Kelly Sibley

“Darcy Girl” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #221

Trigger Warning - Horror Story - alluding to abuse. The mirror showed a reflection that wasn’t my own, and Pa was a mighty cross I’d taken a peek!  It took me three days on my knees praying for Pa to be happy enough with my contrition before he did let me back in the house. I do not like sleep’n on the cold porch and going hungry, so I was very contrite indeed! That night, I stood before him shiverin’, having had the unfriendly night’s air bight my feet ‘til they were blue. Pa sat at the table having his dinner, and it smelt might...

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“Hagars House of Hot Ribs” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #218

When asked to write a restaurant review, one first needs the time for the world to cease spinning before the proverbial pen is put to paper. Who knew after a night out I’d see the sun rise from the cold tiles of my bathroom floor? Maybe if I had known, I would never have entered ‘Hagar’s House of Hot Ribs’.It was with a light heart and a bottle of very nice red that I stepped into this establishment at 7:30 pm sharp. Having phoned ahead to ensure my lady friend and I would be able to get our table quickly, I was assured by someone calling th...

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“Dark Brethren of the Wigged Elk Newsletter No 27” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #196

Dearest Dark Brethren of the Wigged Elk Thank you for attending last month’s meeting, which we agreed will now occur on the third Monday of every month, excluding public holidays.  We were able to raise, through thievery and theft, one hundred pounds.  I am happy to announce that these funds will be going towards the catering bill for our Christmas luncheon, which will be held in the public bar of the wonderfully atmospheric ‘Murdering Monks’ pub on the 23rd of next month. Ensure you have your Secret Santa gift ready.&nb...

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“The Sherlock Award ” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #188

“Lady and Gentlemen… Lady and Gentlemen, thank you. Your attention, please!” Montague was a patient man faced with an arrogant audience. “Lady… Gentlemen, please, your attention.” To Montague’s annoyance, the dining hall’s general disregarding hubbub continued unabated.“Hear yea, hear yea, time to shut ya gobs!” was bellowed out louder than an elephant’s trumpet by Whip. Montague self-consciously adjusted his cravat as the dining hall noise settled as the gas lights bore down on his reddening face, “Yes, thank you, Maurice.” T...

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“Lennard and Leopold” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #187

“Oh, my goodness, golly gosh, it hurts so bad!” “Well, Lennard, you shouldn’t have overindulged now, should you!” An ominous creaking sound bled from the branch upon which Lennard lay rubbing his overly round and stretched stomach. “I know. I know.” Lennard commented lazily over the top of his stomach gurgles. “But there were so many flavours, and they were all so beautifully displayed, I couldn’t say no.” Leopold moved out from beneath the direct plummeting direction of Lennard’s branch and found that laying on a higher and thicker ...

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“Embrace the new me. Please!” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #186

“Are you really going to wear that?”“What?”“Don’t be dumb; you know what I mean.”“Yes.”“So, you’re going to do it even though you know it’s a dumb move.”“I pretty much think so, yes!”“Are you sure, ‘cos you won’t be able to take it back!”“When has that ever stopped me in the past?”“Unfortunately, Zorro, it’s never stopped you in the past. I was just hoping you would learn from your past mistakes at some point.”“Sangre De Ventosa, when has a werewolf ever learnt anything from the past? I shall proudly continue my life's adventure the way my f...

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“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #185

I wouldn’t say murder per se was a terrible thing.I mean, it all depends on the motive, doesn’t it?And if we’re being honest, the recipient plays a part in it too!For example, the people who tried to murder Hitler. We didn't sit back and judge them with negative condemnation. We all went, darn it! Close but not quite over the line. Try a bit harder next time.Honestly, you can be the nicest person, who’s kind, donates to charities and looks after stray puppies. Then one day, you’re simply pushed over your line of what you will and won’t put u...

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“Mrs Macintosh” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #183

Old lady MacIntosh was a weird old bird who was best left alone. Just ask the neighbourhood kids.  Over the last five years, they had lost countless stray pieces of sports equipment or toys over her fence. It was your typical grumpy old lady who moves into a friendly neighbourhood and just ‘Wants to be left alone’ story… until last week. Last week changed everything.  It all started with a request from our neighbourhood watch coordinator, Jim, who had phoned me out of the blue one night. “Jack, how are you?” “Oh, hi Jim, ...

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“Midnights Curtains” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #182

I have something to confess. I know it’s stupid, but I’ve always hated having my curtains open. If I opened them, it meant, at some point, I would have to close them. Not during the day; I mean, come on, I’m not a baby or anything! … It was just having to close them at night. When it was pitch black and dark. Reflective glass gives nothing away as to what could be lurking behind the window’s mirrored surface. Who’s watching? What’s out there? You can’t see out, but everything out there can see in! I know it’s silly and immature. It’s...

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“Talking is not permitted.” by Kelly Sibley

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

Talking is not permitted. Line up. Look forwards, don’t engage with anyone. Keep your hands to yourself and makes sure they’re clean. Don’t look at other people. Don’t look at others’ food. Don’t look at individuals when they’re eating.   Sit still on your chair. Make sure you wash your tray and spoon when finished. Remember your number. Remember your password. These are the rules for eating. They are simple, and they will keep you alive.  They say slavery was stamped out a hundred years ago. And if y...

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“The Presidents Interpreter ” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #177

Warning: this is political satire! “Oh, Sir, I just wanted to thank you for this opportunity; I won’t let you down!” Karla pulled at the collar of her brand-new dark blue business suit. She’d been in a hurry this morning to buy it, and by the scratching sensation on the back of her neck, she’d missed a tag. The Secretary to the President wearily placed his reading glasses down and looked up from his colossal walnut desk, sighing, “Yay for you. Do you have your security pass to enter the oval office?” “Yes, Sir. Yes, I do.”  The ...

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“A Good Meal” by Kelly Sibley

A shaft of lightning smacked the ground in a resonating roar, illuminating the graveyard into an eery half-shadowed glow.A banshee-like wail of “It’s a sign!”  erupted, piercing the darkness, then echoed across the grey headstones reverberating back and forth.Whispered irritation emerged from a freshly dug hole, “Will you shut up!”Wrapped in a mud-stained cloak, Boris West, a local lad who up until this point had only been accused of some five-finger discounting, looked up with wide glassy eyes to the inky night sky; terror gripped...

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“Mr Casey's Train” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #168

“Mr Casey.”“Yes, Mr Worthington?”“Your train, Mr Casey.”“Yes, Mr Worthington?”There was a quiet and uncomfortable pause where Mr Casey nervously ran his dark bowler hats rim through his hands until he could bear the truth no longer. “Well, when I say yes, it’s not really ‘my train’, per see. In actual fact, I think the train prefers it when we all call him Larry. We're trying to get him to think of a last name and then we thought we'd throw him a naming party.”Mr Casey watched as his employer's features became flushed. "Actually, it's t...

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“Tom and Barbara” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #166

“I can’t believe you just did that!” “What I did! What about what you did!” “What? I did nothing!” “I didn’t kill him! That’s totally on you, buddy!” * It’s not often that co-workers are responsible for the ‘accidental’ death of their boss. But unfortunately for Tom and Barbara, an undeniable dead body is hard to ignore. * “I didn’t know he was allergic to lima beans! It’s not like you go up to your boss and say, ‘Hey, Satan, could you give me a list of all the foods you might be deathly allergic to?’ Now is it!” Wide-eyed, ...

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“Glendora Retirement Village” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #165

“I do find policemen frightfully tiresome!’Mrs Marigold Smith sat at the round table waving away the Detective Sargent’s polite question with a bored hand. The table had been moved to the window side of the dining hall so as not to interfere with the resident’s lunch service. Detective Wallace reminded himself not to take anything personally. ‘Keep the professional wall up’ was his own internal advice. But as the old woman’s blue rinse hair and necklace of huge round glistening baubles caught the sun’s light, it gave her the glowing app...

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