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Clare Stroll

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2022

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5 Stories

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The Careless Wish

Weekly Contest #368

No loose eyelash was safe around Carrie Strait. No fountain in her path was left penniless, and she had permanent claim on the Thanksgiving turkey wishbone. Wishing was a near-daily ritual for as long as Carrie could remember. As a child, her wishes were silly and materialistic, ranging from the newest toy to a pet unicorn. The wishing continued as she aged, but the suffocating weight of adulthood led to far more practical and desperate desires. The weightiness of the birthday wish stayed consistent through her years of wishing. Carrie made ...

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A Chilling Confession

Weekly Contest #364

“It was me. I did it.” Dan listened carefully for any tell that betrayed Jude’s calm demeanor. A faint quiver or split second of hesitation was all Dan wanted, but Jude’s voice was rock steady. Dan knew the kid was lying, but he wanted to know why. He looked into Jude’s eyes, narrowing them ever so slightly, and Jude stared right back. Dan held off on giving any kind of response to Jude’s alleged confession. People were often so desperate to fill a silence that they would babble, eventually saying too much and hoisting themselves on their ow...

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The Series Finale

Weekly Contest #360

I plop onto my couch and rest my fuzzy sock-clad feet on the coffee table, ready to sink into my perfect Friday night. I drape the freshly washed cashmere blanket over my legs and set my phone to Do Not Disturb. My daughter Ella is tucked into her bed for the night, and my husband Justin is holed up in his office upstairs. My first course for the evening, a family-sized bowl of buttered popcorn and a chilled glass of Sancerre, is on the side table and an ice cream sandwich is waiting for me in the freezer. It sounds simple, but thinking of t...

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A Family Dinner

Tonight was spaghetti night, just like it was every Thursday in the Whelan home. It was kismet that my first dinner with the family featured my favorite entrée from childhood. I recently learned that Mrs. Whelan likes to keep the dinner schedule the same week to week. I shake my head, remembering that I’m not to call her Mrs. Whelan. When we met last week, she giggled after I addressed her with the formal title and insisted I call her Sydney. I need to remind myself of this before I started work. I wouldn’t want her to feel uncomfortable ar...

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A Record-Breaking Winter

Shortlisted for Contest #358 ⭐️

“Did you see this week’s weather report, Don?”Don kept his head down as he wiped off the bar, knowing only one person in town would sound that chipper at the promise of freezing temperatures. He sighed and silently cursed winter for coming earlier every year.“I sure did, Ronnie.”Don looked up as Ronnie took his place atop a barstool with a schoolboy grin stretched across his chapped lips. Don placed Ronnie’s beer down in front of him and looked at the door, wishing for another patron to walk in and become the new target of Ronnie’s rantings....

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