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Cindy Strube

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2021

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51 Stories

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Eddie Goes A-Courting ~A Spring Romance~

Weekly Contest #188

Eddie Goes A-Courting~A Spring Romance~“He-elp! He-elp!”Breaking the tranquility of a March morning, a desperate cry rings across the valley. No man runs to assist, nor even a woman lifts a finger to dial 9-1-1. Here and there a lip twitches. An eyebrow raises. Perhaps a chuckle or a sigh escapes. “He-elp!”Again the call resounds. Looks are exchanged, acknowledgements murmured.“There’s Eddie! You can tell spring is coming.”Down the road, Eddie searches for the one thing that would give him complete happiness. The One who would...

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The Book of Cats

Weekly Contest #187

The Book of CatsLet’s count all the “fingers” and toes.Oh dear—is this one… Is there something wrong?One…two…three…four…five. And five on that side.What about…one…two…three…four. And four there. Poor wee scrap! Such a disability. But you can see, now that I’ve dried him off, he’ll have a gorgeous golden coat. Just like his daddy!What about the other two?… Oh, such a relief! They’re fine. Both have my coloring. This young gentleman is everything I could wish for, and this lovely little lady! Perfection in a fur onesie. She takes after me, obv...

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Glass Beach

Shortlisted for Contest #186 ⭐️

Glass BeachCome—walk with me this strand of glass    Through mists of time            To other daysWhose memories, in this mingled massOf splendid hues With bright arrays, Are scattered here.Come—follow me the world around,To places farAnd near. Anon,The touch, the smell, the taste, the soundAnd sight of allThat is bygone Will gather here.These motley particles enshroud The sheltered cove With stories. EachThough now obscured by veil of c...

34 likes 27 comments 27
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On Little Cat Feet

Weekly Contest #184

On Little Cat FeetYou’re watching my fingers tapping on the keyboard. Those luminous green eyes are fixed on the movement…          Mesmerized…          mesmerizing… Help, Cat! Give me inspiration. The Naming of Cats is a great poem—but how am I going to write an essay on it? Eliot must have known cats. He used great characterizations. Why did I choose that particular poem? And speaking of naming cats…I need to name you.I already have a n...

21 likes 13 comments 13
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Coffee and Danish

Weekly Contest #182

Coffee and DanishShe has a perfect smile. Straight, uniform, dazzling white teeth. It occurs to me that they might be implants.I remember when she went head over handlebars off her bike and chipped a front tooth. I was ten and she was eight. The tooth had to be capped, and it always looked like a poorly shaped makeshift. She’s effervescent, chattering about how good it is to get together after all this time. Then I realize that she’s stopped talking and is looking directly at me. Her gray eyes are full of concern.“Are you all right?”“Um...

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The Name of the Game

Weekly Contest #181

The Name of the GamePsst! Hey. Got a story for you. A little ex-po-zay. Who am I? Just call me Flatiron. Can’t give my real identity. It’d be too risky. For me, for my cohorts and allies. Maybe for you, too. Anyway, here’s the scoop. There’s some shady dealing going on. I got involved by default. I’m confiding in you because:  A. You look trustworthy, and   2. You're a neutral party. See, there’s a few rival factions around here. I don’t like to say gangs, per se, but—definitely controlling elements. B...

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All That Remains

Weekly Contest #181

All That Remains 🎶 Memory, all alone in the moonlight— I can dream of the old days Life was beautiful then. I remember the time I knew what happiness was… Let the memory live again. 🎵 ©️ I was beautiful once. I had style. Class. Substance. People flocked to my doors, begging to be included in my sphere of influence. That was then. Now, all that remains is a shell of myself.  Walls, floors, roof—these form a structure meant for shelter. Shelter I have afforded many, over the years. Those many who have lived within my walls… the...

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The Janitors’ Holiday Party

Weekly Contest #178

CW: Gore and mentions of death in the context of natureThe Janitors’ Holiday Party “Party time!” Cousin Ludwig grunts, landing with an awkward hop. “We have secured the venue!”Work holiday parties are just that, in our profession: work, right along with the holiday partying. The time and the venue are always a last-minute surprise. It keeps life interesting.For us, the party—and the work—starts when it’s over for someone else. We’re the cleanup crew. The janitors, if you will. “Ready, everyone?” Ludwig is eager to get us there whil...

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Juno’s What?

Weekly Contest #177

CW: Gore and mentions of death in historical contextJuno’s What?Everyone at my school dreaded sixth grade, because it meant you got Old Mrs. Crump. “She’s been there so long, she was my dad’s teacher!” I told my friends.We all dragged our feet on the first day. The bell was already starting to ring when Sam Travers got close enough to see the new name on the door. He stopped so suddenly that we all practically plowed into him.“I’m not even gonna try to say that!”Mrs. Kjærgaard. (I copied that off the school website. That squished-togeth...

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Will Work for Peanuts

Weekly Contest #176

Will Work for Peanuts“Go!”At the familiar command, I skitter out the doorway of the carrier. I pause, sniffing in the crepuscular gloom. Low light doesn’t faze me; my singular sense of smell will be my guide.There’s the sharp, cold smell of crushed concrete; the tanginess of metal; the sweet, slightly musty fragrance of splintered wood.I need to block out most of what my nose is perceiving. What I’m searching for is life. Warmth, sweat, maybe blood.“Over there – go on!” You point with your flashlight and give me a helpful nudge. There’s...

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About Vi

Weekly Contest #175

About Vi“My son! My son! You finally came to see me!”A very old woman tries to scoot her braked wheelchair forward. She’s gripping the arms so hard, her knuckles turn white. Tears course down her crepey cheeks, even as she smiles. An attendant in happy-face scrubs pads up to her, the non-skid soles of her shoes squeaking on the speckled linoleum. “Now, Vi, don’t bother him. He’s here making a delivery.” The attendant smiles and pats the woman’s shoulder.“Not coming to see me? Dennis!” she wails. “Can’t you stay and visit?”The man w...

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Balancing Act

Weekly Contest #174

Balancing Act “You’re all so insular here!” Zinnia fumed. “City people are much more open minded!”  Darius pushed back. Jumping to his feet, he slapped his palms against the horseshoe-shaped table. “This is an outrage!”  He glared around at the other Councilmembers in turn, his mutton-chop side whiskers trembling.  “Great-Grandpa would spin in his grave if he heard about this!” There was an immediate hum of agreement, all eyes instinctively turning to the portraits of the town’s founding fathers.  Darius W...

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Fantastic Variations on an Old Rhyme - ~A Pastiche~

Weekly Contest #170

Fantastic Variations on an Old Rhyme~A Pastiche~Scritch-scritch-scritch.There it was again: a faint scrabbling sound. Gert exhaled loudly, flipped her pillow to the cool side, and pulled the quilt over her head.Scritch-scritch-scritch.She could still hear it. A mouse in the wall, no doubt — and there lay Siminy, tidily curled at the foot of the bed, unjustly sleeping the sleep of the just.What time was it? Bonnnggg… The Clock struck One.Gert was too hot. She flung the covers back to feel the breeze from the fan. Scritch-scritch-scr...

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Kismet

Weekly Contest #169

KismetIt almost got Sissy today.She’s the littlest one, and Mama usually keeps a careful watch over her — but somehow she crawled too close to the doorway.I saw it out of the corner of my eye; something dark and very quick.Sissy squeaked in fear. Mama grabbed her and bundled all six of us into the farthest part of the room.~~~Mama says we can’t go out. “We’re in mortal danger!” she warns. “Don’t you stir from this spot!”It’s boring in here. All there is to do is eat, sleep, and squabble with my siblings.Our home is cramped. I want to ex...

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Tarnished

Weekly Contest #168

Tarnished  Note: this account is based on actual events in the lives of real people. Names have been changed to protect the memories of the innocent.  October 17, 1905 - Tuesday My dearest James, Patience has been staring out the window for miles. We’re nearly a day into the journey, and there’s nothing much to see except for the endless prairie. I suspect she’s looking instead at mental imagery. What must she be thinking?… Feeling?  It’s a tremendous change to make at her age, but I hope it will be for the bes...

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