Byline
Rietje Becker
@rietjebecker
Bio
Writer, graphic designer, illustrator, birding enthusiast and mom of babies. Byline founder.
Lifetime
Lines
342
Awards
Earned
18
Member
Since
'19
Pinned Line
Line 2 from
Today I Wool Beeee Freee
And yet I aspire for more. I am not your sheep to be counted, I do not often feel “sheepish,” I do not belong with the “sheeple.” And if all goes to plan tonight I will be leaving the herd forever, soon to discover if the grass is truly greener.
Sam B
@
12/5 9:22pm
Awards
Rietje's Stories
A song at the end of the tunnel
I was on my way to the shop when I first heard a high, eerie, beautiful sound. At first I thought it was a bird, then an instrument. As the sound developed into a tune, I realized it was a voice. I was frozen in my tracks on the sidewalk. I couldn’t do anything but listen.
4
2
1
The Killer App
It had taken years of work, over a decade of evenings and weekends and spare hours. His attic studio was littered with failures, attempts, and spare parts. He had finally built it: the hologram zipper! Now he just needed
3
2
1
1
3
1
2
Fly to Die for a Fond MEPhone: Part IVoid
Until, well, the studio audience fell down. So did the host. And the floor, and then it was over. Where was I? A sign was in front of me, that was for sure. “Welcome to the Void. Terrible name, I know, considering you are in a room right now. I’m just the copy editor!”
1
Fly to Die for a Fond MEPhone: Part III
When we answered that call, we were in this place with a phone named Meadow. She was the phone upriaimfdjslaOhjJn8/7– Booting MeadowOS.….
1
1
1
2
1
3
Tiny Baby Pony Gambit
Oskar just decided to stay on his friend’s house without asking him. He took his laptop, power on the TV and started writing. Suddenly he heard a big noise on the attic. He quickly went to take a look and he could heard the laughter of a baby.…
7
3
1
1
Oh Deer
“I’m telling you, that’s the animal that hurt me!” Cody gestured at the unassuming beast across the lawn. “You think deer don’t have teeth?”
2
3
2
1
Santa and the case of the missing tree
Twas three days till holiday cheer ought to fill the homes of Montblanc villagers. Last year the holiday tree had mysteriously disappeared on Christmas Eve, leading to a long list of draconian restrictions: no early decorations, store music, or candy canes for sale.
2
Unlikely Of Stories
I remember he was here once, I remember a time we'd never bow to TRAITORS I remember a time where those of us who fought the good fight would win and evil would loose but, I remember, was he as good and Heroic as we remember him or were we the true enemies to the el-da-rin people
1
1
Summer Camp Mysteries
Day 1: Dear diary, My first day at summer camp was very eventful. We spent most of the day paddling through the river nearby. The trees formed a canopy over the river that covered the sky completely. Tonight we’re going to a haunted house. I can't wait! 👻Rumors say it's real!
1
2
1
1
2
1
Bear Witness
Imagine this scene..A bear enters a house, makes a sandwich and sits down to watch a sitcom, but this is not his house and is late at night, so the owner of the house wakes up, goes to the first floor and finds that the bear is asleep in the couch!
2
3
1
6
3
1
2
6
In Prison for Writing Satire: Part III
The death eating games were almost over, and it looked like out of the entire prison only like ten of us survived the deadly food. Among them were the satirist (me) and Emmalyn, the sword swallower. Before the final round, I whispered to Emmalyn, "Hey wanna escape together?"
3
1
1
2
Tapping Into Your Heart
I sat on the ground, watching stars burn out. Tears flowed down my face as a small dog ran over to me. "Hello there. What's your name?" I asked, looking around for someone to claim the dog. I pulled my sleeves over my hands, slightly panicking. "Do you have a home?"
5
1
2
1
2
1
Pie in the Sky
Lilliana, despite her petite size, finished the enormous apple pie in record time. She got up to accept her prize when, at the last moment, a caped figure leapt onstage and grabbed the trophy.
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
5
Give me your wurst
The story starts she John meet a Karen at his job in the supermarket
6
1
5
Contact
“Is it possible to determine that we’re not alone out here?” The Scientist asked his coworkers who were talking to him via video call. “It depends what you mean by alone”
2
2
2
1
1
1
Smoke Signals
Lawson was walking back to the campfire with his playing cards when he realized all his friends had gone. "Where are you guys?" he asked nervously. Just then, he heard a rustle from the bushes—followed by a growl.
5
3
2
Heavenly Intervention Fiasco
The crater trembled and six magnificent wings unfurled, each extending higher than the tallest tree in the forest. Above their rising head—a halo—shimmering like a shooting star. As the light dimmed, the celestial light became impossible to distinguish from that of the moonlight.
5
4
1
2
2
3
1
Thank Your Lucky Stars
The lone robot sat on a large iron plate. Or he would have, if there was any gravity to be able to sit, so it more like held onto it. They floated around, slowly, and the lights of the cosmos reflected off its big, glassy eyes. It smiled. It was happy. It's life here was simple.
2
The Old Dog's New Tricks
Toni's dog Goober only obeyed one command: dig! So, Toni told it to dig anytime and anywhere just to show how obedient the dog could be. One day Goober dug too far.
4
3
1
1
Girl With Many Names
"Tag!" I'm tapped on the shoulder. "Aw man!" Roy is already sprinting the other way, but closest to me is Alice. She sees me and starts down the hill, screaming and laughing. "Come here!" As she reaches the bottom, she screams, but this time, it didn't sound like the playful kind
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
Lasagna Later, Alligator
So, she said. Here we are again. At work.
2
1
1
1
Two is the Magic Number
What started out as mere coffee talk has now transformed into a heated ministry. "I am disgusted with the modern writer," Jan says. I take another sip. "All amateurs." "How so?" "Look at these entries! Dull and void of the most ESSENTIAL thing: conflict! None of them are winners"
5
3
3
3
2
2
Clowntastrophe
"Well? Don't you want to know how the story ends?" He wipes my wet cheek with his glove & I turn away. Despite my unwilling participation in this clowns performance, he jerks my chin back. And his red painted smile contorts into something far more menacing.
2
1
1
3
5
1
2
2
Harbinger of Saltines
"So here’s the thing," says the crow, "if you’ve never heard of me, hear me now. I’m your least expected fortune teller. I’m the one that brings death and despair. Yield to me, so I shall spare you from your doomed fate." "Foolish," says the human.
3
2
1
1
Ladies Can Make Dad Jokes Too
The blade was inches away from her nose. She stared at it, in horror. How did she end up in this mess? And what to do to get out of it?
2
1
1
Sitcom Gorgon
The strange, sandy whirlwind stayed above their heads. Some kind of a cavern was hidden under the big hot desert. How come the sand didn't get in here? Anyway - now they needed a light source to see much further than their noses. What was this place? Did it form naturally?
2
3
2
2
Prime Delivery
"Yes, I'm pleased you stocked the bathroom with toilet paper but to be honest, with six rolls on the shelf, I worry our guests will think we use the toilet too much." Eve stared at her husband in disbelief. "Just put some clothes on," she said. "They'll be here any moment."
3
2
2
1
1
2
The Golden Brace
Hugo Kramer, royal calligrapher, toiled away at his desk til the wee hours of the morning, working by candlelight with such dedication that he didn't notice two dark figures approach.
4
4
1
2
2
1
Gopher It
Something strange was going on. It looked like something was moving under the dirt, close enough to the surface that it pushed a trail of it above as it went forward. People looked at it, puzzled and a bit alerted. A kid pointed at it but the mom grabbed the kid's hand and fled.
Icy slide of doom
The icy slide was wild! The surface beneath was so smooth I didn't feel any bumps as I slid faster and faster down the hill. The way was clear but the chute was formed in a way that I didn't see that far, what was to come. In these speeds bumping against anything would be fatal.
1
1
4
1
1
© 2024 Byline