#dramatic fiction

[caffeinewitchcraft]

For Molly – A Fiction Short Story by Catelyn Winona – Reedsy Prompts

We stop at Dairy Queen instead of McDonald’s. It takes us thirty minutes out of the way, but neither of us say anything when Molly takes the

[richelle-goodrich]

“There are many who don’t wish to sleep for fear of nightmares. Sadly, there are many who don’t wish to wake for the same fear.”

― Richelle Goodrich, Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher

[stevenpmeehan]

🎻 He Returned for One Last Performance. The Theater Remembered Him. 🎭

Nathan walked through the rows of the theater, letting his fingers trace the tops of the chairs hugging the aisle. When he neared the weathered stage, he rested his delicate fingers on the worn wood and sighed. After several moments, he climbed onto the stage and hurried to the door behind the curtains. As he pushed it, the hinges groaned in protest.

When it stopped moving, the familiar scent of timber, faded velvet, and dust enveloped him. His eyes moistened as the corners of his mouth tugged toward his ears. He stepped through the opening and stared at the room where musicians or actors would wait for their cue. His head dropped as he wiped his eyes.

He exhaled and turned around to study the empty theater. Sunlight sliced through the windows. As the theater’s bell rang, a dozen people entered and resumed retrieving everything not bolted down. While Nathan watched the workers’ methodical movements, a feminine silhouette sauntered through the main doors.

When the woman walked out of the sunlight, she inclined her head and offered a wide smile to Nathan. “You finally came.”

Nathan’s head shook back and forth as he dropped to the platform’s edge, letting his feet dangle. He clapped his hands as their gazes locked together. “I did, Clara.”

Her smile curled as she sat beside him before handing him a violin case. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“I heard they’re tearing it down,” Nathan said, unlatching the case. He lifted the lid, and a low whistle sliced through the theater. He closed it as his gaze whipped to her. “Isn’t this reserved for the first chair?”

“Yes, and it is.” She pointed at the workers. “The committee convinced the council to allow one last performance before the wrecking balls arrive.”

Nathan slid the violin onto Clara’s lap as a shudder ran down his spine. “Were they hoping that inviting a retiree would galvanize the community, or be the final nail in the coffin?”

She forced the violin back into Nathan’s hands. Then she turned his face toward her. “They invited everyone.”

“They couldn’t do that.”

Clara shook her head and tapped her palm against his shoulder. “They sent invitations to everyone they could find.”

With a somber nod, Nathan ran his fingertips across the floorboards and choked down a wry laugh. “When was the last time the venue refurbished this hall?”

“The committee planned to have it refurbished just before the council announced its closure.”

Another awkward chuckle slipped from Nathan’s quavering throat. “And with the pending demolition, why bother squandering money?”

“Of course,” Clara said, tracing a deep divot in the plank between them. “The countless rehearsals held within this hall have no sway over the council. All they see is the dwindling audience.”

Nathan rose and walked to the middle of the platform, clutching the violin to his chest. “I never thought I’d stand here again.”

“You made certain of that,” Clara said, joining him as she laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Do you think the rehearsals will go well?” Nathan lifted the case as he stared into her eyes. “Considering you’re giving this to me.”

“If you hadn’t left, you would have received it long ago.” Clara gripped his shoulder as she turned him toward the chairs arrayed before them. “We’ll mesh before we have to play…

If you enjoyed this excerpt, the full story is available on Patreon as well as the back catalogue.

The Final Farewell | Steven Meehan

The Final Farewell by Steven Meehan on Patreon. Join Steven Meehan's community for exclusive content and updates.

[lilyofthesword-writes]

I Am the Queen (Original Work)

Word Count: 98

Genre: Drama

Required Action: Petting a cat.

Required Word: Lush

Warnings/Disclaimers: None

A/N: With Iron making it through Round 1 of the 100 Word Challenge, Round 2 was next. Here’s what I wrote. Results will be at the end of July. :D

The wine glass shattered on impact, the walls and carpet gulping its ruby contents.

“How could you?!” the wife pointed her shriek at her husband.

She rounded on me to mirror the same words as the rest: Home wrecker. My focus was on the cat, her cat, snuggling into my side, its fur delightfully soft under my palm. 

“Probably softer than her hair,” I mused silently.

Lush lashes littered with tears, she stalked out of the house. Her husband — Samuel, I think — gifted me an apologetic smile, proving what I’ve always known: In every game, I am the Queen.

[womenusingwords]

If I Don’t Ask

The details… Author: E. J. NoyesPublisher: Bella BooksPublication Date: May 12, 2022ISBN: 9781642473919eAvailable formats: ebook, paperback Length: 286 pageGenre: romance Themes: military hospitals, doctors, friendships, family, trauma The blurb from the publisher… Rebecca Keane has it all figured out. With a successful career as an Army surgeon and a fresh promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, she…

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[womenusingwords]

Invisible Lives

The blurb from the publisher… Do any of us ever fully accept the reflection in the mirror? Thirty-four-year-old Olivia Campbell has spent her entire life only glancing at the image that stares back. For over fifteen years, she’s kept a secret that has the potential to destroy all that she’s built. Now at a crossroads, Olivia must decide whether it’s important to be true to who she is or…

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[studyaroundthetokki]

Make it Great(er)

We all sat through the drills. I wasn't the best. I wasn’t the worst, but no matter my test scores in the other subject areas this one physical test had to be passed before I could begin working. I watched the videos and read all the pamphlets and pdfs. Very few of us did well with what the examiners called the “stress test.” 

Let me give you some background. Up until the legislation was passed about 5 years ago, you didn’t have to have physical exams to work in public education. That all changed when OFD (our favorite dictator, hey don’t report me it’s funny) and his cronies passed a piece of divisive legislation that lead to riots.. In the BoE until they gave the final line: either do it, or be replaced by someone who will. Even if that person wasn’t as technically qualified since we were nationally short on members to begin with--there were new “earn your degree while gaining real experience” programs that popped up for in need locations. Which apparently was a synonym for nearly every school after the first 18 months.

So here’s where we’re left, after people have settled into the idea of it: teachers not only have to pass their degree requirements (which are rather appallingly low since no one really wants to do public education for some strange reason): 1.5 years of core classes in your chosen subject, 6 months teaching with a mentor (senior teacher who basically is too harried with their responsibilities to help you), and two hours of a gun safety course with a practical exam.

Let me repeat:  

3 semesters of basic courses in the subject of your choice

6 months of “co” teaching

2 hours of gun safety

At least our country is great again, right? Oh and ignoring the gross lack of educational merit to this curriculum, if you don’t pass the gun portion you’re out... until the next class which is 3 weeks later.

In fact, if you’re willing to only work part time, you can get a provisional license in a specialized subject (let me break that down: if you can’t suck up the oh so difficult college curriculum) through what equates to summer school. 3 months “intensive” study.

Now I know you’re saying “but these teachers are passionate and learning hands on.” No. No. No.

The people who were passionate about teaching are the ones who lobbied and marched to try and prevent the most important factor of educating 5 year olds from being how accurate you are with a damned glock.

The teachers who cared advocated better mental healthcare for students and more research being done to adapt the national standards that put students under so much stress and leave them with education that teaches them to bow their heads down and suck it up until they explode. Let me say it. Quietly. As I put on a safety vest and aim at a target that’s ⅔ my size. While I straighten my posture and realize that the target is roughly the size of my 13 year old niece. Let me tell you as I silently put the gun down, take off the vest, and walk out.

No.

Nothing has changed in the last few years. Except we perform worse internationally. Our students are not prepared for the real world. Unemployment has gone up 8% in the last 6 years and is expected to increase before the final two years are finished under this current government model. Unless the new legislation is passed which alters the very foundations of our democracy.

Making America Great may just become a lifetime achievement. They said the armed teachers act wouldn’t pass either. Maybe the solution isn’t in adding or subtracting but coming up with a new equation all together, and I guess that’s what “they” are doing anyway. Except there’s nothing new about it if you’d been reading the signs like some dystopian fiction where society gets caught in a noose of its own permission. You might think it laughable that I think the only way to handle this is by escape but then most people aren’t reading the “Independent” (fake is what most people call it now) reports about the new travel bans. They’re inward not outward and my happy ass is getting out while the getting is still there. Because if it passes then no one’s going anywhere. And it’s all for you own good you see? They know better than you, or me when the poor are up in arms and diseases are coming in forms that we once knew but thought we knew better. It’s worse than a low budget movie and out of the lion’s mouth: we’ll protect you, from yourself but not Us.

So, as they yell and shout at me for walking out of the exam and threaten to suspend my teaching license. I remind myself that I already had a job offer for a place over the pond. I have about 18 hours before I’m probably on some list as a dissenter. So, I’m publishing this from the tarmac, rather than the house. Because apparently, a differing opinion is a radical act.

I can’t even make this shit up. The news at 9: Countries are poaching highly skilled workers from Americans with promises of lucrative job opportunities but when they arrive it turns out many positions are sub-standard. These so called expats--as in former patriots, are having their government issued IDs taken and forced into working for Anti-American foreign regimes. An insider report at 11. But first, John with the Trump Official News Report: A new legislation is being voted on today that addresses the current 2 term limit on presidential office. President Trump has stated his work is not done and he will not give up the fight. America is greater than it has ever been, and we will make it even greater.

[ginabarlean]

Making an Old Book New

Last week I did something I hadn’t done in a couple of years. I read the first book I published, Casting Stones. I have to say it surprised me. I have some things I might write a little differently if I were to write it now, but really, not much. The book held my attention even though I knew what was coming and I even reached around to pat myself on the back a few times for the turns of phrase,…

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