Menu

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Directory
Contests
Magazine
FAQ

Mary Bendickson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2023

Stories (161)
Comments
Library
550 Followers
653 Following

161 Stories

11937 karma pts

?

Too-Cute Objection

Too-Cute Objection “Mo-ommy! I thought we were going to Miss Chrissy's and Mr. Kool's today?”“That was the plan, Sweetie, but everything changed because Miss Chrissy is not feeling well. We will visit them another time. You can spend today getting ready to start first grade tomorrow, right? Are you all set? Excited?” Nora Conover bent down to give her son, Carlson, a hug. “But I wanted to play with Mr. Kool one more time. When school starts we will both be too busy. He's gots lots of big kids to teach about space and I - I have lots of first...

26 likes 31 comments 31
Read story

Too-Cute Nana

Too-Cute Nana Poor Russell. He can't stop blaming himself for Chrissy being in the hospital room down the hallway. He was only being his normal playful self this morning tickling her on his lap when she doubled over in pain. We got her here in an ambulance as soon as we discovered she was bleeding. We don't know if she lost their baby.Anna watched the burly black man pace back and forth in the confined space. Five steps to the right, five steps to the left, five steps right, five steps left, right, left, right, left. Anxiety oozed out of ev...

20 likes 26 comments 26
Read story

Too-Cute Family

Submitted to Contest #267

Too-Cute Family Back and forth, back and forth. Russell paced the OBED hospital waiting area awaiting news on his wife, Chrissy. She doubled over in pain at breakfast so was rushed here by ambulance. Doctors were working on her now.“You might as well sit down and try to relax, Son. Wearing out the tiles and your shoe leather won't bring answers any faster.” Chrissy's nana, Anna, sat at a nearby table making phone calls canceling their plans for what started out as a perfect end of summer holiday. Plans were for an annual block party at which...

40 likes 50 comments 50
Read story

Too-Cute Couple

Submitted to Contest #266

Too-Cute Couple Russell laid on his side with his hand propping up his head as he gazed at his beautiful sleeping wife, Chrissy. After nearly five months of waking up next to her, he still couldn't believe how much she blessed his life. As the newly risen sun peeked in through the blinds, he thought back to the sunny April day he bent down on his knee and surprised her with his proposal in the midst of 299 other couples all saying 'I do' in the four minutes of the total eclipse. Always so sensible and stable, she surprised him when she said ...

36 likes 35 comments 35
Read story

Long Lost

Black smoke belched from the smokestack of the Chicago Alton St. Louis Rail Road engine steaming southwest. The passenger car lurched and swayed sending one gentleman trying to negotiate the aisle sprawling into the laps of Kendra and her traveling companions.“Oh, Ladies, kindly forgive me. Did I hurt anyone? Terribly clumsy of me.” He apologized as he reclaimed his footing, bowed and tipped his hat toward them.“No harm done and we can not put the blame on you. Who can walk with these rolling pathways.” Kendra accepted his apology.“Say, do I...

28 likes 47 comments 47
Read story

Waiting Line

Submitted to Contest #264

Waiting Line Reverend Collins was surprised when Councilman Fillmore approached him and asked for an unusual favor. Seems there was an impromptu wedding reception happening at the hotel this evening and would he consider pronouncing a few words over the happy couple? The young people had eloped at the courthouse this afternoon because their church, the only other one in town besides the one Rev. Collins shepherded, did not currently have a minister and there was some urgency involved. Their friends and family scrambled to hold a reception fo...

40 likes 42 comments 42
Read story

Summer Vacation Paradise

Submitted to Contest #262

Summer Vacation Paradise“Have you heard from the kids yet? Are they packed and ready to go? Mapped out their plan of action to get there about the same time as we will?” Jed fussed as he double and triple checked his list.“You're the planner and coordinator of this whole trip. Haven't you been exchanging e-mails with them to know those answers?” His harried wife, Trudy, retorted. “Look. We saved for it. We meticulously planned for it. We've anticipated it. We've waited for this moment. We are on our way right on schedule. So relax. The kids ...

34 likes 57 comments 57
Read story

Thank You, Reedsy

Submitted to Contest #261

Thank You, Reedsy Dear Reedsy,I wish to express my gratitude to all the creators, staff, professional support members and, of course, the talented contributing authors that make up the Reedsy community. As an aspiring author entering the weekly short story contests my linguistic pursuits have been enhanced and inspired by this online family.Before I relate my journey let me thank and congratulate Laura for her tenure as prompt coordinator in Reedsy Prompts for the pass five years, if I understand correctly, and welcome Isabelle to the positi...

41 likes 66 comments 66
Read story

Interrupted

Submitted to Contest #260

InterruptedHer eyes popped open. Someone had their lips on her mouth. Kissing her. Oka-ay. Kissing... She let her eyes drift shut to enjoy the sensation. It must be her mate. What? Wait. No! It can't be...She had the overwhelming need to cough. She couldn't help it. She coughed. Turned her head to the side and coughed and… Ew. That had to be a turn off! She spewed out even more. Poor fellow trying his best to make passionate love to her coming in again to close his mouth around hers just got spit on instead.He turned her towards him and patt...

31 likes 43 comments 43
Read story

Where's the Elephant?

Submitted to Contest #259

Where's the Elephant?Barry ambled across the park-like grounds of the facility and pulled on the long brass handle to the double doors of the low stacked stone building with the thick columns to make his entrance. He was met by a uniformed personnel member bustling about performing her duties. “Excuse me, I'm look...” “About time you got here. You're running late. If you want to work here you gotta learn to be on time.“ The worker, 'Buffy' according to her name tag, chastised the new hire. “Grab a bucket and mop from that closet and join in....

34 likes 45 comments 45
Read story

Day the World Changed

Submitted to Contest #258

Day the World ChangedKelly barely arrived at work when news started breaking of a terrible accident that involved an inferno in the crowded downtown. She instinctively grabbed her camera gear and headed out into the fray. Chaos reigned as some pedestrians and vehicle traffic ran toward the source to rubberneck what was happening while others ran the opposite direction in fear of what was happening. What was happening? Nobody seemed to know for sure beyond the bone-jarring crash they heard and acrid black smoke billowing upward.Being a profes...

39 likes 49 comments 49
Read story

Much Ado About Nothing

Submitted to Contest #257

Much Ado About Nothing“About face! March! Hup, two, three, four. Hup, two, three, four. Halt! About face! March! Hup, two...”This goes on in daylight and in darkness.“Red, yellow, black and white. We keep everything in sight. Day and night.” Marching Mustard remarked. “We are the Watchmen keeping watch over the rails of the ramparts in Messina...”“Halt!” comes the command.“Oomph. I hate it when you stop so suddenly, Colonel Catsuppi. You being red and me so white we'll come out pink colliding all the time.” Ranchairo exclaimed.“That would cr...

40 likes 62 comments 62
Read story

Fair Lady Charity

Submitted to Contest #256

Fair Lady Charity Carlton gawked at Riley. Riley gawked at Carlton. Then they couldn't help bursting out in laughter.“Did you see that fool running around like a banshee screeching with his head afire?” Sir Carlton guffawed. “Then making a beeline to the exit with his bigwig still steaming once the flaming baton twirler doused him with the pail of water?” Sir Riley chortled. “Never witnessed anything quite so hilarious!” His good friend still snickering choked out.“How did his pencil neck ever hold up that enormous fancy wig?” Riley tried to...

31 likes 42 comments 42
Read story

Fair Lady II

Submitted to Contest #255

Fair Lady IISir Riley Fenwick paced back and forth wringing his hands. “Hurry up, Ole Chap! We'll never find her again if you take all day getting your shirt back on.”“Don't despair, Mate. In this crowd she can't be moving very fast. Help me tie this confounded cravat. The least this boxing venue could have done is provide a mirror back here if they expect a gentleman to strip to his bare chest to participate in a match. How is one ever supposed to go out in public again half dressed?”“Don't need to get fancy, Carlton. We're not headed to a ...

32 likes 48 comments 48
Read story

My Fair Lady

Submitted to Contest #254

My Fair LadyIt happened at the fair. Our eyes locked, our hearts entwined and our lives tumbled.Sir Carlton Winslow, my good chum from university and myself, Sir Riley Fenwick, decided to take in the ever popular local market fair to delve into delectable street fare hawked out by costermongers and imbibe in some hardy ale dispensed by wanton wrenches. The bawdy sights and cacophony of sounds would provide a good diversion from our unending pressures of the late season of concerts, ballroom galas and afternoon teas we young blades were expec...

30 likes 46 comments 46
Read story