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Daryl Barber

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2024

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5 Followers
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10 Stories

134 karma pts

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The Weekend

Weekly Contest #330

CW: Mature themes and implications of suicide. Alex closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the surf. He had come onto the beach to take a break from the busy hubbub of the boardwalk. The pink glow on the horizon signaled the beginning of sunset. The white, puffy clouds make Alex think of the cotton candy that was being sold on the midway.Nate had wanted a snack and something to drink, but Alex was not hungry or thirsty. His adrenaline was still through the roof from riding The Comet. He could still hear screams of delight coming from t...

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Ishmael

Weekly Contest #326

The sun was setting on the horizon. Yellow mixed with blue, combined with the pink and purple clouds made it look like an artist’s canvas. It seemed like the perfect evening. Our sailboat cut through the water, moving towards Eastbrook with ease. Aiden, my shipmate, had just pulled the last sail into place. He quickly tied the rope to a nearby cleat. As he did, the wind caught the sail, causing us to pick up more speed. Aiden and I were a team. On most evenings, we gave sunset sails for tourists who came to Eastbrook for their summer vacatio...

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The Mummy

Weekly Contest #323

Alexandra lay on the cold, stone slab. Her eyes were closed as if she were peacefully dreaming. The black veil that covered her body was the only indication that she was dead. Twelve figures dressed in black knelt around the table where her body lay. The men in the circle were performing prostrations, while chanting O Tem-Heru-Khuti, which in the common tongue means, when thou risest in the horizon of heaven, a cry of joy goeth forth to thee from all the people. This humble supplication rose to Osiris, the Egyptian god of resurrection. Behin...

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A Death at Mardi Gras

Weekly Contest #317

Dead Body Found in the Streets of New Orleans after Mardi Gras Celebration The spirit of celebration has come to an end here in the city of New Orleans. A woman’s body, drained of blood, was discovered on Pere Antoine Alley, not far from the famous St. Louis cathedral. According to police, the body was spotted around five am this morning. We spoke to Antoine, the runner who was unfortunate to find the body while he was out training for an upcoming race.“At first, I thought that she was sleeping,” Antoine told us. “She was slumped over on a b...

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The Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Weekly Contest #308

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist “He was not the light but came to bear witness to the light that would enlighten all men,” Father Thomas said from the pulpit. I lifted my head and looked at the sunlight streaming through the stained-glass window. The light hit the window just as the priest finished the final words of his sermon. It depicted John the Baptist pouring water over the head of Jesus while a dove descended from heaven. Suddenly, the scripture from the gospel of St. John echoed in my head. “This is my beloved Son in...

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The Hike

At the intersection, I could take a right and go home, but left would take me down the road to an unknown trail in the woods. Today, I decided to go left. Home meant sitting down at the kitchen table to do homework, and for some reason I was just not in the mood. The scent of fresh flowers pervaded the air, and the spring sunshine made everything feel more alive. It made me feel more alive. I pedaled my bike faster, eager to head towards adventure. It had been forever and a day since I had ventured into the woods, and usually I just saunter...

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Nightshade

Weekly Contest #304

Nightshade Leo woke up with a start. He glanced down at his watch to look at the time. The numbers glared back, reading 5:00. For a moment, he wasn’t sure if it was five am or five pm, but the light pouring through his bedroom window assured him that it was five in the afternoon. As this realization registered in his brain, he threw back the covers and jumped out of bed.“Holy shit!”, he exclaimed. “How did I sleep so late?”He quickly grabbed a pair of jeans that had been slung over his desk chair and put both legs through, pulling them up an...

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The Jester

Weekly Contest #281

The Jesterby: Daryl Barber Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away…crooned the voice from the loudspeaker, as Lacy and John swiveled their hips in time to the music. “How about some drinks to cool us off?”, asked John, straining to raise his voice over the sound of the song. “Sounds great!”, said Lacy, giving a thumbs up sign. She continued to dance, while John made his way over to the refreshment table. It was a very festive scene. Red and green lights swirled from the ceiling, making colored dots on the d...

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The Wrong Formula

Weekly Contest #280

The Wrong Formulaby: Daryl Barber Clark adjusted his glasses. He was walking back to his office after a quick trip to the breakroom. This morning, he was almost late to work. There was a power outage in the neighborhood, and he woke up at seven instead of six-thirty. When he opened his eyes, he glanced over at the alarm clock. It read 12:00 AM. The red numbers and letters blinked on and off, reminding him of the stop lights in the middle of an intersection. Oh shit, he thought. I can’t afford to be late today. My presentation is at eight a...

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Micheletto

Weekly Contest #278

MichelettoBy: Daryl Barber 08/26/2024 My dearest Adam, I am writing you a letter to tell you that I still miss you. When we met several years ago, you stirred something in my soul, and I have never forgotten you. I appreciate all your letters and cards. Guess you took my invitation to keep in touch seriously. I know that you told me your wife Jane died awhile back, and I wanted to know if it would be O.K. for me to come over sometime. I never wanted to cause trouble between the two of you, which is why I never came by to see you in person....

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