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Mary Bendickson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2023

Stories (166)
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586 Followers
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166 Stories

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Help Needed

Submitted to Contest #284

Help Needed Claire leaned her aching head back on the bus headrest and tried to close her eyes. She was ten hours in to what was promised a 20 hour trip so figured she finally had time to relax enough to get some real sleep, if that was ever possible again. She had just stretched her legs in Tucson and let her cat, Patches, out of her carrier to use the makeshift litter tray and drink some water. The cat had already settled back into an afternoon nap. Still feeling grittiness in her eyes, Claire rubbed them with the kerchief hanging around h...

29 likes 39 comments 39
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Spin-Cycle

Submitted to Contest #283

Ridin’ around in my automobile. Tryin’ not to fall asleep at the wheel. Round and round and round I go. Where I’ll land nobody knows.Caught in a spin cycle. Spinning my wheels. Never any end in sight. Think I’m getting ahead then some guy on a steel horse passes me by. Heck, the rate I’m going even the guy pushing the wheelbarrow is catching up to me. Endless, I’m tellin’ ya. Hopeless. I put in my paces, smile at the faceless faces hiding under haute hats all so I can chase that elusive money bag, pick up my salary and get on the move again....

30 likes 28 comments 28
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Two-Cute Koolridges

Submitted to Contest #282

“I'm sorry, Honey.”“Chrissy, what do you have to be sorry for?”“The Christmas gifts I got for you. I'm still confined to minimum activity until my Cesarean scar heals more so I could only shop online. The Carhartt vest is too tight on you. Even though I love to cuddle with you I didn't realize how big your chest really is. And then I ordered that lame meat and cracker assortment. How original is that?”“If I recall, you recently presented me with the greatest gifts any woman can give a man. Two bundles of joy. Bouncing twin boys! My world is ...

25 likes 24 comments 24
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Second Fair Chance

Submitted to Contest #282

Second Fair Chance “Lord Farnsworth, thank you so much for inviting me to dinner. I want to apologize for anything I did to create tension between us and let you know how grateful I am to have this second chance to make a better impression.”“Well, Sir Fenwick, be assured if I didn't cherish my daughter, Charity, so much you would never get another opportunity to make appeasement. She begged me to reconsider my dismissal of your attentions toward her. She is very taken with you so you must not be all that horrible. Maybe a little misguided wh...

22 likes 42 comments 42
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Thelma Faye

Submitted to Contest #281

Thelma Faye I remember feeling protected as I snuggled in the warmth of my mother's strong arms. My bed was veiled in a green canopy. She spread her warmth so wide it encompassed our whole world as we could see it. And there were a lot of us. She was like the old women who lived in a shoe. So many children... Except she knew. She sheltered and nurtured us and taught us everything she could before setting us free out into a world unknown. She taught our family history and mysteries of what could be.When gentle breezes rustled the leaves she w...

29 likes 33 comments 33
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Mule Deer In The Rear-View Mirror

Mule Deer in the Rear-View Mirror“Thirty.”“Thirty? What are you counting?”“Mule deer.”“Mule deer? Why! Why are you counting mule deer?”“Thirty-one. Because I couldn't help noticing--thirty-two--how many of them I've seen since we passed the Wyoming border. Thirty-three. So I started counting them.”“Wow! Cassie. You must really be bored. Come a little closer so I can wrap my arm around your shoulder. Have I not been giving you enough attention lately?”“Are you serious, Drifter? Thirty-four. We spend twenty-four hours a day together. Eleven of...

22 likes 28 comments 28
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Too-Cute Names

Too-Cute Names “Can we go see Miss Chrissy's babies? Huh? Can we, can we?“May we? 'Can' asks 'are you capable' which I believe you are. But the question should be 'do we have permission' to see the babies. So you need to use the word 'may' instead.”“Well, may we? May we go see the new babies?”“Yes, Carson. Miss Chrissy has invited us to visit her and Mister Kool to meet the new babies. But it will be at the hospital. The babies are too little to come home yet. And we can't hold them. They have to get stronger. Even Miss Chrissy will be in a ...

14 likes 17 comments 17
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Too-Cute Twin Talk

Submitted to Contest #280

Too-Cute Twin Talk “Shush. Did you hear that?”“Huh? What? You waking me up again? Isn't it enough you always have an elbow in my ear? How am I supposed to hear anything? That sound is always there. Shush, shush, shush. It lures me to sleep.”“This time it's more than that. Now listen real hard.”“Thump. Thumpity thump. Thump. Thumpity thump. That one is constant, too. Now leave me alone. And there is no room to change position. Stay where you are. Ow! You're always kicking me in the worse places.”“This is the only place we have ever been. Not ...

15 likes 23 comments 23
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Fair in Love and War

Fair in Love and War “Charity, I'm coming in.”“No, don't! I'm not properly dressed, Father.”“Nonsense. I've seen my little girl undressed before. I must talk to you and I can't do it through this door.”“If you insist. But give me a minute to pull on my robe.”“Now - Why aren't you in any night clothes at all? You have nothing but that flimsy robe on. That's highly improper for a lady of your station.”“Oh, Father! I was so totally exhausted after trying to get dressed for that ball tonight you were so insistent on me attending. My maid accompa...

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Holes in My Story II

Holes in My Story IIIs there a catch, Liza?The catch is I can't get the clasp on our harness to catch, Mr. Henry. This is bad!Nah, that's good.Why is that good?I really didn't want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane anyway.Okay, that's good then.Nope, that's bad.Why is that bad?I'll never get my bucket list completed.Oh, that is bad.Nah, that's good.How is it good?There is a hole in my bucket, Dear, Liza. All my dreams and aspirations slipping away.Well, fix it, Mr. Henry, Dear Henry. Can't you fix it.No, I left the flex-seal in my car...

12 likes 19 comments 19
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Seeking Fair Lady

Submitted to Contest #279

No matter how much she fussed with her blonde locks, Lady Charity Farnsworth cast a blue-deviled countenance before her boudoir mirror so could not achieve a desirable outcome. She finally relinquished the brush, tossing it to the make-up strewn vanity as she thought to herself:Whatever am I to do? My father has forbidden me to ever entertain my beau, Sir Riley, in any genteel Ton company henceforth. He doesn't understand the depths of our love for one another. What is the point of attending yet another tea or ball in pretense of making a ma...

36 likes 24 comments 24
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Too-Cute Apologies

Submitted to Contest #278

Too-Cute Apology “Good morning, Sunshine!” Russell nudged Chrissy as she opened her eyes and started a long cat-like stretch.“Aren't you cheerful this morning? To what do you contribute such a blissful attitude?”“It is Thanksgiving Day and I have an abundance of blessings for which to be grateful. Foremost my beautiful wife and the two miracles she is carrying in her incredibly appealing hot bod!”“You mean this round beach ball I'm tumbling about on? The one that makes me extra clumsy and incapable of walking more than a few steps or incapab...

26 likes 12 comments 12
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Nothing Wicked to See Here

Nothing Wicked to See HereOnce upon a time a bushy-haired regular customer took his turn in the chair at his favorite barber shop.“You're looking worn out, dear Friend.” Remarked the observant barber.The regular guy lamented, “I can never get my little boy to go to sleep at a decent hour.”“You need to tell him a bedtime story.” Advised the helpful hair expert.“Oh, I've tried reading every fairy tale I know and he still won't get sleepy.”“These kids these days are very discerning. You've got to stay one step ahead of them.”“And how do I do th...

24 likes 41 comments 41
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Close Encounter of the Man Kind

Submitted to Contest #276

Close Encounters of the Man Kind I spent nine years wandering in a desert. Searching. Always searching for a way out. Searching for a bright mountain I remembered from before. If by chance I stumbled on a promising route, something would happen; a subtle shift in the wind of fate or a tsunami of faith and that hopeful path would close itself off once again. I tried to convince myself everything was okay. I could survive and be fine exactly as I was. Go with the flow; drought or flood, hill or valley. Enjoy the variety. All challenges would m...

30 likes 39 comments 39
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Bewitched

Submitted to Contest #275

Bewitched I'm bewitched. Well, that is, I'm becoming a witch. No, not the true, crone looking, broom flying, cauldron cooking kind of witch. But still a witch. A pretend witch, that is. And only for one evening. Not so bad. And I'm actually being encouraged to become a witch or something I'm usually not. Don't intend to cast any spells on unsuspecting souls, good or bad. But you never know. Could happen unintentionally, you understand. Since I'm only eight years old how bad could it be? I have never been schooled in becoming a witch. I'll ha...

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