C Alexis McGregor

“Enumeration” by C Alexis McGregor

What could I tell you about me? Where would I begin? I’ll begin with my character. My personality type makes up: *1.5 % of the population’s personality types  *1.5/100 of the population's personality types *3/200 of the population's personality types I’m a rarity, just not as exceptional as a coloured diamond, but considerably cheaper, although I have been characterized as ‘high maintenance,’ whatever that moniker might imply. You need to know more about me. I’m idealistically incorruptible. I’m not content to coast through life. I sear...

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“Mysterious Messages” by C Alexis McGregor

Lwruoetnyto e n e hnkw g lWsoetnhyotaedf hoeo hsda. What’s a person to think when you find this on a sheet of folded paper, you know the type of paper that comes on those old adding machines, shoved beneath the front door mat except for one curled up corner?  However, when I found a second coded message in the mail, I was, lets be honest, freaked out. Hyehor e iaoaek Wsmnvud tedege bfhdae rtooenyt So, I did what any sensible, independent, freaked out person would do, I filled a glass with wine and sat at the dini...

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“Set in a Sedan” by C Alexis McGregor

It had all seemed so simple; pack up, hop in the sedan, and enjoy the back roads of the county.  The sun’s rays danced with the dust motes as Oscar and Olivia reversed their sedan out of their one-car garage at the start of their trip. Two steaming travel mugs of coffee sat snug in the centre console cup holders.  “My lovely, which way should I turn?” Oscar asked at the first stop sign. “Left, right or ahead?” “Hmm,” Olivia murmured, “Eenie, Meanie, Mynie, Moe, left is where we want to go.” Oscar flicked the turn signal and loo...

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“The Bike Ride” by C Alexis McGregor

“It’s just a bike ride!” His words reverberate in your brain. Each syllable lands like a rock in the pool of your anxiety, fear rippling across the former smooth surface, only to hammer onto the floor of your soul.  “When?” You grimace, judging your tone breathless. “Saturday. It’ll be you, me, Jordan and Judy.” Your tongue swallows up all the saliva in your throat. You nod.  “If you’d like,” he begins, “we could go for a ride, just the two of us, so you can find your sea legs, so to speak.”  You feel his blue eyes bore ...

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“www.cheapandcheerful.ca” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #83

Beep I flicked up the lid of my laptop, curious about the email.  Need some Vitamin D? Like to save cash? Do we have DEAL for you! www.cheapandcheerful.ca My fingers flew over the keyboard, tapping in impatience while the website loaded. My eyes drank in the tropical scene — white sand, swirling surf, blue skies to the horizon.  For the next 48-hours ONLY the DEAL you can't afford to miss. Call now, don't hesitate. All-inclusive — let us  surpass your expectations. 1-888-341-1199 Without my mind controlling my needs,...

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“Ebb and Flow” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #81

Manuela's brow furrowed as her fingers danced through the pages of a favourite recipe book, seeking out those just-perfect romantic menu items for the looming meal with two of her most persnickety clients. Fred and Lyanne, married forever, possessing more money than sense, would be arriving at her residence at 19:00 hours, expecting the epitome of romance.  After years of preparing, plating, presenting food and beverages for this couple, Manuela had discovered renewed determination to exceed their expectations. Fred and Lyanne held th...

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“Frayed Family” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #79

"I'm so sorry. This isn't me. It won't happen again." My hand shakes, holding the frozen pea bag to my cheek, my response silenced by fear. I back away with snail slowness, my eyes trained upon him.  In the distance, my ears capture my sister's indignant gasp.  "I nnnneed you to go, nnnow."  My free arm gestures like a game show hostess towards the front door.  "GO!" "Sheila, stay out of this — this is between my wife and me." "Fred, it isn't anymore, not that it should have been happening at all. GO! Leave ...

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“Sweet and Sour” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #78

Standing beneath the doorway about to take my first steps into the convention, my nose fills with the salivating scents -- caramelized sugar and tangy citrus, top notes of orange, lemon — quite the mouth-watering welcome to the 'Edible jewelry,' hobby convention. Arrayed, as far as my sight allows, lie festooned tables in cotton-candy table-cloths, while in and around lanyard-necklaced folks twist, turn, traverse this tasty trail. I accept with an appreciative smile, a generous goblet of Unoaked Chardonnay, my choice for its effects that w...

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“The cabin” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #77

My eyes ache from starring into the snow that mesmerizes through the windshield, now missing the wintery afternoon sun sinking beneath the hills. Was I not more than half-way to Bill and Louises' cabin, I could have exercised my privilege to book a hotel, get room service after a steaming bubble bath. Just as my weariness threatens to close my eye-lids, ahead, lit by my headlights, I spy 'Daisy Hideaway' — a beloved family retreat for generations, after Louise's Nana.  Her gentle form, huddles beneath a blanket of snow, inviting my mi...

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“10-little words” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #76

Got time to chat, Caro? Jen… well… not really … mmm … what's up? They're at it again! What now? Caro! Complaining that they don't know what's happening. Complaining that you chose favourites. Complaining. Complaining. Complaining. Yup… Don't you find this depressing? Nothing is ever good enough for them. That's one of the reasons I chose you to be on this committee, to be receiving this training, so that YOU, as a peer, could facilitate some of these growing pains. So, you're dumping this on me? No, Jen, I'd suggest you bri...

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“Bettering Beginnings” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #75

CRASH My head flies from its feathery perch, sleep escaping as my eye-lids jerk open in my darkened bedroom. In haste, I slide from between the wrinkled sheets, running barefoot down the hardwood hallway to Elise's room. She rushes into my arms, her pupils large with fear and fatigue.  "You stay here my love." My lips caress her warm forehead. Her door protests softly as it closes.  Grabbing a heavy glass vase, I step onto the first steps, descending the staircase with care to miss the creaky boards.  A fist-sized rock...

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“proposal times 5” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #73

Hello everyone, I'm Verdie Feldt. I am so pleased to be speaking with your today via Zoom about one of the most joyous yet tremulous events of my recent life. This afternoon, I will share with you the intricacies that encompassed my engagement proposal for Christmas 2020. I now wonder at my surprise, given the erratic rhythm of this past year. I invite you to close your eyes, picture a tree full of garland, blinking with white lights, boughs bursting with bobbles of every shape, sheen, all in tints, tones of currant, crimson, cherry. My mo...

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“And then...” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #72

DCI Corey Frapes's fingers tap the keyboard with forceful speed, words streaming onto the crime case report template filling the screen. His cup of coffee sits cold and curdled.  DS Ingrid Smuthy's brow furrows, noting the DCI behind his closed door. She stands like a statue, peering through the glass door, her fingers folded, prepared to rap.  "Ingrid, want some advice?" She turns, facing Constable Eric Hum. "Spill it." "He doesn't like to be interrupted while writing — trust me — won't be pretty." Ingrid glances towar...

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“Top-Secret” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #71

My ears tingle as the bells above the door peal for the final time as my bakery shuts down for the day, the scent of my last customer perfuming the air. With a click of the deadbolt, dimming the lights, I survey the remainders in the display cabinets. A few Chelsea buns, some sugar cookies, two loaves of bread sit forlornly, soon shared with the local homeless shelter.  With the donations boxed, the surfaces clean, I extinguish all light walking under the arch into my beloved kitchen. My eyes scan this space, where all of my equipment...

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“Destiny” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #70

My eyes dance over words on the page, their meaning escaping like steam from a mug. The pillow behind my back feels like a brick. I toss the covers from my legs as heat rises from my toes to my forehead. Escaping from my bed, I tip-toe to the kitchen for a camomile tea and accompanying calm. A PING from my iPhone draws my attention from the kettle. Keitha I've been thinking. Nobody knows. Let it go. David My cheeks burn red as nails cut into my balled fists. A primal scream erupts from my diaphragm, creating a cacophony of whistling minu...

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