Michael Mackenzie

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2020

Stories (20)

20 Stories

435 karma pts

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“The Tunnel” by Michael Mackenzie

Submitted to Contest #126

The trees did not live alone. Within the woods hundreds of breathing stories, kept secret in the shadows, hidden beneath the soil. A refuge for the truth, a shelter for the sinful.Tate switched on the chainsaw and it rumbled in the cold air. Shouts of men in helmets wearing orange vests echoed through the woods and trees fell. Sweat dripped. The bright sun reflecting off Tate’s visor. And in the wind and in his head and in his chest he heard Becca as the chainsaw cut through the aching tree. Frustration and fear and fight in her voice taperi...

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“The Masked Officer” by Michael Mackenzie

Submitted to Contest #123

The ballroom filled with men in tailored suits, women in tight dresses, champagne flutes and caviar and lobster toast on silver platters served by men in white blazers, and energetic whispers about the The Masked Officer.Ronald stood in the corner of the ballroom sipping a beer and avoiding the gravitational pull of the New York elite. His thoughts split between his upcoming drive home from New York State across the bridge to New Jersey. To Jenny and the kids and their homework and bedtime. The other half of his thoughts went to the woman ...

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“The Hourglass” by Michael Mackenzie

Submitted to Contest #122

Adam sipped a glass of red wine watching the camera feed that displayed the entrance of his house. You could the see freshly painted red door, the porch, and the garden with calendula and winter jasmine. And Oscar, roaming around the freshly cut lawn, who stood at attention as though something moved in the distance. The attic was a makeshift command center with dual displays, featuring a small fridge that used to be stocked full of energy drinks, and a stack of books on home security systems which sat on the wooden desk. While taking br...

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“The Burial Celebration” by Michael Mackenzie

Submitted to Contest #98

Six empty caskets. Rusted bleachers and rusted chairs on brown grass. White chrysanthemums on a wooden table. Behind the stage, rain pounded the still waters of the river.Malcolm watched from the window. Eyes gray like the river. Hands shaking like a man facing the gallows. He punched a hole through the window. Shards of glass sprinkled into his fist.He climbed into bed. Her foot traveled over to his and she mumbled and he mumbled back. “We have to decide tomorrow,” Malcolm said.“Don’t say it like that. It’s a good thing. One of o...

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“The Meaning of Hospitality ” by Michael Mackenzie

Submitted to Contest #96

Joseph’s voice trembled as he stared at the computer screen. He pressed his phone to his ear while sweat dripped down his face. “The auditors didn’t list food preferences. How am I supposed to score high enough on the audit without food preferences?”He hung up, remembering the breathing exercises he taught to his patients at the hospital. Scrolling through the .gov website, Joseph studied the hospitality coefficients for his neighbors. The Scholes had scored a 2.0, the McCall’s had scored a 2.5, The Park’s had scored 2.7, and at the top of t...

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Author bio

"I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start over again.” I believe everyone has something important to say. I write to entertain, to find meaning, and to slow time down and think about life.