Tanya Humphreys

“The Bermuda Triangle of California” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #276

The Grapevine is the Bermuda Triangle of California. My memory of that expanse of Highway 5 is desolation, dust and depression. Current crazy-ass boyfriend Simon and I were about to experience this marvel of soul-sucking spirits firsthand. We had been celebrating Simon’s 24th birthday in the coffee shop I worked at by day, Ground Zero. The café was closed, and the turnout was sad: just his sister and best friend, my best friend and her tweaky little brother. We drank chilled Stoli, fortified with cigarettes and methamphetamine. Best friend F...

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“Friends for Life” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #273

It was full dark now, but Simon didn’t want to go home. She might still be up. He got off his bike at the cemetery gates, left it propped on the old wooden fence. The low gate screeched its displeasure like an old gargoyle disturbed from its sleep. He winced involuntarily and put his hands over his mouth then winced again, the sharp pain of his bloody lip ignited fresh memories of earlier that evening when she’d thrown her half-empty Budweiser bottle at his face. He’d told her he was glad his father had left because she’d deserved it. ...

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“Lucio, a Musketeer” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #271

The tall dark man’s boots clocked a merry rhythm as he strode with purpose towards the town square where the harpsichord’s high wavering notes had begun wafting through the sweltering heat of late afternoon just a few seconds before. The beats from the zambomba kicked in and a smile curled the handsome man’s lips. It was an upbeat tune, and he pictured Lola’s lovely ankles flashing daringly from the twirling cascades of her flamenco dress as her castanets clacked out punctuation marks as if her hands were magical brown birds clapping wooden ...

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“Pit of Adversity” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #263

Because of my diminutive size I had grown up scrappier and fiercer than the other males of my pack…except for one. Jeb was the alpha. And he was huge compared to me, with thick lustrous grey fur tinged with an abundance of black that shone in the sunlight like motor oil. Being the alpha coyote, Jeb feasted on the primo parts of a kill- brains and soft organs- that made his body healthily massive and slabbed with muscle. Jeb was big. But my thin, smaller body made me faster. Running was my thing, it had become my job to scout ahead of the pac...

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“HUNTED” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #252

The man was stealthy and impressively silent as he stalked me. It was not his fault the wind had changed direction and I’d caught the scent of gunpowder and freshly oiled steel. I stood still as a statue as the wind changed direction again, it howled through the treetops, and whistled through the elderberry brush, taking the stink of the man with it. He and more of his kind camped out in the cabin at the edge of the mesa. They drank whisky into the night and smoked skunky tobaccos…apparently, they never bathed either, strong was their scent...

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“The Dancer” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #249

From my table at the back of the tavern, I saw, and was mesmerized, by the woman dancing.When I was able to tear my eyes from her lithe and quite nearly ethereal presence, I noted that every man in the place was just as spellbound; every eye had a twinkle, every lip a twitch and tendency to rise a little on one side. Just as, I’m certain, there were many a rise in their pantaloons.The tavern was a typical West Indies affair with colorful candle glass tossing about their hues like stained glass windows in an old dim church. The air was infuse...

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“A Tail of Two Cities” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #248

“Well now, ya cocky Whippersnapper, what makes ya think dis ere alley ain’t good nuff for ye?” the old rat asked. He was large with angular pink limbs and greasy grey fur that stuck out in tufty tufts all over. He leaned over his fat round white belly while gnawing on a toothpick stained with barbeque sauce and was nose to nose with one of his 436 grandchildren.Whippersnapper stood defiantly, black whiskers bristling, pink paws fisted so tightly his sharp little claws drew pinpricks of blood in his palms. “Grampy, you’re down to 129 grandchi...

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“The Captain's Game” by Tanya Humphreys

Larabie’s right hand crept surreptitiously towards the hilt of his sword. Julieth, who saw all, caught his eye, and shook her head a single infinitesimal second, understanding that the man’s hatred of the captain was something that must never be revealed. Julieth placed a hand upon the captain’s shoulder when she noted his eyes narrow suspiciously at Larabie. “YAR!!!” cried the boisterous man with the gold epaulets as he slammed the table with his open palm, wooden steins rattled, the inkpot jittered, and the cup of quills fell over. “War i...

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“Miss Purdy Sees” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #245

Though her coat was black, Miss Purdy was predominantly Siamese. When she stretched in the patch of early morning sun, her body was a long, sleek, torpedo, her glossy fur shone like rich satin. Miss Purdy was taking it a bit easy, catering to the needs of eight three-week-old kittens was exhausting.The kittens were safely sheltered in a box tucked into a closet. The closet was in an office high on one of the top floors of a building. Miss Purdy did not know exactly how tall the building was, but from the woman’s desk she could see nothing bu...

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“Dogs Rule” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #243

“Heyyy Buddy, you okay?” A young man’s voice, Cali accent. It was black, ‘night’. There were stars, ‘outside.’ There was warmth and crackling, ‘a fire.’ Distant voices, inebriated, and the rumble and crash of waves, ‘a campsite by the sea.’ “He looks dead. Eyes open like that…it’s creepy.” A young woman’s voice, perhaps Hispanic. “Dude. Lorna’s right. He’s killin’ my buzz man. Check his pulse.” Cali Dude Two. I had to move before any of them came over to check my pulse, but my brain circuits were not functioning up to speed. I engaged the Li...

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“El Gato de la Muerte” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #242

Dominic sipped espresso as he watched the cat. The thing was all angular bones under tufted black fur, it slunk low to the ground, making Dom think of the Grinch as it stole the Whos’ Joy. Looking at this poor creature, Dom felt his own joy ebbing away. The thin dark woman selling fish tacos flapped her apron, “Sal de aqui!” she screeched as the cat did also. Dom went to the woman’s stall and pointed at the fried fish. She narrowed her eyes as she assessed his station in life. She could have been 30, she could have been 50, her skin was taut...

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“Kissing Frogs” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #241

Warning: Olde Timey fairy tale Once upon a time in a land full of magic and mischief… A skinny peasant boy pitched up the grassy bank of a sunlit pond, a large green bullfrog’s legs dangled from his hands like overcooked asparagus spears. “Here m’lady! Here’s the finest one yet.” Princess Rose rolled her pretty brown eyes. Seth said that every time he caught another one. The frog squirmed, it was slimy, and she nearly dropped it as she took it from the lad. “Ugh.” Seth looked up expectantly. Rose raised the frog to eye level. It blinked its...

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“The Raven at the Window” by Tanya Humphreys

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #240

One thing I was very wary about was the temperamental moods of Nature. Before leaving the nest for the first time, my mum had instructed me on flying head on into a steady stream of wind, one flick of a wing against it and I would be tumbled beak over toes. “Better to use the gales to your advantage to conserve energy. A slight breeze will allow the airfoil of your wings to allow you to soar. Back drafts allow you to hover in place.” I had been excited to try. To make her proud and master the art of soaring and hovering and attacking those...

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“The Puppeteer” by Tanya Humphreys

“I can’t believe I’m talking to a filthy rat…”“Seriously? Filthy?” said the rat.“Okay. So, you talk. I drank too much, and..."“Um maybe... but …still a talking rat, dude.”Pallo’s father stepped from around the stage just then and Pallo shrunk against the stones of the wall next to where they’d been holding their puppet show.“Pally!” shrieked Karen, the lead puppeteer. “You missed yer cue,” she hissed.The children gathered in front of the stage giggled. Pallo’s father placed his blood-stained hands on his wide hips and glared. Pallo glanced a...

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“Monster and Dog” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #238

Lilybeth hummed to herself as she made her way down the path to the fishing hole. her Jack Russell by her side bouncing, along, yipping happily, as if the two were dueting. She sang a made-up song, “The fish will bite today…Hip hip hooray. Hmm hmm hmm hm hm hm hm.” As they passed their neighbor’s home, which was halfway between their own cabin and the river, she fell silent. Bobbi looked back nervously as well, and slowed, glancing up and forward, back and forth, until given the sign it was safe to sing again. Lilybeth put a slender finger...

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