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David Russell

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

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87 Followers

17 Following

17 Stories

228 karma pts

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Precipitant

Weekly Contest #364

PrecipitantDavid RussellWord Count 1,188 In a packed court room, the presiding Judge asked the jury foreman to announce their verdict. The Defendant was being tried for a supposed misdeed.Your Honor, we have reached our verdict, and find the Defendant not guilty.” The previous winter had been freezing cold and one marked with below-normal temperatures across Western New York. Howard, age sixty-eight, had lived with his wife Nancy for forty-two years, she was sixty-six. Nancy had suffered from chronic illness for the previous six years. On a ...

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The Heat Is On

Weekly Contest #361

The Heat Is OnDavid C. RussellWord Count 1,235It was a warm, muggy, Friday afternoon. June 15, the final half-day of school before all would begin their seventy-six days of summer vacation. Lockers were cleaned out of anything imaginable belonging to students. Student textbooks collected had added student wonderment in the margins. One promised to love another until the end of time. A second proclaimed if elected President, they would banish 90% of illegal immigrants to mars.This summer would be historic in retrospect. This particular speci...

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Self Regard, Others Regard

Weekly Contest #347

Self Regard, Others RegardDavid C. RusselllMy name is Daphne, and given to me by my parents at birth. This occurred nearly sixty years ago. I share this with you, though modern convention lightly admonishes keep your true age to yourself.I was reared and reside in a small Midwest town in the United States. Elsewhere, some assert there are nothing more deserving of trust than people who are born and bred in the Midwest, and hold ‘Midwest values.’ We may be seen as down to earth, live out the dictum, honesty being the best policy, save finance...

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Lucid and Present

Weekly Contest #346

Lucid and PresentDavid C. Russell I have been here; I have been there. Let’s talk about the highways and byways of life.You might ask, Maculate in personality and clothes? Most occasions and times. I do have my moments when the personality is roused to show its critical, dark side. These moments erupt as solo expressions of frustration over something as simple as telling the dog to come, or as complex as displeasure at doing something suggested by another.Sense of machismo?At times, but more dependent on mood and circumstance if present. Com...

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Downed By a Bug

Weekly Contest #344

Downed By a BugDavid C. Russell "Hey Glen, want to go grab a coffee?" Gus asked. We had been practicing the outerspace simulation for a few hours. In less than forty-eight hours my feet would be off the ground and I would be doing the real deal in outer-space."Sure, I need a break and so do my eyes," I said, rubbing my right eye with the back of my hand."You rady to make history?How does it feel to be ranked with Columbus, Magellan, Sinatra, Lewis and Clark?""How did Sinatra get into your list?""Doesn't he sing the song, Fly Me to The Moon?...

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Downed By A Bug

"Hey Glen, want to go grab a coffee?" Gus asked me. We had been practicing the outerspace simulation for a few hours. Within twenty-four hours my feet would be off the ground and I would be doing the real deal in outerspace."Sure, I need a break and so do my eyes," I said, rubbing my right eye with the back of my hand."You ready to make history? How does it feel to be up there with Columbus, Magellan, Sinatra, Lewis and Clark?" Gus asked."How did Sinatra get into your list?""Doesn't he sing the song, Fly Me To The Moon?""Okay, I'll let you h...

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Life with Grandma and Grandpa

Weekly Contest #339

Life with Grandma and GrandpaDavid C. Russell My name is Sergei. Perhaps my parents had high hopes as my name is shared with historic figures from the fields of Russian arts, athletics, and politics, respectively. Our last name was Bokowski. One side of my family came to America by boat from Belarus in the early 1930s. The other side moved from French speaking Canada before WWI. I have fond memories of my Canadian grandparents that stretch through my formative years. A handful of these are evoked by recalling mealtimes as we were seated at ...

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After School Turmoil

Weekly Contest #338

After School TurmoilDavid C. Russell “I’ll meet you guys at the library,” Carley said as she, Bree, and Hannah exited the school grounds.“What do you have to do?” Hannah asked.“Stop by the discount mart and pick up some girl stuff for myself and my twin sister. It’s “bitch time” of month,” she said. Her friends smiled out of empathy. Empathy in the school corridors seemed a contagious condition. The typical school day was regarded by many with: disinterest, nothingness, brain-wasting, manipulation, or indoctrination. Drama rampant included r...

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The Conblomeration

Weekly Contest #337

CW: Themes of racism and ostracization. The ConblomerationDavid C. RussellWord Count 1,362Note: There is the sporadic instance of the occurrence of an expletive. The year was 2040. The new year was nineteen days past. In the U.S. Capitol, the United States President was sworn in and delivered a purposeful inaugural address to the nation. All occurred from the new ballroom that had been constructed in the recent past. Americans watched from home, workplace, gyms, or in cafes across the land.Her pronouncement was her eight minute speech. “We n...

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Good Life: Who Says

Weekly Contest #335

Good Life: Who SaysDavid C. Russell“Greg and Donna, you are at the point where you must make a decision to move,” Dr. Simons said, tone firm, expression stern.“We love the seasons and our grandchildren are here,” Donna said.“Your grandchildren could easily come visit you in Arizona. They have airports, train stations, bus stations or…”“Or our kids can bring them and mooch off us more,” Greg added.“Winter has become too harsh for both of you. Your respiratory condition now calls for action on your part. Don’t delay anymore,” urged Dr. Simons....

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Living In Disquietude

Living In DisquietudeDavid C. RussellWord Count, 1,448My name is Finn. I grew up and remained in a quaint, quiet German village town much of my fifty-six years. As an only child I knew bits and pieces of family history. My mother was named Rapunzel and father, Elias. Mother had met him during the time she had legal complications in her mid twenties. More about that later. Elias died from cardiac arrest during my early forties.By then, I worked as a bank manager and on the side, part-time tax preparation for freelance income. I too was marrie...

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Convenient Control Comfort

Weekly Contest #333

ConvenientControlComfort David C. Russell“When you grow up you can do as you please!“When you retire you can…” parental observations. “I’m calling on behalf of Dr. Sawbones,” the attractive-sounding female voice began.“Okay. What is this about?” I asked. Internally, I knew exactly.“Your recent blood work,” she said, tone conversational.“Go ahead, tell me.”“You are a little more toward becoming pre-diabetic. Your hemoglobin, triglycerides, and cholesterol are a couple points higher than before. She wants you to add two medications.”“Run that...

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Impel or Instigate

Weekly Contest #311

Impel or InstigateDavid C. RussellWord Count 1,378 Summertime days droned on into late July. The living had been easy for two eleven-year-old boys named Phil and Robert. The hours stretched having become a bit too routine, dull, boring; sun up, sun down repeatedly.“Having some Hormel mac-and-cheese for lunch. Want some?” Phil asked?“Yeah, and a glass of lemonade, too.”“It’s in the red pitcher, labeled lemonade, second shelf. Get it yourself.”“Better turn that down, smells like it’s burning,” Phil observed slurping from his glass of lemonade....

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Inventions and Etudes

Weekly Contest #308

Etudes and InventionsDavid C. Russell Ðon’t ever do that again,” Alain said in protest.“It’s the beginning of a new year, 2015, new things, everybody does it,” Rene Exclaimed.“Just in case you forgot, or don’t know, I’m not everybody; I am Alain.”Festivity floundered shortly after midnight on January 1, 2015. At the time, I was eleven, few old acquaintances forgotten, and not ready for romantasy, political, or things young adult. Baseball cards, race cars on TV, models or toys, picking on my sister, modes of eructation, were my stuff of life...

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Unanticipated

UnanticipatedDavid C. RussellKasey’s life had variety at any perceived angle. Professionally, an insurance adjuster.Private life: In her early forties, she was divorced, no children, owned her home in Okemose, a neighboring town to East Lansing, Michigan. She volunteered her time at the care facility where her aging parents resided, and at the public library where and when needed.Kasey liked to attend some classical performances or scheduled author lectures at Michigan State University. The campus surroundings enlivened her memories of colle...

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