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Paul Purnell

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2025

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6 Stories

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The Storm

Weekly Contest #331

THE STORM It was a storm like no other. In Bridport, trees fell, roofs rippled and lifted, thatch groaned under the power of the wind and tiles flicked about the streets like knives. High up on the ridgeway, some miles above the town, was The Beggar’s Rest. For over a hundred years it had stood next to the crossway where two roads met. It was a familiar landmark hereabouts. Some people said it was a dangerous place – others said it was a refuge. – so isolated and far from the town. Joshua Trim, the landlord, a large man with a dark complexio...

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Star Shine

Weekly Contest #330

STAR SHINE She pushed her things into a bag and slammed out of the door. I ran after her down the path leading to the jetty and grabbed her arm. ‘You can’t go like this.’ ‘Let go of my arm,’ was all she said, and she looked out to sea where the boat was approaching. I had joined The Interplanetary Society in the summer of 2025 and enjoyed the scientific discussions and the lively social contact among like minded people. It was there I met Jo who seemed a kindred spirit, she was not a science graduate, but an eager personality who loved o...

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HARLEQUIN

Weekly Contest #329

HARLEQUIN Harlequin was bored. He put aside his mask and carnival clothing and changed shape for fun. Sitting in a Knightsbridge Costa, he checked over the girls chattering around him. Two blondes in Pashminas, long boots and flicking hair; No. A brunette; hair to dark, faux fur coat; constantly on her I-phone; No. The girl with red hair? She arrived carrying her Latte and searched for a seat. He looked up and smiled, moving along the bench seat to make room. At first, she glanced elsewhere but he had chosen carefully and kept space on his t...

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She Loves Me

Weekly Contest #321

SHE LOVES ME I bought the dog at a pub in the Camden Road. An old man with a cloth cap and a fag in the corner of his mouth sat down beside me with a pint of beer.He said “You look like a good judge, what you think of this animal?”The mutt sat down beside the bench and looked up at the old man with a quizzical look as if she didn’t believe what she was hearing.“I can see you’ve got taste Sir” the old rogue went on, “and a dog like this could save you a lot of money.”“Oh yes? How come?”“Well, you see, she is trained to hunt truffles and she’s...

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Nalusa

Nalusa -The Shadow Man The soft light of a new day slipped under the door of the cabin. Josh stirred and burrowed deeper into the rug that covered him. Ice coated the small windows and smeared the view of the forest outside. Half awake, he dreamt of Mary and summer days, of happy times among the townsfolk of Saint John, New Brunswick, his hometown. He rose and pushed out against the snow banked against the door and took stock of the weather. Blue sky and wild clouds above and a keen wind from the north meant more snow and hunting would be im...

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THE CLUB TIE

Weekly Contest #318

THE CLUB TIE(MCC is the Middlesex Cricket Club the exclusive club of Lord’s cricket ground.) It was in September 1989 I met Gilbey at the Plaza Hotel in Bangkok. He rang me to say he was the new rep for Tudor Gin in the Far East, and would I like a drink? The Plaza Hotel was large and flashy. Flaky gold paint was everywhere. The red plush banquettes sagged wearily from years of hard use. Dusty chandeliers drooped overhead, lending a faint hint of a glittering past. The girls who lingered in the Director's Bar were the type who liked you on s...

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