Rachel Kenley Fry

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2020

Stories (15)

15 Stories

1115 karma pts

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“Motherhood is the Neck of the Chicken” by Rachel Kenley Fry

Otillia “Tillie” Duncan’s favorite part of a chicken was the neck—or so she claimed. I know this because she is my great-grandmother, and though I’ve never met her, I’m fascinated by her life story. Suddenly widowed in her early thirties, Tillie was forced to raise eight children and run a ranch during the height of the Great Depression, by herself. Somehow, she managed it. When Tillie made roast chicken for su...

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“You've Still Never Seen a Bear” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“There have been a lot of bear sightings in Valdez this summer,” Brother Gordon explains to your concerned mother, as he loads a rifle into the back of his Suburban. “I just want to be prepared.” You hug your mom goodbye and jump into the van, ignoring her requests for a kiss. The year is 2003, you’re 13, and you can’t wait for your second year of Mormon Girls Camp. “Don’t worry, Mom!” you...

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“Chapters” by Rachel Kenley Fry

She could not wait to leave home. At nearly nineteen, she could not stand being told what to do by her parents, who were well-meaning, but who nagged incessantly and were, quite frankly, out of touch with the real world. She boarded a red-eye flight, bound for her brand-new life, and watched through the window as the lights of the city faded to black. In the morning, everything would be different. In the morning, the next chapter of her life would begin.She loved college life. She ate take-out pizza at least twice a week...

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“Bad Tea, Good Friends” by Rachel Kenley Fry

Ava’s dress was not even pretty and the hot chocolate was SUPER watery.That’s what I’m gonna tell my mom when she akses me about the tea party. Pecause really, grown ups think Ava’s dresses are so cute, but they’re waaaay too pink and the sparkles get everywhere. Green dresses are ackshully way awesomer, pecause Merida wears green and she’s the best Disney Princess that nobody even knows about. And this hot chocolate is just like, warm water, but it has some cocoa in it, but really not very much and it’s not really as yu...

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“Slow and Steady” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“It’s got a lot of torque, you see,” Peter Hareman gestured with his hand, as if his brand-new car parked in the office in front of the crowd of his assembled co-workers. “That’s why it’s so fast and, what was it the dealer said? Efficient.”Many of the people nodded, sloshing the punch in their hands as they hung on Peter’s every word. Leo Sheldon, however, turned toward the coat closet.“Leaving so soon?” called out Peter, abandoning the attention of the assembled audience and rushing ...

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“A (True) Friend for June” by Rachel Kenley Fry

In the grand scheme of things, it was a minor trespass. I didn’t kill anyone, or reveal a precious trade secret. And, I keep reminding myself, I was a child. June and Bill Hecker were like affectionate grandparents to me. A bonus, since I also had two other complete sets of grandparents close at hand, both loving, attentive, and physically and mentally whole. However, the Heckers took an interest in me without obligation or inherent love borne from genetics. Which, to me, meant I was special.

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“I Leave the Six Blank” by Rachel Kenley Fry

(TW: child loss)One is black.My therapist suggested this activity, which I think is a waste of time. I'm not really very artistic.Allie was. I was surprised by how well she could color, for her age, I mean. She didn't just scribble, she chose her colors carefully, she stayed in the lines, she even shaded, sometimes. She wasn't a savant but her pictures were better than other four-year-old kids'. Oh, how I loved her pictures.Making this picture of my own is neither cre...

160 comments 160 WINNER 🏆

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“Blue Christmas” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“I’m not going. I told you, this year, I’m really not going.”Nick’s voice sounds like it’s coming from another wing of the house rather than from the other side of the door. I knock again, but without waiting for an answer I push open the door.“I’m coming in, I hope you’re decent!” I announce cheerily, and my eyes begin to water. The room smells like sour milk, tobacco and sweat.“Nick?” I walk to the bed, kicking aside food wrappers and clothes to make a path as I go. “Nick. It’s time ...

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“Reflections Upon My Death” by Rachel Kenley Fry

The last sound I heard in life was a soft thump on a window. And I’m glad.If I was a better man, maybe I could say that I wish it had turned out differently, that if I had to die it should have been surrounded by my children, or laying chest to chest with my sweetheart, and maybe if I had planned for Tuesday to be my last day on Earth I could have arranged for it to happen that way, but I can’t change the facts now.Life happens, that’s what I always tried to explain to Kathy; life just happens and we’re...

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“Ready for an Adventure” by Rachel Kenley Fry

Wanted: a full-time, live-in nanny to care for twin five-year-old boys in our Manhattan home for the summer. Must be responsible, energetic, willing to work hard, but most of all, ready for an adventure! Serious inquiries only.Natalie heard the door click behind her and let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She was alone.The room—her room— smelled like fresh white paint. It was small, maybe a ten by twelve foot rectangle, she guessed. Just enough room for a twin bed, ...

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“Princess Otilia and the Terrible Idea” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.” –Russell M. Nelson Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Slater, there lived a beautiful princess named Otilia. She lived with her Prince Charming, Thomas, and her seven beautiful children. Her world required work and strength, but it also provided her with all the love she needed. Her life was full of laughter and joy, until one da...

22 comments 22 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“The Developing” by Rachel Kenley Fry

It’s quiet, beneath. The laughter and joyous shouting of the crowd above is muted by the water rushing in my ears. It’s dark, too, even though I’m only a few feet below the surface, my toes skimming the sand beneath me as a wave surges over my head. A few seconds of stillness and peace.When my head breaches the surface, there is once again sunlight and noise, but the peaceful feeling sticks to my soul like rubber cement. I float on my back, staring at the pale, cloudless sky. I am cradled and rocked gently by the sea. I’...

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“Carver's Will” by Rachel Kenley Fry

They were going to kill him. Carver knew it, he knew without anyone speaking a word that he only had a few moments left to live. And this time last year, he would have enthusiastically proclaimed that this was exactly what he wanted. Actually, in all honesty, he did enthusiastically proclaim it, many times, to many, many people. “I don’t ever want to live hooked up to machines, like a veg-...

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“You Can Sleep in Your Own Bed” by Rachel Kenley Fry

#10 You can eat and drink whatever you want, whenever you wantShelly’s mouth tastes sour and stale, like a hard brown lime. It’s really unfair, she thinks, to feel nauseous on top of everything else. Emotionally, she wants a fudgy chocolate brownie. With peanut butter frosting. In fact, she wants to be held by a fudgy chocolate brownie with peanut butter frosting, and fall asleep in its embrace. That’s the most comforting thing she can imagine. Physically, however, the thought of consuming anything makes her stomach acid...

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“Cakes by Pam” by Rachel Kenley Fry

It’s really stupid to be jealous of a ten-year-old, right? I mean, I know it is, obviously, but I can’t help it. I put everything into my business. I’m a professional. People think fancy cakes are easy, they take a few hours, but it’s not true. TV has totally ruined people’s ideas of what it takes to make a cake that is both beautiful and delicious. Not unlike how TV has distorted how quickly crime scenes can be...

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Author bio

I'm a former journalist, current stay-at-home mom to 5 kids 9 and under, trying to carve out time to hone my craft. I love critiques- getting and giving! Please leave comments and tell me how you think my work can be improved, and I'll do the same for you!

Winning 1 story 🏆

Contest #108

I Leave the Six Blank – read story

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #88

Princess Otilia and the Terrible Idea – read story