Kimberly McFetridge

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2022

Stories (15)

15 Stories

303 karma pts

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“Well, She Wasn't Invited” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #178

Avery was looking forward to attending her Department Chair Paula’s annual Christmas party for the first time. She had started her position as an English professor at Aurora Community College in August. According to some of her colleagues, the party was the highlight of the year. Others remained silent about it. Avery’s office mate Crystal was very enthusiastic the closer it got.” Paula’s really cheerful and welcoming at her party. The food is always excellent, she has it catered from the Ensley Grille, and the champagne and conversatio...

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“Let's Get Invisible” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #176

Nancy loads the potion into the syringe, then paces back and forth in front of the cage. “I wish Freddie was in his hammock. I could detect him easier.” “You’ve got this, Nance. Think about all the times you practiced injecting him on the exercise wheel while you were blindfolded. After a few tries, you always find the lower right quadrant of his abdomen,” Maggie says. “Thanks for your vote of confidence.” Nancy stops pacing, stands facing the cage, and inhales deeply into her belly to calm herself. Then, she injects Freddie.The two scientis...

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“Present in the Leaves” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #175

Unlike most people in the fall who dread raking leaves, Joan was thoroughly enjoying it. Not only was it satisfying to revel in the clean yard afterwards, but it was also great exercise and an opportunity to enjoy the crisp, sunny day outside with her eight-year-old daughter and three-year-old German Shepherd mix.  Chelsea was joyfully helping her mother gather the leaves into a pile and jumping into them afterwards.  Buster made it his duty to dig at the unraked leaves with his paws and roll in them. Joan smiled at them both as sh...

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“The Diet” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #174

The aroma of puff pastry, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and feta wafts from the appetizer the waitress has just set in the middle of the table. I hear my client Cindy marvel, “I swear, this is manna made in heaven,” as she savors a bite of the Mediterranean Pinwheels she and her husband are sharing.  They’re enjoying the warm May evening at Brass Tacks, so I hate to interrupt them, but as Cindy’s nutritionist, I must.  As I stride towards them, Cindy pauses mid-forkful, looks at me with daggers in her blue eyes, and says, “Sara, ...

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“The Sapphire Necklace” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #173

In the brown box, tucked in around the socks, shorts, and tees, was a manilla envelope containing the gold bangle bracelets Jon had given Audrey. However, she had been unwilling to part with her oval sapphire and diamond solitaire pendant. She hadn’t taken it off since Jon had given her the necklace last Christmas. Sapphire was not only her birthstone; it also matched her eyes and had healing properties. Yet, Audrey was tired ofthe guilt she felt whenever she glanced at the glimmering sapphire in the mirror.  She and Jon had called...

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“Fraudulent Claims” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #172

I’ve always considered myself a loyal friend. I’m as dependable as they come; if someone I care about needs me, I am there for them. I’m also good at keeping my friends’ secrets and never gossip to one friend about another. Unfortunately, in the past few months, my loyalty to Lani came back to ruin me. If I’d only said something to her when I suspected she was double- dipping and creating false receipts to Bloom Cosmetics, I wouldn’t be facing a fine of $10,000.00, possible jail time, astronomical lawyer fees, and the loss of my esteeme...

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“Strange Encounter” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #171

Luce decided to take the long way home from the party to avoid the inevitable. She knew that when she got to her apartment, if Susan was still awake, she would give Luce the hairy eyeball like she always did when Luce was out late having fun. Luce, at 23, was simply enjoying her young adulthood and didn’t need somebody hovering over her. Susan, who was seven years older than her younger sister Luce, and much more serious, thought that as her new roommate, she should assume the role of Luce’s mother. Luce already had one mother who spent...

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“Two Can Play This Game” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #170

I can’t believe McKenzie has stolen another one of my clients. After I’ve worked so hard to produce beautiful photographic stories for my brides and grooms and have developed an excellent portfolio that showcases my fairytale approach to wedding photography, she would stoop this low. I’ve spent hours to have an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to let the betrothed know about my services and to draw them to my online portfolio. Because of my excellent customer service, creative and quality images, and use of the best camera...

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“Shadow in the Night” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #169

All Joan could think about as she scurried through the employee parking lot was a getting home to a nice hot shower, a cup of hot rooibos tea, and bed. It was 11:05 pm, so her girls, Mandy and Julie, would already be in bed. Her husband Brandon could still be up reading and if he was, he might offer to rub her feet. After working a 12-hour shift in the ER her feet, not to mention her legs, were aching. As Joan imagined Brandon’s strong hands kneading her throbbing feet, a figure behind her interrupted her thoughts.  She listened in...

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“View From a Train” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #168

        For the fifth time this week, Jasmine saw the little girl propped up in her bed looking out the window of Whitebridge County Hospital.  This part of the Whisper Valley train line was unique because it loops around in a way to give passengers a discernible view inside some of Whitebridge County Hospital. Not only was Jasmine able to identify the girl’s shoulder-length dark curls and olive skin, very much like her own, she saw the girl wave. Could she see Jasmine smile and wave back at her? ...

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“Daydream Believer” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #167

My name is Amanda Jennings. I’m 32 years old and have lived my life as a maladaptive daydreamer, meaning that I spend more than half of my waking life daydreaming. My parents died in a car crash when I was 16 months old, so my grandmother raised me. When Nana took over parenting me, she was a diminished grief-stricken woman who never recovered from the loss of her husband, my grandfather, in the Viet Nam war. When her only child, my mom, passed away 15 years later, she probably wouldn’t have been able to function if it hadn’t been for her re...

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“The Confession” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #166

Melissa has been my office mate at Monroe County Community College for the past five years. We are each other’s confidants and supporters. We also have the same silly senses of humor. More than once, raucous laughter has escaped from our office and has been heard at the other end of the corridor. We hit it off right from the get-go. We quickly discovered that not only do we both love hiking, biking, and practicing yoga, reading historical fiction and mystery novels, and watching Game of Thrones, but we share similar views about life. We love...

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“Saving Each Other” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #165

“My husband didn’t commit suicide. I poisoned him,” said Mary Farber to Detective Ruth Barnes a week after her husband Bruce died. Mary knew she had to protect Bruce beyond the grave in whatever way she could. Her beloved husband was a proud man; reputation was everything to him. He built a successful career as a financial advisor and served on the board of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce and the Chester County Board of Commissions for years. People in his community knew, respected, and genuinely liked him.  When she arriv...

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“Some Things Never Change” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #164

I was on the fence about attending my 20th high school reunion, but I was really glad I went, not entirely for the reasons I thought though. I was kind of shy in high school, and still am by nature, but being a high school English teacher for the past 15 years has made me more loquacious. So, I thought I could handle the small talk. There were a few people from my class that I thought would be fun to reconnect with too.  I decided that I could combine the reunion with a visit to my godmother Aunt Phyllis who still lived in the small tow...

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“I Didn't Mean It” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #163

The previously raucous chatter at the Thanksgiving dinner table came to a sudden halt when I harmlessly remarked that our daughter Julie’s professional obligations and pressures from her fiancé Ted and her mother had been taking their toll on her. The awkward silence was short lived, though, because of our son Anthony. Now my wife's not talking to me. As a matter of fact, neither is our daughter.  The holiday week started out the same as it always did at the Cirillo household. My wife Maureen started cooking and baking o...

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