Dede K.

“Swat Team” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #105

The awful beasts were out to get me. I’ve never felt so excited to live in such plush accommodations and so scared of my surroundings at the same time. A plastic cave often surrounded me. I think someone was trying to save me. Her hand was much softer, and her voice was sweeter than her tall, masculine prisoner.  “Honey, open the door.” I worked so hard to get the fly out. We had too many in our house. It appeared that they built a nest. I absolutely hate bugs. “Jeremy, open the door, I caught a fly!” Scooting my feet across the floor...

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“The Scat Scuffle” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #102

My parents always said I was a handful as a toddler. Isn’t that what all parents say about their three year old?  Dirt and bugs were my passion. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I responded, “ant”. Yes, I wanted to be an ant, not an aunt.  They were hardworking. Ants always achieved so much in a short amount of time. What I liked most was their superhuman strength. I wished I could lift one hundred times my weight.  I would sit on the ant hills, never picky about which kind of ants. The ones that commonly bit, ...

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“The Babysitting Race” by Dede K.

Last Friday eve, I received a phone call from my neighbors-  Mr. and Mrs. Lankley. They needed me to watch their kids, Emily (10 years old) and John (11 year old), so they could attend an event. Their kids were fun, and easy to watch. On Saturday morning, l prepped for my evening with the kids. The evening was upon us. I walked down the street to their house and the two kids were standing in the front yard waving my direction, screaming, “Mel!”. I had so much planned, ice cream, playing in the backyard, and watching a movie.  ...

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“How are you?” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #100

Jane had been swiping left on her dating app for months. It had only been a year since she broke up with her boyfriend. Ding ding. Scroll. Scroll. Scroll. Gasp! NOPE! Can’t do it. Men can be so nasty.  Jane was always so shocked by the type of attention she got from men. Neverending pictures sent through social media messages.  Ding ding. “How are you today?”  She quickly browsed his profile and she saw that he volunteered at the humane society, and was a lawyer. He looks perfect.  “Wow, thanks for asking! I’m d...

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“Tough Girl” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #99

“Momma, do you hear that noise?” “Yes I do. Those would be cicadas. They are dreadfully annoying. But, I’ve heard them before, that sound is something you will never forget.” “Cadas? Can they hurt you?” “Nope. In fact, that very noise reminds me of a story.”  “Ooo, I love your stories!”   “Well, ok..” The cicadas hummed in the distant wooded trail, just like they are today. The sound often drowns out all thoughts.I grabbed a browned leaf leftover from fall. Crunch.  “I loved the sound that those leaves made!...

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“Where's dad?” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #98

I grew up in a suburb of Cincinnati. I had two siblings, and my parents were still married. So many of my friends had families that were broken up by divorce. It was extremely common at that time. I was lucky, but I didn’t recognize it. They still argued almost every day. It was always loud enough to make your teeth clench. Out of earshot, psh. One morning, I woke up to my mother screaming. It was a regular occurrence so I thought nothing of it. I stepped out of my room and noticed my siblings’ bedroom doors were still shut. The screami...

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“Unripe Oranges” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #97

 Lila took her melatonin and crawled into bed. She snuggled up against Michael and yawned.  “Lila, no screens, no caffeine.”  “Yes, Michael. I remember.”  The room grew cold and the light from outside diminished. Lila’s eyelids grew heavy.  Soon after she began to snore. Michael nudged his wife, “Melatonin worked.”  Click. The room was now completely dark and Michael fell asleep. Tap, tap, tap. Bang.  Michael sat up, “What was that? Lila, did you hear that?” He looked over at the empty space w...

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“What He Became” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #96

Last week, a stranger entered my home. They ate all of my food and left. Earlier this week, they entered my home and used my bathroom, but didn’t flush. The smell took over my well-kept house.  They took my television and antique furniture before they left.  Yesterday, I woke up to the sun shining. I slept on my mattress, which was now on the floor. Who steals a bed frame? Maybe today I’ll contact the police. I grabbed my coffee mug and turned on my coffee machine. Hey, my coffee machine is still here. I made my coffee and took a...

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“A Cup of Hot Coffee” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #95

Beth gets up for work every morning, makes coffee, showers, gets dressed, gulps coffee, eats breakfast and leaves for work. Her routine continues. She works as a project manager at the nearest marketing firm. A job she went to college for even though her father told her to become a nurse.  Yesterday the Monday blues settled in. Beth cried on her sofa and watched reruns of drama tv shows.  Before bed, Beth decided to lay out her clothes. She settled on a modest tan p skirt and a white collared shirt, underwear, and stockings.&nbsp...

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“FURRocious” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #65

The day I was born, my mother told me I had anger flowing through my veins. What does she even mean by that?  October 13th, two days from my 16th birthday, my family and I moved to Sharpsville- population 5,000. Driving down the neighborhood, we saw rows of houses with kempt lawns, colorful flowers perfectly placed along each walkway.  My face smooshed against the car window watching the people mowing, trimming bushes and conversing with their neighbors. “Which one’s ours?” “We’re almost there.” My mom drove, emotionless, down ...

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“Dramatic Love” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #64

A  woman entered the restaurant. She paused just inside the door- making sure everyone had time to catch a glimpse. Her well-manicured nails pushed her charcoal hair behind her ear as she strolled toward the bar. Each man locked eyes with her as she picked up her compact to check her makeup.  A tall man in a dark suit approached her with a smirk.. She looked away while raising her hand, “It’s Jessica.”  The man took her hand and kissed it. “I’m Brandon.” He brushed his fingers through his slicked back hair and squinted as ...

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“Squirrelly Confrontation” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. My face burned from the purple in the flames. Loud pops and cracks exploded from the fire.  “He’s gone, he’s gone, finally he’s gone!”  A maniacal laugh escaped my dry scratchy throat. The neighbors began to gather, staring at the glare of the fire in my black rimmed glasses. “How did this start?” The crowd was whispering amongst themselves. “Someone needs to move her now before she hurts someone.” You may be asking the same question as the crowd.  Well, this al...

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“Repeat Repeat” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #62

I looked down at my hands and feet, wondering if I was in control.  I must run. My feet moved, but not because I wanted them to. but my brain was floating above me. Sparks of electricity jumped from nerve to nerve throughout my body. Run, run now. Cold fingers tightened around my wrist.  “Ruth, come back. Come back to bed.”  My voice projected across the bedroom. “I am in bed!” “Ruth, get in bed.”  The grip grew tighter around my wrist and pulled me backwards. I must go, I must leave. The room was dark, men stood ...

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“Dancing with Anxiety” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #61

I rolled out of bed that morning to get ready for work. Ding! I reached into my pocket for my phone.  An email floated on my screen, “High School Reunion- TEN Years!”  My eyes glossed over my screen for a while, daydreaming of peoples’ reactions to me. NOPE, not doing it.  I started to slide on my skirt, tuck in my button up shirt and put my blazer on. But, what if the man you are meant to marry is an old classmate. NOPE, can’t do it.  I opened the email again and started to read. Nope, nope, nope.  “Click ...

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“Date to the Undead Dance” by Dede K.

Submitted to Contest #60

Todd walked in the front door, smiling with his brown teeth. Skin that peeled down from his forehead dangled below his chin making his cheek muscles visible.  “Honey, I’m home!” Emily walked past the ceiling falling down in the kitchen, kicked aside stones and glass scattered across the house. The wind blew from the window that had been shattered through her gnat-filled hair as she greeted Todd.  “Welcome home, sweetie!” Emily hugged Todd and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Remnants of blood laid on her lips.  “What have...

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