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Ruth Porritt

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2020

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30 Stories

1146 karma pts

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What makes a house a home?

The house was perfect. Situated on three acres of farmland, the windows in the kitchen caught the light, as the sun began to set. "What do you think?" I asked my husband, Greg. "Do you like it?" he asked, surveying a hole in the living room plaster. "It looks like a fixer upper, and you'd be doing most of the work, while I'm at work. You're just now able to walk." Greg was right. While running, I'd tripped and broken my femur. I was on the way to recovery, but this was only the third week I'd been walking without crutches, or a walker. I sti...

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The British man and the American woman

Weekly Contest #342

CW: Sexual content I am in love with my boss. It started when we shook hands on the first day of work. It also didn't hurt that the man in charge had a British accent. Before I met him, I'd obsessed over old Hollywood heart throbs like Errol Flynn, and Cary Grant. Meeting a genuine British man in the flesh made my insides turn to jelly. On the first day of work, I learned my boss's name was Alan. My new job was in advertising, and Alan told me we would be working closely together, to create a new campaign for a cologne company. "That's wond...

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Hollywood friends

We had all agreed to meet at Sammy's Diner. The pleather booths were roomy and large, but shabby. The food wasn't that great, and the service was just okay. The reason we were meeting there was that Sammy, the owner, let us occupy a booth for as long as we wanted. The first to arrive was Grant. Grant was a character actor, who was currently out of work. That meant that he was back to being a male escort. He hated himself for doing this, but the money was good, and he could remain financially stable between acting jobs. "How are you, Grant?" ...

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The vampire who hated James Joyce and Walt Whitman

I yearn for blood. Every day of my life is spent searching for fresh sources of it. I prefer human blood, so you could say that much of my time is spent looking for humans who are easy to catch and detain. Today, I am in Central Park. I sit on a bench and read 'Ulysses' by James Joyce. I hate James Joyce, almost as much as I hate the poetry of Walt Whitman. However, James Joyce keeps me awake. His indecipherable prose keeps my brain active, as I try to understand what each sentence means, and why Joyce would write such a sentence. I have con...

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1884 part 3--The wedding

William paid the bill for our food, and we stepped into his coach. There was an awkward silence, which William broke. "Clara, I wanted to ask how you feel about me." "I like you," I said. "You are handsome, generally respectful and kind, and say what you mean." "I realize," he said, taking my hand in his, "that I haven't asked you if you want to marry me. Would you do me the honor of being my wife, or do you only like me? To be blunt, do you like me as a male relative, or as someone you are interested in, romantically? These questions plague...

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1884 part 2--Tallywhackers

As soon as Aunt Elizabeth and I returned from the opera, my mother wanted to know every single detail. "I met a young man, mother!" I exclaimed. "His name is Mr. McCain, but he asked me to call him William. He asked to call on me, tomorrow afternoon, and to meet you." Aunt Elizabeth interrupted. "Clara's new beux reminded me of a high-spirited stallion I had, once." My mother interrupted. "I'd like to here all about the stallion, later, but let's here Clara's story, first. "Oh, okay," said my aunt. She looked a bit disappointed, but perked u...

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1884

"Pull tighter," I said to my maid, Emily. I particularly wanted the strings to be tight in back of the corset. It was my first season as a debutante, and I would be damned if I would allow Lizzie Winters to have the smallest waist. "I'm trying," said Emily. We heard a 'pop' and realized the corset had broken. "Fetch another," I said. Emily sighed. "If it is a problem, there are many girls who would love to be hired as my personal servant." My lady's maid bowed her head. "I am sorry Miss Clara," she said. "I will quickly bring you a new corse...

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The nanny

Weekly Contest #335

I was completely broke. I pushed my card into the ATM again, just to make sure. Yep, I had a grand total of 25 dollars. "Sorry buddy," I said to my dog, Scotty. "It looks like you'll be getting the cheap dog food again." Scotty put his paws on my knee, which meant he wanted to be picked up and cradled like a baby. He was a tiny rescue dog that I bought in more prosperous times. As I was carrying him home, I saw an ad nailed to a telephone poll. "Part-time nanny needed for two children," it read. "Possible live-in position. If interested, cal...

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Clara's diary

Dear Diary, There is a new guy that moved in next door. He is super cute. Nice hair, sparkly blue eyes, and large biceps. As you know, I am currently single. My last boyfriend was obsessed with amps, and his guitar. When Bobby would talk about the amps and guitars he had purchased, I would nod politely. I do a lot of nodding politely. Mrs. Meyer, across the way from me, enjoys telling me about her various health ailments. Anything from dandruff to sciatica--that lady is always suffering from something. Anyway, Bobby is ancient history. It wa...

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Hungry every day

I am hungry every day. I don't want to get fat. My mother is fat, and I am disgusted when I look at her. I eat three apples a day. I try to make sure that the apples are as small as possible. One trick I learned, to feel full, is to drink hot water. I always carry around a bottle that is filled to the brim with hot water. Sometimes, to feel full, I will eat bananas. However, bananas have more calories than apples. I try to limit the number of bananas I eat. At mealtimes, I hide how little I am eating. It is easy to do. You just take a couple...

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There are some crazy ones out there

Weekly Contest #333

"Is something burning?" My mom was blow-drying her hair in the back bedroom. "What?" she said. "I think your pie is burning," I shouted. "Oh crap!" I heard the hair dryer click off and my mom ran into the kitchen. "It's not too bad," she said, surveying the edges of the apple pie. I think I can scrape the black parts off." "Umm...we're running late. Do you want me to do that?" "No," said my mom. "You can turn on the car, though, to keep it warm. Would you put the presents in the trunk, too?" I sighed. "Yes." Mom tossed me her keys, and I slo...

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You aren't alone

Weekly Contest #332

I was sick as a dog. The thermometer said I had a fever of one hundred. I sat on my couch and slumped against a cushion. Earlier, I had attempted to make myself a cup of tea. I turned on the kettle and carefully poured a bit of milk into the bottom of the first mug I found. As I dropped in a tea bag, the kettle stopped working. I guessed that the water was hot enough. By that time, I was so ill I didn't care. I poured lukewarm water into the sugar jar, instead of my mug. Mortified, I was grateful no one was around to see. I opened the refrig...

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After midnight

Weekly Contest #331

I was having the dream again. My college crush, Jack Roberts, was saying something that I couldn't quite decipher. Suddenly, I heard clang, clang, clang. Someone was using my door's outdated knocker. I stumbled out of bed and down the stairs. I opened the door and my mouth dropped open. It was Jack, standing at the door with a black suitcase and a small smile. "Did I surprise you?" he said. "Well, yes," I said. "I wasn't expecting you for another week, and it's after midnight." "Sorry," Jack said. "I just got so excited to see you. You look ...

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Henry and Jane

I lit a cigarette and pulled my coat around me. The wind blew and snow swirled through the sky, slowly covering the cars on the street. Colder than a witch's tit, I thought. Where had I heard that expression? Probably in a Stephen King novel. The door to the bar swung open. "Have you got a light?" asked a man with a British accent. "Yes!" I shouted. "No need to shout," said the man. "I already know you're American." "Is that supposed to be some kind of insult?" I whispered. "Touche," said the man. He smiled and I noticed he had light blue ey...

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The race

"You cannot run." The doctor spoke with finality, and Joan did not like his tone. Still, she had discovered that one should never contradict male doctors because they became more convinced that they were right and the patient was wrong. "Can you tell me why?" she asked. It was better to ask a question. Male doctors loved answering questions. "Osteogenesis Imperfecta", said the doctor, without looking up from his clipboard. "In English please," said Joan. "Alright," said the doctor. "You have bones that break easily. If you run, there is ...

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