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Maggie Crawford

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2025

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7 Stories

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Before and After

Weekly Contest #360

Night BeforeI placed two mugs of Earl Grey decaf on coasters and sat down with my husband on the chenille overstuffed couch. I shared details of the day camp meeting, reminder - do not sent peanut butter sandwiches, a case of rosacea was going around and don’t forget extra swim diapers for kids who might poop in the pool. Jonathan, smiled, blew on his tea and carefully took a sip. “How was bedtime?” I asked. “Noah is gobbling up Captain Underpants – he’s reading it quicker than I do. And Maya loved Red is Best, I had to read it three times...

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No Day Care Today

Weekly Contest #354

Sensitive content: This story describes an ICE incident. Baby Ben is in his car seat next to his two-year-old brother, Theo. Cars whoosh past them on the highway. An airport sign appears. “We aren't going to day care today boys!,” Dada says. “Nope, we are off on a crazy family trip. We are going to Hawaii to visit Uncle Bo and Aunt Charlene!” “Who is ready?” asks Mama taking photos on her phone to document the experience. This little family of four is off to Maui where Uncle Bo is living while he starts a gastroenterology practice. Baby ...

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Strawberry Birthmark

Molly looked at Raya’s strawberry birthmark on the left side of her ribs. Her little daughter had brown ringlets, long fingers and a small, puffy reddish birthmark. The same one Molly had on her own left side. An angel kiss separating them by 43 years. She snuggled her two-year-old as she carried her to the bathroom for the nightly routine. Raya was squealing, excited to splash in the warm watery cocoon with her red truck and a huge yellow ducky. As Molly eased the child into the water, she noticed a red streak on her hands. Looking for bloo...

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Shallow Pockets

The train approaches the tarmac. People move towards the last car, pulling suitcases and children behind them. Elle draws her phone out of a shallow jacket pocket ready to tap the faregate.“Why did I bring this coat – the pockets are so small,” she wonders. She hikes her travel bag up on her shoulder, adjusts the slippery black puffer coat and holds tightly to the Wegman’s and Trader Joe’s bags full of gifts, toddler books and a container of fresh pea soup. She taps in and finds a seat facing forward near the window. Perfect. Within minutes ...

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Hedda and Henry

Weekly Contest #336

“Good morning, my name is Hedda Martens. I have an unusual request; do you have a moment?” asked a woman on the phone with a slight German accent. Intrigued, I said, “Yes, of course.” She urgently wanted to speak with Henry Bawnik, a local Holocaust survivor. Hedda was a German WWII refugee (not Jewish,) living with her daughter south of Buffalo. She recently had read Henry Bawnik’s Holocaust survivor testimony in the local newspaper and realized she and Henry had a shared history and were now living only a few miles apart. As the executiv...

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I have walked in your Hoka’s - offerings to a young widow with children

Weekly Contest #308

Have you forgot how to make toast, pick your children up from school, want to buy thong underwear? I have been exactly where you have been. That may sound odd – we are all different, have different experiences, but as a young widow, yeah, I have walked in your Hoka’s. Have you looked down at your feet in a work meeting and seen mismatching black shoes? Have you avoided a grocery store aisle because you heard a familiar voice and can’t handle another, “how are you doing?”, while the “W” for widow is blinking on your forehead. Yeah, I’ve been ...

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Joys of Grandparenthood

Weekly Contest #306

Me answering cell: Hi Cindy? How are you?Cindy: Call the Spencer Children’s Hospital and tell them I’m driving in with baby Sydney now!?Me: WHAT? WHERE are you?Her voice falters, it sounds like she’s in a wind tunnel. Cindy: He has a 106 degree fever… he’s listless.Me: Okay. I’ll call you back.I swipe her away and call the hospital.Me: Hello, my daughter-in-law is bringing in her 14-month old son to the ER. He has a 106 fever.Spencer ER: Ok, we’ll see her when she gets here.Hearing this conversation, my husband comes into the kitchen. Me: Ci...

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