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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2023
Submitted to Contest #261
“Is the AC on the fritz again?” “I wouldn’t know. Power’s out.”“What?” I felt sweat dripping down my back. No air conditioning was not what I wanted to hear. There was too much work to do, and the room was already stifling in the early morning hours.“Yeah. Seems like someone didn’t pay the electric bill.” Carol looked at me square in the eye, hands on her hips. Was she daring me to argue that fact?“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Call them. Use my credit card.” “Are you sure, boss?”“I’m sure. ...
Submitted to Contest #260
“I thought it would be bigger,” the voice rang out from the crowd. “Not good enough for you, dear?” I held in my laughter as I snuck a look at my husband to see if he heard the back and forth as well. His twinkling eyes told me he had. “Some people are never happy,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m happy. Very happy.” I looked around the square hardly believing my eyes. Always number one on my bucket list was the trip to Italy. So often had I spoken about it that I had channeled the voice of Charlie Brown’s teacher “whomp, ...
Submitted to Contest #259
(TW … depression and suicide) He was sullen. Again. He was sleeping all day. Again. “What’s with that kid?” “Leave him alone. He’s fine,” I hissed, not wanting to be overheard. “He should be helping. It’s not fair. Why do I have to do this shit by myself?” My older son was right. It wasn’t fair. I stood outside my younger son’s closed bedroom door contemplating my choices. “Hun, you ok?” I could ask tentatively, only for him to reply, “What do you want? Leave me alone.” “Get up.&n...
Submitted to Contest #258
The poster was torn and tattered. It was time to make the rounds again, pulling down the old, weathered flyers and replacing them with crisp new images. Perhaps changing from black and white to color would bring the photos to life, reminding the public that they are still out there. More than just faces on poles, they are children desperately needing to be found and brought home. The prospect of this new project brought me a small degree of comfort. Doing something, anything, was better than doing nothing at all. Thirty ...
Submitted to Contest #257
“You have to tell him, Jackie.” “Actually, I don’t have to,” came the quick response. “He deserves to know,” Robin whispered urgently. Dipping her paintbrush into the newly opened can, Jackie thought once again how strongly she disagreed with her friend’s statement. After the way he had treated her, he didn’t deserve anything. *** “Again, Anthony. Read the line like you actually mean it.” “Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear… that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,” he read the words scribbled on the scrap of paper. “Thos...
Submitted to Contest #256
The crowd went wild as I took off from the starting line in The Big Race. Through the cheering I heard Mom shouting “Run, Sammy, Run!” I knew without looking that she was smiling from ear to ear and clapping her hands for me. She was probably jumping up and down also. I kept my eyes straight ahead running as fast as I could. I quickly passed my best friend Tyrannosaurus Rex because, let’s face it, he wasn’t the fastest runner in the toy box. We trained together in the park, and I got a little bit faster every day, ...
Submitted to Contest #255
April 30, 2023 “What brings you here today? It’s been quite a while since the last time we met.” “I miss my mom,” I blurted out, cutting right to the chase while sitting down tentatively. “Oh, Ruth…” a rustle of papers as Dr. Jordan flipped back through her notes. “I didn’t realize…” “No,” I quickly clarified. “She’s okay. I mean, she’s not okay, but she’s still here.” She’s still here, I thought to myself. But was she really? The image of her being brought home from rehab via ambulette flashed before my e...
Submitted to Contest #253
“Let’s bang out these deliveries as quickly as possible so we can get home and eat.” “Yeah, I’m starving. Imagine if we order this exact meal for ourselves tonight?” I looked at my husband, hoping that he would agree. “Spend our profits? No way.” “Yeah, you’re right.” I fought to hide my disappointment as my hunger pains mixed with the growing fatigue. “It’ll be worth it, you’ll see. Just another few deliveries and we hit our goal for the day.” He smiled at me, trying to keep my spirits up. We stopped for ...
Submitted to Contest #252
Remember the boy in high school? The beast got you good. So good that you drove past the store where he worked just to catch a glimpse. Back and forth on that busy road in your old beat up car with no air conditioning. Your back was sweaty, and your hair had turned to tendrils around your flushed face. You stood in the drug store across the street turning the spinners of postcards and road maps. Humiliated and embarrassed but unable to move as you watched him load and unload the trucks. No one knew but the ...
Submitted to Contest #251
“Merde,” he mumbled gruffly. “You say something, hun?” Barb peered over her reading glasses at her husband. “Nothing, dear.” He looked at her and smiled. “Is that the book you found at the thrift store?” Dave gave no indication of hearing his wife’s question as he sat in his favorite recliner, tattered paperback in hand. “Hun?” Barb raised her voice vying for her husband’s attention. “Yes, dear?” “I asked if that’s your new book?” “It’s hardly new. In fact, it’s quite old. I think it might actually be worth somethin...
Submitted to Contest #250
Flashing cameras created orbs of lights dancing around the lobby. It was not my first time at the Manhattan Club Gala, but the anticipation washed over me as if it were. My novel’s position as number one on the bestseller list was tenuous and hung on for dear life.Standing at the bar, I listened to the conversations floating through the air. Greetings were exchanged with various levels of sincerity, making it difficult to discern between friend and foe. We were, after all, each other’s competition for the coveted award.As...
Shortlisted for Contest #250 ⭐️
Trish put her head back and closed her eyes enjoying the sun’s warmth on her face despite the growing hunger pains. She would give it half an hour and then go back inside for lunch. She tried not to think of that western omelet she had been looking forward to. ~ Suddenly, her husband was right behind her startling her and she dropped the carton of eggs she was holding. Crap. Please don’t find too many broken eggs inside. “What’s your problem?” He yelled at her. “You startled me!” “You’re so jumpy. Why? Are ...
Submitted to Contest #249
Gates appeared where there were none before. She slowed, showed her essential papers through the window, got them scanned and drove on. Not a word was uttered, not a drop of air came in or out of the car. Being a creature of habit, she found it difficult, if not impossible, to change her routine. She continued to leave for work at precisely 8:30 am to drive through the ghost town of empty streets, passing massive parking lots devoid of cars. Traffic lights continued to change colors, red to stop, green to go. Ra...
“Careful, you’re going to rip them,” Donna warned as she stubbed out her cigarette.“Why didn’t I try these on before we left?” Frantically tugging the stockings, I tried to pull them up higher. No such luck. A few inches shy of fitting, they left me with webbed thighs. Crap.“Want me to run out and pick up a new pair? I think I saw a Duane Reade down the block.” Rising from the bed, she peered out the window to the street below.“There’s no time.” I smoothed my skirt down before tying the bow on my blouse.&nb...
Submitted to Contest #247
Pulling off my boots, I stood them up in the tall grass next to the bucket. Taking off my woolen socks one at a time, I rolled them up and carefully placed them down as well. I then gathered the excess material of my dress, expertly tying it into a knot at my hip. I sighed, reaching for my fishing pole as I stepped into the cool creek.I hoped the waters would work their magic to calm my nerves as I had become more distraught with each passing day. Being the first daughter of my father’s first wife, I was highly sought aft...
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