Hollis Sienkiewicz

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2021

Stories (37)

37 Stories

7 karma pts

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“The Robert R. Rellsy Sportsmanship Award” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

Millie sat on the top step outside the main door or Freemont Middle School. One of the few kids whose parents wouldn’t let her have a phone, she just stared ahead, watching the last of the bus riders load onto the final bus in the circle drive. Occasionally picking at her fingernails, checking her watch or looking back at the door way. Millie sighed and slumped a little lower, then quickly corrected herself and sat up straight, hearing her grandmother’s words in her head, “You don’t want to have a humpback, dear.” It was a pain to remember...

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“Kind of Mind Reading” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

“I can kind of read minds.” I said it with a straight face, knowing Monica still wouldn’t believe me. My very own bestie since first grade, true friend of eight years. I knew she wouldn’t believe this news. But I had to share it with her. I couldn’t not tell my bestie. Monica did a slow blink behind her thick-rimmed glasses and crossed her arms across her waist, hiding the teal stripe of her colorblock sweater. I couldn't meet her eyes so I admired her sweater instead. Even after eight years, Monica couldn’t bring me out of the fashion dol...

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“Decision robes” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

It’s the cold that wakes me up. It’s a damp cold, mainly coming from below me. Seeping into my core through the hard surface the left side of my body is curled and pressed against. I open my eyes and push myself up to sit, wrapping myself in a hug to try to warm up a bit. I don’t recognize the cement floor I’m sitting on. Or the room I’m in. I don’t remember falling asleep, for that matter. A quick chill runs through my body. Though I’m not sure if it’s from the air temperature or the strange feeling I’m getting in the pit of my stomach ...

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“Prediction Photos” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

James was the most in-demand wedding photographer in town. And, sure, his photos were technically quite good, but that’s not why couples wanted him to be the one to capture their special day. James’ wedding photos, you see, predicted the future. James didn’t know exactly when or how he acquired this special power. Or even if the power was his - maybe the power belonged to his camera. And it was this uncertainty that made James ritualistic about the prediction photos - wearing a uniform of indistinct all black, working to blend into the bac...

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“Elsie's Cloud Creature” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

Elsie looked out the window. Perfect conditions: warm but not hot, no rain overnight, sunny but not too bright due to plenty of puffy clouds in the sky. She zipped up her hoodie, slipped on her shoes and grabbed a blanket from the basket near the couch and marched to the back door. It was the perfect day for cloud watching. Elsie couldn’t remember exactly how she’d gotten started with cloud watching. She wasn’t even entirely sure why she enjoyed it so much. It was relaxing, sure, but her friends all preferred to scroll TikTok or mess aroun...

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“Jeremy's Book” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

“Here, read this.” Jeremy shoves the book into my chest with his big, meaty palm. I’d seen him digging in his backpack but had no idea he’d come out with this. I figured it would be an apple or granola bar or something to eat. Jeremy always seemed to be eating. “What is it?” I asked, fumbling to get a grasp on the book as we walked so I could look at the cover. “A book,” Jeremy says with a mouthful of banana rolling around the words. Because of course he’d also gotten a banana from his bag and was already eating it. He swallows. “I wrote...

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“Tony's Italian Villa” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

“You know this is the worst restaurant in town, though, right?” The soles of my sneakers slap the sidewalk, a sharp contrast to the heel’s of Dale’s loafers clicking along beside me. “Well, technically, I guess it is.” Dale says, a smirk crossing his face. “Technically?” I ask, rhetorically. Or maybe incredulously.  The spring wind has blown my hair into my face as I turned to look at Dale. He’s staring straight ahead, still smirking, so I look ahead, too, and tuck my hair back behind my ears. Once I’m out of my parents’ house, ...

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“Auntie Cara's Misrememberings” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

My Auntie Cara’s memory is not great. With anyone else, that wouldn’t be such a big deal. So what if they get a detail wrong every now and then? The problem with Auntie Cara not having a good memory is that there are actually two problems. One, when she gets something wrong, she really gets it wrong. Like, just last week, a new neighbor moved in down the street from us. They had a pet dog. (They did. I promise. When we met them, they had a pet dog named Pickles.) But for some reason, when Auntie Cara and I were talking about the Robinsons ...

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“Eli's shirts” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

Eli walked into his bedroom and was only a little surprised to find his mom sitting on the floor in front of his dresser. He often saw his mom there when she was putting away clean clothes. But today, she was taking the clothes out of his dresser, which was the surprising part. “Hi Mom.” “Hi buddy.” Mom didn’t look away from her work, grabbing a shirt, unfolding it and holding it in front of her, refolding it and putting it into a pile on the floor with other shirts. Eli walked over to the pile and grabbed the shirt Mom had just folded...

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“Davey's Picnic” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

I was curled up in Dad’s recliner, rocking, reading Crime Solver Club #28 - not the latest in the series, but the newest one the library had - when Davey came and stood in front of me. Staring. Smiling. Not saying a word. He did this when he wanted something. I snuck glances at him over the top of the book every few seconds. He was like a statue. I could barely see his chest rise as he breathed. And I never looked long enough to see him blink. He knew I could only resist for so long. Still, I made him wait at least a minute while I finishe...

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“The Pool House” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

“What’s he called again?” Mira asked, her nose still pressed up against the window frame so the least amount of her face might be visible from inside. So her warm breath wouldn’t fog up the glass in the cool morning air. “A scientist,” Nigel whispered back as he adjusted his stance. Mira was just the right height for this adventure, barely rising onto her tiptoes to see through the window. Nigel, however, was several inches taller, though just a few months older, than his neighbor Mira. These extra inches made it so Nigel had to squat awkw...

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“My Dooda” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

My Dooda, he’s old. Really, really old. They say that when you get older, your magic slowly leaves until one day, it’s gone. But not my Dooda. He’s the oldest active wizard. And his powers might not be what they used to be, but he still has some magic left in him. See, my Dooda is my great-great-grandpa and he was one of the original wizards. I know. You read that and you’re thinking there’s no way any part of that sentence is true. It’s hard to believe, but that doesn’t make it untrue. You’ll just have to trust me. In school every wiz...

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“Be Brave, Momma” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

Motherhood is not for the weak of heart. Or mind. Or stomach, for that matter. The amount of bodily fluids you’ll experience in the first months of parenting is shocking, overwhelming, and, frankly, gross. My husband and I quickly learned to take our son’s rectal temperature in the bathtub whenever possible due to the fount of projectile, liquid poop that would come out along with the thermometer. Too much? Like I said, not for the weak of stomach. It’s an act of bravery to put your child to sleep for the first time. Then for the first t...

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“Teddy’s Scope” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

Teddy was looking out his telescope. Again. I couldn’t decide whether I admired him for his persistence or thought he was crazy. What’s that saying? The definition of crazy is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. That was certainly Teddy with his telescope. Every night. 9 p.m. Without fail. No matter the weather, even if he didn’t feel good. We went and he stared out the telescope for a least 20 minutes. Still, crazy didn’t seem to fit. Nothing else was odd about his behavior.  I’d asked him about...

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“Confections” by Hollis Sienkiewicz

Being an only child is lonely. Being the only kid in your neighborhood who didn’t go away for spring break is lonelier. This morning, I told Mom I was bored. Actually, I had to tell her three times. She had her headphones in because she’s working from home while I’m on spring break so that I’m not home alone. But she can’t actually do anything with me because she’s working. I’m not sure what’s getting solved by her working from home. Anyway, she told me it was my fault I was bored. That she had offered to sign me up for spring break camp...

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