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Pete Gautchier

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2024

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99 Stories

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Icy Splash

Weekly Contest #332

Prompt: Set a story before, during or after a storm.An Icy Splash “Brrr! It’s really cold outside,” I mumbled as I peered out the frosted windows of my apartment overlooking Lake Michigan. I could see the motionless waves of the water frozen in time by the nippy Jack Frost northerly winds. Today would be a special day because it represented the culmination of my efforts at fund raising for the Children’s hospital in Chicago. Throughout the weeks leading up to this renown event I had labored, schmoozed and cajoled others for donations to the ...

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Anguish by the Edges of the Sea

Weekly Contest #324

CW: Mental health, trauma, suicide, substance abuse The crisp wind moved across my face as I took in the vision of the undulating seas on this most idyllic day of days. The sun glimmered across its surface casting a golden aura on the horizon. At any vantage point the view was impeccable across the rugged and treeless cliffs of Runswick Bay. I stopped walking as the image of the cliffs stirred memories within me. The quaint village of Staithes, North Yorkshire has been my home for my entire life. I am like those cliffs outlining the seaside ...

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Interruptus Americanus

Weekly Contest #323

Prompt: Someone’s most sacred ritual is interrupted. What happens next? Interruptus Americanus Sixty miles north of London is the renowned city of Cambridge, famous for its university and for the Cambridge Folk Festival offering amazing music, lively dancing, and local crafts. I thoroughly enjoy my time there celebrating the blending of English diverse heritage when the opportunity lends itself. The melding of traditional and contemporary practices enthralls me as an old-fashioned Briton commoner. I guess I am more of a traditionalist th...

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Achieving Great Heights

Weekly Contest #322

Prompt: Write a story inspired by the phrase, “A person’s worth is no greater than one’s ambitions.” (M. Aurelius) Achieving Great Heights I loved climbing trees when I was the ripe old age of six.My mom was aghast by the heights I would ascend especially when the limbs seemed flimsy at best. Nonetheless, I continued my ascent into the skies through various trees. My dad, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to use my skills to his advantage. He said to my mom climbing was in my blood. Privately, he detested getting any higher than grou...

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Tiny, But Effective-An Alarm System with a Tail

Weekly Contest #320

Prompt: Write a story from the POV of someone or (something) living in a forest. Prompt: Center your story around a mysterious forest fire, disappearance, or other strange event. Tiny, But Effective-An Alarm System with a Tail I am a mindful creature living among the tall leafy trees, rustic pines, and thick underbrush. I love scurrying about renovating my drey inside the most majestic oak tree within the entire forest. My family, however, by their squawks and barks has expressed that I am acting a little too squirrely for them. But honestl...

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My Dad, the Wedding Planner

Weekly Contest #318

Prompt: Start or end your story with a character preparing for someone else’s big moment.My Dad, the Wedding Planner I arose at the crack of dawn. I scampered out of my bed knowing that the day would be spectacular and full of wonderment. Adrenaline was pulsing through my arteries. Today would be the climax of my preparations for this glorious day. I would make my daughter’s wedding dreams come true. Stella’s hand had been betrothed to a fellow I had long since considered to be like a son. It was especially easy to get close to Stanley s...

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More Than Lemonade

Weekly Contest #314

Prompt: Begin your story with “It was the hottest day of the year…” More than Lemonade It was the hottest day of the year. No one in their right mind had ventured outside. It was so oppressively hot and humid even the distant snow capped mountain tops were crying out as their snow melted away. My hearty lavender plants were becoming instant sachet packets. Still I had to get out. I had been cooped up inside wallowing in my sadness for weeks now. Time for a walk around the neighborhood. Even with the oppressive heat I would not part ...

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Whispering Sweet Nothings

Weekly Contest #312

Prompt: Write a story that includes the line “Are you real?” or “Who are you?” Whispering Sweet Nothings “Can you hear me, Fred?” asked the technician in a whisper. I acknowledged him with a Cheshire cat grin. I could finally hear words again. He proceeded to splatter me with dozens of words that were phonetically similar. Once I successfully recited the words, he nodded an approval along with a similar cat-like smile. Since I turned fifty-five, I began losing my hearing at an alarming rate. My wife had pestered me to the brink of my sanity ...

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Too much Smelling Good? Feeling Good? (Trop de bonnes odeurs? Se sentir Bien?)

Weekly Contest #310

Prompt: Write about someone who makes a deal for viral fame-but their rising popularity comes with unexpected (or dangerous) side effects. Too Much Smelling Good? Feeling Good? (Trop de bonnes odeurs? Se Sentir Bien?) Most likely you have heard of great musicians or painters that have their hands insured for millions of dollars to protect their artistic genius and livelihood. How I wish it was the same for me in the fragrance industry I chose as my career. That type of insurance would catapult me to an amazing level of recognition. But ...

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"Free at Last"

Weekly Contest #309

Prompt: Center your story around a character who yearns for someone or something they’ve lost-or never had. “Free at Last” The sky was blacker than I had ever seen it. The clouds cast ominous shapes as I glanced above the palm tree forest. But that was above me. I had to concentrate on my steps as I trudged my way through ankle deep mud which held me like quicksand. Slithery, venomous snakes and ill-tempered lizards riveted their eyes on my movements. I was terrified. But it was the day ahead that made me quiver on this journey into t...

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Chad, Michael and Diego-Final Exam?

Weekly Contest #307

Prompts:Write a story about a secret group or society and a story about a test or exam with a dangerous or unexpected result. Chad, Michael and Diego-Final Exam? I attend one of the most non-prestigious city colleges along the eastern seaboard. Surprisingly, it has a large student body, probably because many cannot afford the hoity toity Ivy League school tuitions. The college is a menagerie of people.Faces constantly come and go. None seem familiar from week to week. Most students live in studio apartments within walking distance to the m...

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Catching Up with the Past: Boys Will Be Boys

Weekly Contest #303

Prompt: Write about someone who chooses revenge-even though forgiveness is an option. Catching Up with the Past: Boys Will Be Boys The air smelled musty and dank as I rummaged through the boxes in the basement of my parents’ house.It was easy to see that a multitude of years had passed before anyone dared to tackle this hording nightmare.Being the only child, I was tasked to forage through this outlandish pile of obsolescence and so-called memorabilia before the house was placed on the realtor’s market. I was doubting myself as to my inten...

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Clarity of Mind and Heart

Weekly Contest #302

Prompt: Write a story with the line “I don’t understand.”Clarity of Mind and Heart My old man was a typical old-world Irishman straight off the boat.He would sarcastically say in his thick Irish brogue to my sister and I that we were living the “Life of Reilly.”Right after he would say it his mind and attention would slip away. He would start reminiscing about his former days and trials of his youth. Almost on cue, he would tear up when he reached his story about the ocean crossing and his early struggles to survive in New York City.I was...

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Even at My Worst It Still was a Beautiful Day

Weekly Contest #301

Prompt: Center your story around something that doesn’t go according to plan. Even at My Worst It was Still a Beautiful Day There was persistent ringing in my ears. I just needed a few more minutes to rest my weary soul. I clumsily reached for my phone to silence the menacing buzz. I thought one of these days I need to change my ringtone. No sooner had I turned it off, I felt a tugging at my ear followed by loud incessant purring. My bleary eyes revealed my catatonic state to my annoyed observer. Toby, my lifelong feline friend, ball of ...

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Momma Flo and MTLC

Weekly Contest #300

Prompt: Set your story in your favorite place in the world. Momma Flo and MTLC “Teddy, I’ve got something for you,” as my Momma called from the kitchen. Right away I knew it would be yummy. When I entered the kitchen, she looked at me with her saucer-like, loving eyes. “Teddy Bear, I know how much you enjoy licking my wooden spoon so I added extra for more tasty fun,” she smiled as she handed me the wooden spoon. It was heaven on a stick. My Momma, Florence knew how to feed my sweet tooth. She was in her element in the kitchen. Before televi...

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