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L.J. LaBree

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2020

Stories (6)

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3 Followers

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6 Stories

127 karma pts

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Worth It

L.J. LaBree

Submitted to Contest #224

It wasn’t the decades-old alarm clock blaring its infernal beeping that woke her up. It was the sound of an old 1988 Cheverolet pick-up truck’s door shutting outside. A truck she would sometimes ride in, talking about plans and what she wanted to do with what life gave her. Rubbing the sleep-sand out of her eyes, she reached toward the dark-stained oak nightstand one of her sisters gave her when she left for college, and picked up her glasses. The early morning world came into clear view as she sat up and stared at th...

5 likes

The Study Room

L.J. LaBree

Submitted to Contest #223

“... It’s a closet.” The janitor scoffed at the student as he held the door open for her. “That’s the trouble with this generation – you don’t use your imagination anymore!” The student glared at him as she shifted the large stack of books from one arm to the other. She tried to look past the several neon-yellow broom handles clustered together in the corner and sopping wet mop in the other, which she was pretty sure was only bright green because it had something growing on it. But try as she might, she just co...

4 likes

Holding Still

L.J. LaBree

Submitted to Contest #139

“Hold Still!” I clamped my hands over my mouth, giggling. Mama lowered her thin hand, pencil and all, and shook her head. And yet, her smile only grew wider. Her eyes crinkled as her mouth stretched across her face. “Baby, you gotta hold still, or else I can’t mark it.” “Do you think I grew?” I asked her. I hoped I grew. I wanted to show her I could grow big and tall, like her. “I think you did, but we need to measure so I can tell.” Mama gently pushed my shoulder against the closet threshold, holding me as still as she could. He...

15 likes

Dancing in the Rain

L.J. LaBree

Submitted to Contest #112

“But why?!” Mom rolled her eyes as she turned on the turn signal, “because Rietta, you are not responsible enough to be left alone yet!” “I’m eleven! I’m plenty responsible enough to be alone!” I scoffed, crossing my arms and stomping the dirt-matted car floor. “Kathy McDermon is allowed to be home alone!” The car coasted the curved road wide and slow, earning an annoyed honk from the people behind us. I couldn’t help but smirk as Mom raised her middle finger out the window in answer. “That’s not very nice…” “Oh, you know what, little miss ...

8 likes

Painting the Rocks Red

L.J. LaBree

Submitted to Contest #111

“Mumma! Mumma!” Oh, here we go. It hasn’t even been half an hour, and the Tiny Gremlin is back at it with her screeching for Mother. “Charlotte, honey, Mumma’s talking with her friends right now,” Mother tries to calm the Gremlin down, her hands on each tiny shoulder, yet failing miserably in controlling the incessant bouncing. “But Mumma!” I know how to fix it! I do!” Mother sighs heavily and looks to her friends for aid, but they only offer smiles and giggles poorly hidden behind manicured and polished nails. Lot of good that does, their ...

10 likes

The Sun Shines Brighter

L.J. LaBree

Submitted to Contest #109

CW: abuse, violence“You aren’t going anywhere! You work for me! I own you!”It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.I fight to keep my frame from shivering as her voice claws to an octave higher, the stapler waving around her head like a magpie waiting to divebomb an unsuspecting victim.This isn’t the first time she’s threatened to hit me with the small mechanical device. It isn’t the first time she’s followed through with her threat, either.She screamed and screeched like this for another 20 minutes, never seeming to take a breath in between ...

12 likes