Short Stories

A Collection of Short Stories by Robert Prins. Some a product of Robert’s imagination, some Biblical, some true stories. Enjoy!

Click on the pictures and scroll down to read the story.

**The Most Special Time**
3 minutes to read
*If it had been up to him, this baby would have been born in a palace or even a flash hotel, but a stable? Is this the way God would choose to send his Son into the world?*

**The Pocket Watch**
3 minutes to read
Jared’s great, great grandfather discovered the secret of the pocket watch or maybe put the magic into it. He called it Special Time. Five generations of Jared’s family had been searching for the lost treasure of Azophlus through the magic of the pocket watch. Would Jared be the man to find it?

**Seeing Red**
3 minutes to read
The dreariness of running the vacuum over the lounge floor gave Simon an idea. What would happen if he modified the vacuum cleaner to suck up more than just dust? Would it be a success or would everyone end up seeing red?

**Nelson’s Waistcoat**
3 minutes to read
Mid-shipman Rogers joins Lord Nelson’s crew on the HMS Victory. There is much to learn as they patrol the English waters from the threats of the Spanish. But will Lord Nelson’s red waistcoat be enough to defeat the enemy?

**Bertie and the Crossed Wires** – A children’s story
*3 Minutes to read*
When Fairy Princess Maisy and her friend Samantha stumble into a mud pit, and Frizzle the gnome has his washing covered in bird poo, they know they need to do something about Bertie the Goblin and his mischievous tricks. But how do you trick a magical goblin?

**Burnout!**
*3 minutes to read*
Busy, busy, busy. Robert was much too busy. And then suddenly there was burnout. Physically, mentally and emotionally he was wrecked. But when God is in control, even the nightmare of a burnout can have a silver lining.

**The Smell Of Trouble**
*3 minutes to read*
Water, fire, rose petals, hair, and some vastly different aromas. The smell of trouble is definitely in the air.

**From Inattention to Impact**
*2 minutes to read*
“My writing career began because of inattention.”
Join Robert for his inspiring testimony about the what started him writing and what motivates him to keep going.
Maybe you will be inspired to pick up a pen and write too.

Constance
*3 minutes to read*
One ring. Two rings. Three rings. Maybe she wouldn’t answer. I began to hope. But then there was a click. “Hello?”
I had missed phone call from Constance. Previous experience had told me what to expect…

**The Sting of Bad Decisions**
*3 Minutes to read*
In *The Sting of Bad Decisions*, an armed holdup, a shower, a towel, and other bad choices lead to a decidedly uncomfortable conclusion. Robert’s short, but true story is a compelling example of how bad decisions can come back to bite us in the end.

**Hands of Love**
*3 Minutes to read*
A connection is made when hands touch.
Enjoy the true story of a couple whose hand-holding has formed a life-long bond. A poem by Robert Prins.

Matchmaker
3 minutes to read
*David opened the door to his grandmother’s room to witness her being kissed by a stranger. Little did David know that the kiss he saw would change the course of his life.*

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**Lamb of God**
*3 Minutes to read*
Jeff and I were discussing the Lamb of God after Bible Class. You guessed it, we had lamb sandwiches for supper. But talking about the Lamb of God over lamb sandwiches makes for a very interesting discussion…

**The Good Old Days**
*4 minutes to read*
Oliver wants to live in the good old days that his grandfather keeps telling him about. But what will he really find when his grandmother makes him some magic cookies that transport him back to when his grandfather was his age?
The wise man said, “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.” (Ecclesiastes 7 v 10).
Will Oliver discover the same thing?

**Piano Recital**
3 minutes to read
Simon took his seat at the piano. He paused then looked up. “Today I am playing the Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major by Franz Schubert,” he declared. Simon’s hands flew over the keys in a whirlwind of musical talent. The piano keys danced to the classical music … and the music went on … and on … and on…

**Possible Royal Rift**
*3 minutes to read*
A Royal scandal like no other is brewing. Emotions are running high in the royal household. Princess Michal, who had been so in love with King David when they married, was not seen with David and the rest of his family at the joyful Homecoming event yesterday. Sources say their marriage is on the rocks.

**Marble War**
*3 minutes to read*
Playing marbles for keeps can either go well or it can go very, very badly. Find out what happens when Moe loses his marbles in a single game.

**God at The Beach – A Poem**
*2 minutes to read*
The stunning beaches of New Zealand will fill your senses and leave you in awe of the great Creator. Robert’s poem, God at the Beach, helps bring out some of the majesty and beauties of God’s creation on the coastline of New Zealand.

**The Photo**
3 minutes to read
“Don’t ruin it this time,” Henrietta whispered to her husband.
It was time for the family photo. What a kerfuffle! But amidst all the pandemonium and posing, Albert had a problem. Could they all hold still long enough to take a simple family photo?

**Bard Beetle**
*3 Minutes to read.*
When Flurry Mc Webb’s home burst into flames, she knew it had something to do with a beetle. But where was the evidence? Would Flurry and Constable Pederson be able to catch the arsonist before it was too late?

**Arson**
3 Minutes to Read
Robert woke in the middle of the night to footsteps, the smell of smoke and the sound of fire. The school – his school – over the back fence was on fire! Join Robert for some midnight excitement in this true story about arson.

**Resourceful Scouting**
*3 minutes to read*
“Someone has been dumping rubbish in the bush,” one of the Boy Scouts was shouting as they found a sack hidden in some shrubbery. Another scout untied the sack and was pulling out old bits of paper. “It’s just all paper,” he said.
Brett’s eyes nearly fell out of his head. His boys had found the stolen Charter of Interdependence!
Would this amazing find change their lives?

**The Secret Life of John Smith**
*3 Minutes to read*
“He’s so good looking,” Samantha swooned.
Samantha and Eleanor watched from behind a tree as John Smith got out of his vehicle. They knew his routine. He walked straight to the office. He would be there for two minutes, then he would walk out again and be gone.
“I’m going to get into his vehicle and see where he goes,” Samantha whispered.
“He won’t take you.”
“I’ll hide. He will never know.”
What could go wrong?

**Spider’s Revenge**
*3 minutes to read*
Bullied by some terrifying blowflies, Janice’s spider web is a mess. Is there a way to stop the blowflies mid-flight? Can she have the revenge that she dreams of? Or will she continue to go hungry with her web in shreds? There is only one way to find out. Read *The Spider’s Revenge.*

**Goliath’s Handbook To Threatening Behaviour**
*3 Minutes to read*
The playbook was written by the Philistine Hero, Goliath. But when the Philistines camped against the armies of Israel, would the *Handbook to Threatening Behaviour* be able to see them through and win the war? Or was there something Goliath hadn’t counted on?

**Honk For Support**
*3 minutes to read*
There is no ducking for cover when it comes to geese. This is the golden egg of information. Have you ever wondered what all the honking is about as Canadian geese fly from America to Canada in a vee formation each year? There is more to a honk than a goose call. Take a gander and prepare for goosebumps as you wing your way into new research that will cook the goose of older theories. This extraordinary story will knock you down with a feather. Honk for support.

**Softball**
*3 Minutes to read*
“Strike one!” The ball was passed back to the pitcher.
“Strike two. Foul.” The ball glanced off the bat and flung itself into space somewhere out of bounds.
The ball came hurtling toward Robert for a third time. He swung.
Find out what happened to Robert in *Softball*, a *Story from the ’70’s*.

**Operation Harvest Festival**
*3 minutes to read*
Wednesday 3^rd November 1943 saw one of the deadliest acts of genocide against the Jews in recent history. 43,000 Jews were killed in one day. This story follows the fictious character of Jacob whose life is based on the real events of that horrible day.

**Crushing Burden**
*3 minutes to read*
His burden was too heavy to carry. Pain, worn out and overloaded…
We all have burdens. It’s what we do with them that counts.

**It’s Coming!**
*3 minutes to read.*
Jessica and her three-month old baby girl have broken down in their car over railway lines. The car refuses to start. And worst of all, a train is bearing down on them. “Help me, God, please!”

**Stakeout**
*3 minutes to read*
The clock struck midnight. All was quiet as Sergeant Michael Christopher continued his surveillance of the house. Two minutes later he heard footsteps, voices, and the creaking of a door. He was obviously outnumbered. Who are the intruders and what was Sergeant Michael Christopher to do?

**The Sad Taniwha**
*5 minutes to read. Illustrated.*
*A New Zealand story for 5 – 7 year-olds.*
Lucas and Lilah discover a very sad taniwha while they are out fishing. The taniwha says he is moving out. Can Lucas and Lilah do anything to help him change his mind?

**Mugshot**
*3 minutes to read*
With one glance at the mugshot on the front page of the newspaper, she instinctively knew the whole story. She was good like that. People said that you couldn’t judge a book by its cover, but Tabitha never misjudged a face…

**The Last Words of Inkster Penrite**
*3 minutes to read*
Inkster Penrite has written the next big novel but now has writer’s block. Will he be able to finish it and create the ending it deserves to have?

**The Man**
*3 Minutes To Read*
It was a day I will never forget. He was a man like no other. I had executed men before – all of them liars, thieves and cheats, vile, angry and aggressive. He was different. So different…

**Scars**
*2 minutes to read. A prize-winning story by Robert Prins.*
Every scar has a story to tell. From the scars of Jesus as he hung on the cross, to the scars on our own bodies and hearts. Not only do scars show our pain, but they can also show God’s glory.

**Solar Flares**
*3 minutes to read*
While Anita worked and worried about global warming and solar flares, Billy ran rampant around his grandparent’s house. Very soon their worlds would collide…

**A Single Drop of Water**
*3 minutes to read*
A single drop of water landed on Noah’s foot. More than water. It was an enormous globule of spit. Noah looked up from the slime oozing between his toes to the sneering face of Ehud.
“Whatcha gonna say, preacher?” Ehud taunted.
The story of Noah is much more than just a story. What does it mean for you?

**A Slip Of The Tongue**
*3 minutes to read*
What happens when you answer a phone call that is not for you and not even on your phone?
How do you explain who you are to an unidentified caller?
And what happens if you get it wrong?

DOWN BY THE RIVER
By Robert Prins
Down by the river is a place of prayer,
Down by the river, we’ll find God there.
Down in the river we are freed from sin,
Down in the river we are healed within.

In the river of life with trees each side
Flows living water, deep and wide.
By the river of life fruit trees bear
Healing food for all to share.

Come to the river, drink long and deep,
The water of life is free to keep.
Come to the river, find healing there,
The water of life is free to share.

SWEPT AWAY
By Robert Prins
I stepped into the river
With a current deep and wide,
It swept me off my feet
And I was dashed against the side.
Screams and shouts as many more
Were swept up in its wake,
We swirled around back to the start
Another ride to take.
(My Hamner Springs Lazy River experience).