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Larry Parks

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2023

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13 Followers
11 Following

9 Stories

168 karma pts

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People Watching

Weekly Contest #340

“Robin, Robin, Robin—how was your day today?” Raven asked.“Oh, productive,” Robin replied. “I spent it by the lake. People watching.”Raven nodded approvingly. “Ah. Observing the dominant species in its natural habitat. A classic.”“Exactly. They gather near water, stare into glowing rectangles, and throw food everywhere. It’s like a buffet with mood swings.”Raven snorted. “Have you ever landed on their windowsills? Especially the bedroom ones?”“Oh, constantly,” Robin said. “It’s educational. And horrifying.”“I’ve seen rituals in there that ma...

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You Made Me

Weekly Contest #319

You made me.My soul was poured into an innocent child, a baby with no clue about the storm he was stepping into. I had no say. No vote in where I would land. No map for what lay ahead. If there is truth to the spiritual—if the supernatural holds sway over the beginnings of life—then it was You, God, who placed me here. You made me.But why?Why was I born to two people who had no business being together? Why was my fate tied to a broken home, a single mother who worked herself raw just to keep food on the table, and a father whose gambling deb...

7 likes 3 comments 3
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Barabar (The Caves of Time)

Weekly Contest #317

Dr. Susan Strong and a handful of colleagues began their intensive study of the Barabar Caves in East India. Even after more than five years of research, each time she stepped inside one of those chambers, a shiver ran down her spine, the same electric sensation she felt on her very first visit.The Barabar Caves weren’t their only focus. They poured themselves into the mysteries of the Ajanta Caves in West India, committing countless hours to examining every chisel mark, every alignment, every haunting echo.The more they uncovered, the more ...

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The Soul Algorithm

Weekly Contest #312

“Who are you? Are you real? You don’t move like them.”“That’s because I’m not one of them.”“You say that—but how do I know you’re telling the truth? The new ones are practically indistinguishable.” She said.“Do you want me to cut myself? Bleed even?”“That won’t be necessary. Bleeding isn’t proof anymore.”“Do you prefer one of them instead?” He replied.“You talk like they’re something entirely different.”“Aren’t they?”“In what way?”“Stronger. Faster. Cleaner. More efficient. If I had the choice, I’d choose one of them.”“You say that as though...

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Twelve Months a Slave

Weekly Contest #299

Shondra stepped onto the scale. 183 pounds.Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over as she stared at the number in disbelief. After weeks of strict dieting, early-morning walks, and bland rice cakes, she had only lost a pound and a half.It felt like a cruel joke.She had every reason to keep going, especially with the doctor’s warning echoing in her mind. If she didn’t lose the weight, serious health complications were inevitable. She was already in the prediabetic range, and aging wasn’t making it easier.But deep down, the biggest reason...

9 likes 4 comments 4
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Rakotzbrücke (The Devil's Bridge)

Weekly Contest #295

Rakotzbrücke(The Devil’s Bridge)Whispers of mystery had long shrouded Rakotzbrücke, the legendary Devil’s Bridge in Kromlau, Germany. Stories had swirled about its eerie perfection for generations—how its reflection in the still waters formed a flawless circle. Some believed it was merely an optical illusion. Others claimed it was something more: a portal to the unknown.Hans and Gerda Schmidt had grown up in the shadow of these legends. Their childhoods were filled with hushed tales passed down through the years, some dating back over a cent...

12 likes 7 comments 7
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The Date

Weekly Contest #264

Why did I let her talk me into attending this event? I don’t know these people. Sheila—beautiful, charismatic Sheila—was the girl I’d had a massive crush on for ages but never had the nerve to ask out. So when she invited me to this wedding, I jumped at the chance. But now, as I sat alone, surrounded by strangers, I regretted it. It felt like dating someone who spoke a different language, lost in conversations that flowed around me while I just sipped my drink, out of place and unseen.I was the ultimate plus-one, the guy she brought along so...

14 likes 2 comments 2
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The Teacher's Lounge

Weekly Contest #195

The teacher's lounge had a lot of scars on the wall. It served many functions. It was a sanctuary, a stress reliever, a boxing ring, and even a bunker. There was a gun threat one year, and the entire support staff locked themselves in the teacher's lounge. The walls were painted a pale white that had begun to peel. There was an old leather sofa, a microwave, and a round table in the middle with three chairs, two of which rocked side to side because the legs were uneven. In front of the sofa was a coffee table with coffee cup ring stains, and...

10 likes 5 comments 5
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The Gambler's Creed

Weekly Contest #194

I got up from the poker table and was busted again. I have lived in the gambling mecca of Las Vegas for the past ten years. I moved here at age 25, and everybody who knew me said it was a bad idea. Ever since I was a teenager, I gambled on everything. Growing up on the rough streets of Chicago, everything was about survival—anyone who wanted to play cards or shoot dice sought out me, Stanley Pickens. Growing up, I was not a bad child; the worst thing that happened to me was when my mother came to my school, and my teachers would tell her. "S...

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