I know the guy is sick, but come on!”His lunch m...

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A NEW PRESIDENT - PART 1

Part 1:He seemed to come out of nowhere. Franklin Jacobson was a young, handsome, dynamic Republican congressman from Asheville, North Carolina. He was articulate and knowledgable, almost incredibly so. In fact, many listeners would comment that they had never before heard anyone with such a preternatural command of the issues.For example, during the three debates with his Democrat opponent, Franklin’s ability to formulate and express responses to the mediator’s questions was so acute that his opponent several times had either no respon...

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A NEW PRESIDENT - PART 2

Part 2: The first Tuesday in November was upon the nation, and the election turnout was the largest in the history of America. The outcome was a foregone conclusion. Franklin prevailed in all 50 states, winning the highest number of electoral votes ever. Franklin Jacobson was now President of the United States. And his ascension came at a very fraught time in the world. There were several hotspots that demanded the immediate attention of the new president and his team.  The most pressing problem involved the recent invasion of Russi...

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A NEW PRESIDENT - PART 3

Part 3: Needless to say, the USA and the entire world were rendered speechless by the President’s formal address. As predicted, many people were extremely frightened. Just as many dismissed all of it as simple jabberwocky. However, news reports began to filter in that, indeed, violent perpetrators on the streets of Chicago and New York and throughout the world were observed being instantaneously blasted into a cloud of white gas and powder by a beam that seemed to originate skyward. Witnesses stated that the beam appeared to have a deep pu...

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A MIRACLE

Weekly Contest #183

Many people would agree that to raise and love a child is the only thing in life that has any real meaning. Wealth, fame, athletics, even intellectual pursuits, all amount to empty achievements in comparison to the profound importance of creating and nurturing life. One might even say that accomplishments such as winning a race, composing a symphony, or painting a beautiful portrait represent two-dimensional creativity, since, once completed, are set in stone, so to speak. They no longer have the opportunity to change, grow or transform. Whe...

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THE BLIND DATE

Weekly Contest #183

It is a rare individual who does not desire and need the love of others.Larry Peppercap, an accomplished young man, but quite modest in appearance, longed for feminine companionship and love. Tall, muscular, handsome and athletic, he was not. But determined to find a genuine relationship, he was.Following the advice of his male friends, Larry opened a profile on an internet dating service, Lovemetonight.com. The posting of photos on this website was optional. And for that, Larry was most grateful. Larry was not photogenic, and usually had th...

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THE BTRK KILLER

WARNING: This story involves an onslaught of violence, sexual torture and gore. If you are squeamish, stop right here. I had just come home from my usual workout at the gym when the alarm at my house was sounding and I noticed a window in the back of the house had been pried open. This was a very frightening finding since everyone was on edge due to the activity of a serial killer in our town.  News reports described this serial killer by a self-proclaimed acronym: the BTRK Killer. BTRK apparently stood for Bind, Torture, Rape and ...

8 likes 4 comments 4
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A MOTHER'S LOVE

Weekly Contest #181

If you have a moment, I would like to tell you about a good friend of mine. His name is Jonathan Ackerman. He is a wonderful man with a beautiful family and loving wife. But something happened in his life that was really remarkable.I first met Jonathan more than 30 years ago when we were in college together. He was studying psychology at the time, expressing a desire to become a clinical psychologist, but ultimately did not go into that field. Instead, upon finishing his studies, he decided to pursue a business venture by opening a carwash a...

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THE OSTRICH

Weekly Contest #180

When Butch McHaferty told Jim Danker about the ostrich, he just as well might have given him a million dollars. Jim had waited all his life for such an opportunity, one that would have made his father proud. “Well, don’t that just tear the rag off the bush!” proclaimed Jim. “I don’t believe it. You have got to be ridin’ me a good one!” “I swear as I stand before the Good Lord himself,” stammered Butch. “I didn’t believe it myself when I first heard about it. But Jake down at the post office heard about it, too. He and the Cranshaw boys a...

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LET IT RIDE!

Weekly Contest #179

Poetry is a beloved literary genre that utilizes the hidden beauty of language to express certain prosaic truths and morals. From Wikipedia, poetry is “a form of literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound and rhythm.” Although poetry has existed since prehistoric times and has been cherished by many, it is not everyone’s cup of tea (if you would allow the poetic license). Some people find poetry rather silly. And then...

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YOU COULD BET YOUR LIFE ON IT

Weekly Contest #179

Bucky McKeever was sick and tired of not having it all. Everywhere he looked, he saw men living large; high on the hog, if you will. As a low-level manager at a large investment firm, he was surrounded by the high-voltage energy of day-trading and financial wheelings and dealings. His boss, Mr. Jonathan Stevens, a man of only 35, was already a multi-millionaire; a graduate of Wharton Business School and a mergers and acquisitions expert, he could earn more in one deal than Bucky made in a lifetime.  As the New Year approached, Bu...

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A DESIRE TO DIE

Weekly Contest #177

I remember the first time I wanted to die. I was nine years old and we were visiting my grandparents. After dinner, my grandfather said he didn’t feel well and had to lie down in bed. They called for an ambulance. I sat on the window sill of his room and watched him while he lay there moaning. And I thought, “I guess this is what it looks like as death approaches.” And it seemed very pleasant and exciting. Later on, when I started medical school, I found that I was fascinated by the cadavers in the anatomy lab. They all seemed so peace...

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THE CHINESE DELEGATION VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE

Weekly Contest #177

(With Acknowledgement to Abbott and Costello)The Chinese contingent visiting the White House, made up of current and past leaders:Xi Jinping (Paramount Leader)Hu Jintao (Paramount Leader 2004-2013)Wen Jiabao (Premier)Hou Guofeng Wat Lien ChanYu Kuo-hwa He Zhao ZiyangThe American president is given a thorough briefing prior to such a high-level meeting to acquaint him with the very important attendees.American President: “Bob, what’s on the agenda this afternoon?”Advisor to the President: “Sir, you have a very important meeting with...

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