Kevin Leonard

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2020

Stories (21)

21 Stories

474 karma pts

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“A Fish, a Rabbit, and a Dog” by Kevin Leonard

Submitted to Contest #54

Raymond entered the lunchroom with an uncharacteristic sense of purpose. In his hands, he carried a cardboard box, held in a way that suggested its contents were unstable, fragile, or both. “What’s in the box?” Sam began to say, around a mouthful of microwaved meatloaf, when a patch of chocolate brown fur popped out of the top of the box. A puppy. Raymond walked towards Sam, the puppy’s ears flopping with the bump of each step. “His name’s Blue.” “Blue!” Sam reached her hands under the puppy’s armpits and lifted him out of the box. ...

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“The Cold Heist” by Kevin Leonard

Submitted to Contest #53

As soon as I see her step out of her car, I know exactly what she’s going to do, and I’m already mad. So mad I think about going up and saying something to her, but know it’ll just end poorly for me if I do. Sure enough, as soon as she steps out of her car, the first words I hear her say are “It’s so hot out.” Listen, I want to say. If you’re not poor, you are not allowed to complain about the heat. Plain and simple. I’m tired of it. Tired of seeing you step out of your fancy cars in your shorts and your little sun dresses. Tired of...

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“Moon Rivers” by Kevin Leonard

Submitted to Contest #52

Tom dropped his empty beer can at his feet, letting it loudly clang amongst the others as he cracked open a new one, taking a sip before setting it down on the tattered armrest. Can’t hear a thing, where’s the damn remote? He plunged his hands into the crevice on either side of the armchair’s fat cushion until his fingertips brushed against hard plastic.With considerable effort he gripped it between two outstretched fingers and was able to drag it up from the depths below. His head spun a little, and he was unsure whether it came from the ex...

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“Yes, No, Maybe So” by Kevin Leonard

Submitted to Contest #51

“Go ahead, have a seat on the couch.”The doctor strode across the room, doing her best to ensure the door made as small a clack noise as possible as it latched. That was an old trick her advisor had taught her back in graduate school: close the door softly so the patient doesn’t feel trapped. Yes, shut the door to maintain privacy, but not so loud as to bring up unsettling memories of locked childhood rooms or images of prison and institutional cell doors slamming shut. The patient should always know that they are in control of their own act...

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“Rhythm and Horn” by Kevin Leonard

Submitted to Contest #50

It is damnable hot, this scarf is sticking to my neck, and I cannot find her. She said I would find her here. At least I think it was here. Santo Domingo. Was this the bar from last night? Everything looks different in the light. Somewhere nearby, too close, a horn is being played. A giant stumbles past before I realize that it is a saint in effigy, hoisted on someone’s shoulders as they march through the parade. People cheer, and the horn breaks into a song that dips and bends in the way that all Spanish music does to my American ear. It is...

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“Pearls” by Kevin Leonard

Submitted to Contest #49

Margaret ran her hands across the lap of her dress, taking great care to smooth its pale, pink surface of even the smallest of wrinkles. Her fingers, lined with their own wrinkles that she cared not to smooth, quivered slightly as she did. This was not unusual, and so she took them, one in the other, and placed them down into her lap. It was cold in the small waiting room, the rumble of the unseen air-conditioner giving the cold a constant voice, but Margaret wasn’t surprised at the chill. It was always cold here. At her feet sat her purse, ...

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Author bio

I work in science and academic publishing, but I'm trying my hand at writing fiction. Totally amateur, experimenting with different genres. All forms of feedback and criticism appreciated and reciprocated. https://kevinleonardwrites.wordpress.com/

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #70

Room #133 – read story