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Catherine McKenzie

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2025

Stories (14)

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Library

7 Followers

5 Following

14 Stories

207 karma pts

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Gone Viral

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #298

Phyllis had gone viral. She hadn’t wanted to and was rather embarrassed by it all. In grade school, she wanted a skateboard. Her parents refused for various reasons, but the two that stuck out stuck with her the most. First, they were for boys. Her counterargument was that all of her friends had one and they skateboarded around the neighborhood without her. Second, her brother had one that he barely used anymore and she could use his. That didn’t go over well–just like with the Legos.Phyllis had asked for Legos a couple of years before. Her ...

0 likes

Dare to Unravel the Universe

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #297

Nikki feels the familiar pull of her night fading as the first fingers of color paint the horizon. Fear and excitement intermingle as she anticipates this meeting. She chooses to gaze at the remaining twinkles of stars instead of the sunrise as a last attempt to hold on to the night. The ocean breeze brings the scent of decaying seaweed and salty brine. Like the emotions swirling inside her, the good mixes with the bad. When Rory arrives she plans to voice her anxiety about how she needs to change but fears the repercussions. If Rory can’t a...

9 likes

An Unrequited Moment

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #297

Today was the day. She had stayed up late making that decision and planning it out. When the bell rang to signal the end of 4th period, she ran out of the door first and headed to the commons so she could look like she was standing there nonchalantly. Carmen at first half-leaned on a table but felt awkward so she shifted to stand with hands on her hips. That felt more natural, so she relaxed.As her eyes scanned the area that was filling up with students, her eyes linked with Mrs. Withers, the old librarian across the way. They were very fami...

8 likes

10:45 am or The Time that Thing I feared to Happen Finally Happened

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #297

I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s every teacher’s biggest fear…well, after school shootings and such. For 21 years, I managed to avoid it though I knew it was only a matter of time. What are the odds that it never happened? There had been a couple of close calls, but each time a student had covered for me. For that, I will forever be grateful.I was thirty when I started teaching. Older than most new teachers but still youngish and fresh. I was much more slender and cared more about my appearance. I wore makeup daily and would’ve bee...

14 likes

Alice in Dairy Queen

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #296

Alice was excited to attend her first wedding. Her parents eloped when she was twelve and most of her relatives didn’t bother getting married at all. She had been working at the Dairy Queen since halfway through her senior year, and now at 19, her assistant manager invited all staff to her ceremony and reception at the VFW hall where she had attended bingo with friends a few times. The invitation suggested a formal or semi-formal dress code, and the couple preferred light colors. Perfect! She had wanted a chance to wear her prom gown again. ...

8 likes

Oops! I did it for real!

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #295

Lucy had always had vivid dreams, but incredibly more so since starting her new anti-anxiety meds. The first night she dreamed she was in the grocery store inspecting a carton of eggs for cracks. It was such a mundane subject, yet she felt so amazing checking those eggs. It was as if a cozy, warm light was filling her with euphoria as she turned each egg looking for a flaw. She woke up feeling great, but when she told her colleagues about her fantastic dream, she realized it was actually quite dull with no elements of fantasy. Not so fantast...

8 likes

Who's Really in the Casket?

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #295

“Has anyone seen Paula?”“It’s a closed casket, ma’am,” someone responded.“I know,” said Jane. “I mean before. When was the last time anyone saw her?” The small group gathered for the wake, which had been reported to be a private viewing, discussed this topic amongst themselves. Paula had left to travel for her gap year three years ago. She wanted to ski at places around the world. Occasionally, she would flit through town to visit but was always on her way to somewhere else. The odd thing is that she grew up and foster care and had no money....

8 likes

The Unnatural Paper

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #295

Clara couldn’t recall who gave her this stationery. She vaguely recalled some preadolescent birthday dinner with elderly family members she hadn’t met before. They were in town for the funeral of some great uncle she had also never met, and her birthday dinner coincided with their travel plans. Of course, Mom invited everyone. The worst part was that, due to their various dietary restrictions, they could no longer dine at the Cajun seafood restaurant she had selected and had to instead go to a rather bland buffet place. The dinner bill was s...

6 likes

The Bookroom

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #295

Ever since the high school switched to issuing Chromebooks, the bookroom became pretty obsolete. It was an odd shape and still full of textbooks, so it really hadn’t been repurposed as something else. It made a perfect place for Andela to arrive and depart for classes each day.That is until the janitor caught her coming out of it late one afternoon when she realized she left her bracelet in her gym locker. Her mom would definitely notice, and she wasn’t ready to reveal to her family what she had been doing all day every day for the past coup...

4 likes

Master of the Five Paragraph Essay According to a Teen Girl

Catherine McKenzie

Mom, I have so much to say to you that I almost went with Gran to visit you, but I still can’t stand to see your face. I’m not doing well, thanks for asking, but I got an A+ on my five paragraph essay in English class. Therefore, I’m going to write to you about the ways you have ruined my life. As a result of your imprisonment, my life has been uprooted, put on hold, and has no future. Gran wanted to move closer to the prison, so we now live in an apartment complex in a town where I don’t know anyone. Did you know that I made the...

0 likes

Flourishing in Florida

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #293

Fern hadn’t intentionally left her cell phone behind. She hadn’t even planned to flee, but once everything occurred as it did, she did think fleeing was best. She knew her parents would never believe it hadn’t been her intention. Harold certainly was already telling everyone that she was just being silly after one of her hysterical fits. However, Fern now understood that they would never take her seriously. Their perception of her was that she was a silly, flighty girl who always worked herself up over the littlest things instead of being th...

4 likes

Late for Rest

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #293

This story centers around death. “I’m late,” she thought as she ran for the bus. Her friends would say that was her life’s motto. Amelia scrambled on the bus, trying not to jostle anyone. She had been given a final warning about not getting to work on time and knew her boss was serious. She was good at her job, but this city had over two million people. She could be replaced. In fact, she was one of many autopsy technicians who were employed at her job. She enjoyed working with her colleagues and liked working under her supervisor. The prob...

6 likes

Be Careful Who You Talk To

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #293

"I'm 61, and this is my first time flying," she told her row mates. Gladys didn't know about paying to select seats, but she's always been chatty and didn't mind sitting in the middle. Neither row mate responded. Aisle-seat man made a point to put in his earbuds, and the window-seat man closed the shade. "Oh no, I was watching them load the luggage," Gladys said as she reached over the man to open his window. He planned to sleep but decided he'd just close the shade later when she wasn't paying attention to avoid confrontation. "Excuse me, "...

4 likes

Evasive Evocation

Catherine McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #293

You know that feeling you get when you are missing something? You check for your wallet, keys, and phone, and they’re all there, but something still isn’t right. It’s a pretty universal experience, I assume. Even the people who are the most organized and have their shit together must have experienced this at least once. The feeling is akin to deja vu in that it feels otherworldly and ethereal. Well, I have it and can’t shake it. This time, it feels almost ominous and is increasing my anxiety in a way that feels comfortable in its familiarity...

5 likes