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Elaine Steffen

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2025

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18 Stories

231 karma pts

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The Ring. The Beginning

Weekly Contest #356

Lucy parked her car in front of her old childhood home. .The front porch was almost obscured by an over grown shrub. Lucy stood on the walk and stared. “Excuse me, may I help you?” Lucy turned to see a woman, in her 70’s with salt and pepper hair pulled back. “Are you thinking of buying it?” Mrs Gentry asked. “Buying?” “Yes, it seems a shame to tear it down” What do you mean tear it down? “The previous owners just abandoned it Almost two years ago. It has been listed twice but no takers.” A look of recognition came over Lucy’s face,...

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The Gift

Weekly Contest #352

The first time Anna realized she could taste color ,she was watching the sunset, with its subtle warm tones of pinks and golds, a sweet taste formed on the tip of her tongue. She thought abut what she had eaten that may have left a lingering taste. Nothing. “Honey”, Anna thought, licking her lips. For a few brief moments both the vision of the sunset and the taste on her lips were one and the same. Anna did not want this to end it was almost addicting. When the sun had set beyond the horizon, the sweet taste of honey faded from her lips...

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Hello, Goodbye, Hello

Weekly Contest #339

Mary stood , looking out her kitchen window. Sipping her morning latte, she noticed that the tulips in the yard were starting to show their brilliant colors. I have always loved tulips, they always remind me that after winter’s darkness and loneliness, there is hope of spring and new life. Mary allowed her mind to drift back to another spring day.Standing in her parents’ kitchen, looking outside and seeing her entire future ahead of her. “Mary” her mother’s soft voice called to her. Mary blinked and then turned toward her mother.”Yes?”“It w...

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The Letters

Weekly Contest #306

INT. ANTIQUE STORE The proprietor, Ms Johnson (Auntie Mae) Well groomed southern woman in her 60’s (behind counter facing front glass door). Linda Young woman in her early 30’s, attractive (walks through door) Auntie MaeWell! Do my wondering eyes deceive me? Is that you Linda Sue? Linda(Politely) Hello Miss Johnson. It is good to see you again. Auntie Mae(Walking from behind counter, gives Linda a hug, smiles has prominent southern acent) Now what’s with this, Miss Johnson? You just call me Auntie Mae like you did when you were a youngs...

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The Star

Melanie’s cell was vibrating in her pocket. She took it out and saw Pastor Nike, the children’s pastor at church was calling. “I wonder what she could be wanting” “Hello Pastor Niki, What’s up?” “HI Melanie, I was talking with Pastor Jeff and we were thinking, since you do such a good job at it. Here it comes. If you would consider doing the children’s Christmas play this year.” “When does Pastor Jeff plan Christmas service to be?” “ December 21” “That doesn’t give much time.“ “I know it doesn’t, but I have confidence in you.” “Thanks. Le...

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The Great Fish Story

Weekly Contest #299

There is a story of a man, named Jonah, in the Bible. Now some of you may have never heard of the story or may have forgotten. Jonah was told byGod to go to a certain city and tell the people they needed to follow God and listen to HIm. And if they didn’t, God would punish them. Well, Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. As a result, Jonah spent 3 days inside a great fish, uhh. to think about if he was going to do what God had told him.But what if you heard the story from the Great Fish’s point of view?***The water was still and calm, the su...

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The Shortcut

Weekly Contest #297

Saturday, 1:04 P.M.Missy had no qualms in letting her fourteen year old son drive home. It was a nice sunny day in April. It was less than ten miles by highway and even shorter if they drove four miles on gravel.Missy had rode with Justin while he drove on gravel before. There was no reason to think there would be any issues. Justin was a good driver, for only being fourteen.Missy had been in town with Justin and her eight month old son, Joshua, to visit their grandma and grandpa. They had stopped by where her husband, Richard worked to say ...

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A Mother's Determination

Weekly Contest #296

“Will the defendant please rise.”Shaking, but with resolution on her face, Holly Gebhardt stood. Her attorney stood beside her.“Has the jury reached verdicts on the three counts?” “Yes, your Honor, we have.” “Will you please read the charges and your verdict on each.”“On the count of breaking and entry with intent to commit a crime, we find the defendant, guilty.”Moans wee heard from the gallery.“On the count of custodial interference we find the defendant. Guilty,” “He’s her son!” “She should have him !” The judge banged his gavel, CRACK “O...

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The Mirror

Weekly Contest #295

Susan stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror.”Where has the time gone? What do I have to show for all these years?”She wondered how different life would have been ,”If only.”“If only what? If only, I would have continued with art? If only, I would have finished that book? If only, I would have continued with piano? Why did I quit?”Tears filled the brim of her eyes, nails digging the palms of clenched fists, “Why did you quit? Why do you always quit?f Her fists pounding the reflection as if she could knock some sense in herself. As if...

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First Flight

Weekly Contest #293

Missy was jumping on the inside but trying to remain cool on the outside, after all sixteen year olds were suppose to be cool , right?She found her assigned seat next to an elderly, white haired couple, “Great old folks! Two and half hour flight and no-one to talk to.”The couple, after learning it was her first flight. smiled, “ Here you take this seat by the window, we fly all the time.” Missy smiled and thank them. “Maybe they are not so bad after all,” She leaned against the window, noticed it was an emergency ext. She star...

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Genas has Lost its Color

Weekly Contest #292

Genas was a beautiful elfish land. It was full of lush green valleys with all kinds of flowers and vegetation in magnificent colors. Mountains that seem to touch the heavens and crystal blue seas, clear as glass.King Thalion lived on top of the highest mountain. He often would come down the mountain to the valley to spend time with his favorite elves, Gil-gald, Str of bright light and his mate, Galadriel, crowned maiden.They were the only inhabitants of Genas.Gil-galad had strong chiseled features, carried himself with authority even th...

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Sunny

Seven year old Missy carried the small kitten to her mother,   “Can I keep her?” “Where did you find her?” “I found her by the shed in the backyard,” Missy answered.Mother had Missy show her where she found the kitten. No signs of a mother cat was found. Mother knew that they could not just abandoned the little kitten, but was Missy ready to take care of a pet?“How bad do you want to keep this little kitten, Missy?” “Ohh , I want her really bad momma, I love her.” Love her? Mother bent down next to Missy, and pu...

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The Door in the Room

Weekly Contest #289

The room is unfamiliar. I don't know how I got here. Susan looked at the room, she could tell by the furnishings, it was a bedroom, I must be dreaming. But everything is so clear. She could see beautiful Victorian style furnishings with the ornate details and luxurious fabrics.Susan turned and looked for anything familiar. Susan noticed the door behind her I must have come through this door. Opening it, she saw a long tunnel with distorted shapes of muted colors slowly spinning and disappearing in the distance. Susan stared for a moment...

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The Calm Before The Storm

The angrier Missy became, the colder her heart grew toward her husband, Tim. There was a heavy stillness, much like there is outside during storm season That period of time that exists prior to when cold arctic air from the North and warm moist air from the South collide with each other uninvited.. Meteorologists call this phenomena “The calm before the storm”Severe weather and tornados was nothing new to Missy. She grew up in Kansas. Missy studied meteorology and while at school she met and married Tim a meteorologist an...

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It's Tea Time

Weekly Contest #287

Eleanor smoothed the back of her pink floral dress and took her place at the garden tea table. When it was time to pour the tea, she placed the tea strainer on her cup and while holding the finial of the tea pot, poured the loose leaf tea into her cup. She could detect the scent of Earl Grey.This brings back memories of tea with my mother. After placing the strainer back into its base, she added a small amount of sugar and a splash of milk, stirring her tea carefully and properly. She then looked at the table settings.There was a tea cup an...

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