Tanya Humphreys

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2021

Stories (36)

36 Stories

766 karma pts

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“The Young Bone Grubber” by Tanya Humphreys

Hugo Bonaparte peeked around the upright granite slab and spied two men intent on unearthing the coffin in the fresh grave. The men’s nefarious deed was lit by a single, brightly lit lantern. One brandished a spade, the other a shovel. They were so mottled in the dirt-colored shades of their profession, they looked to him like haystack shaped monsters. But they were just men, under all the grave dirt, mud, and ste...

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“Archie the Tree Monster” by Tanya Humphreys

Lee-Roy White snickered as he took off the stolen rain jacket. He’d been warm and dry all the way home, even his hair, thanks to the jacket’s hood. It looked like a golf jacket, and it was big enough to fit him. On Wussy Wyatt, it’d come down to his bony knees. ‘Must be his dad’s.’ He hung it up in the entryway that his father called ‘the mudroom’ only cuz it had tiled flooring. ‘Mi...

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“The Mind-Boggling Anti-Logic of a Tyrant” by Tanya Humphreys

Warning: This story contains death, mental illness, and the senselessness of war.The small brown rabbit hopped from shadow to shadow through the underbrush, his sister followed close behind. Razin stopped suddenly and Fizza hopped right into his backside. “Oof!” Giggle.Razin whispered, “Stop. What have I been teaching you?”Fizza rolled her eyes, “Be careful when venturing out into open spaces.”“Okay then. Let me look.” Razin cautiously parted the ferns and peeked through ...

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“Light Feet” by Tanya Humphreys

Jimmy Galapino looked out into the gallery as the verdict was passed to the judge.“On the count of murder in the first degree," Judge Smithfield hesitated for dramatic effect, “we find the defendant…not guilty.” His wild, wiry white eyebrows crept up his massive forehead like curious caterpillars. He strongly resembled Fred Gwynne, the actor who played Herman Munster. The victim’s family in the front rows howled and screamed.  Reporters in the hallway swarmed like bees, their many voices buzzing in ag...

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“Cat in a Candy Store” by Tanya Humphreys

Pepper peeked out from under the counter and groaned as he spied the woman setting up the Hallmark display with heart adorned cards. ‘Valentine’s Day, ugh. Humans are so tiresome.’ The woman was Candace and she owned Candy’s Sweet Shoppe. Pepper the rat’s ash grey fur puffed and his white whiskers bristled uncontrollably. They did that when he was annoyed. Pepper scurried across the pink linoleum ...

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“A Bug in Your Ear” by Tanya Humphreys

Danny rolled his eyes as Peter and Bjorn rolled out the latest gossip about the new kid, Ramone. Daily, his schoolmates came up with more dirt that they slung around the yard like runny poop. The three huddled under the maple tree, sneaking glances at Ramone who sat alone on a bench by the monkey bars. Some stuff was creepy. One day, Peter had covertly hissed to the others, “He hears ghosts in hi...

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“The Crown and the Elixir” by Tanya Humphreys

King Weston Juneberry sat on his impressive red seated throne on a raised dais, the better to look down upon mere peons and courtiers. His fat red lips curled in a sneer as Hanly West entered the cavernous, dark marbled receiving room. Bronze pillars and statues, gold and silver ornaments and censers reflected the flickering lights. The walls were covered with velvety shades of red and the same shades coated the floor in...

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“Hatmo Resort” by Tanya Humphreys

“Shaney, wait. My phone’s missing. It can’t be that far back. I just checked it on the lift,” said Bruno. His eyes begged an apology and Shanitra completely understood the angst of losing not just important numbers, but also all kinds of personal goo-gas not filed anywhere else.She said, “It’s okay, honey. I’ll wait right here.”Bruno nodded and skied back the way they had come. She lost sight of him around the small but dense copse of fir trees.Once out of sight, Bruno ducked i...

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“The Golden Teapot” by Tanya Humphreys

Egret and Heron sat at opposite sides of the small table in the parlor of their castle. In the center of the table sat a gleaming silver tea set consisting of a pot with more curves than their mother, two cups with fancy scrolled handles, saucers, a creamer with tiny lion’s feet, and a sugar bowl. The noon sun’s rays plunged through the tall, multi-paned windows and dazzling white reflections from every shiny surface buffeted round the room like a light-filled kaleidoscope.The handle of the sugar spoon was an eagle ...

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“Peyton Runs” by Tanya Humphreys

Peyton blamed herself for the predicament she was in. Had she trusted her gut feeling, she would not be now running for her life. She sensed someone running alongside of her, that someone called to her, “Peyton!”Intuition screamed ‘Keep running you fool!’ She would never doubt her intuition again if she got out of this alive. She recognized the voice of Cerci, the only other black female of the twenty people running for their lives. Individually, they ...

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“The Hungry Christmas Tree” by Tanya Humphreys

The twenty-foot tree was magnificent! All forty-nine wee elves skipped around its base with strings of colored lights, silver tinsel, and finely crafted wooden ornaments. Its fresh, piney green scent was intoxicating, the elves buried their faces in the soft needley boughs.The elves giggled like squirrels, chattered like monkeys, and laughed like loons. As the last of the lights were lit, and the last of the ornaments hung, the elves discussed the finale…the decoration for the very tip-top. The angel was white, with ...

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“The Nativity Goat” by Tanya Humphreys

The small black goat looked out into the immense auditorium and sighed. The cavernous space was devoid of an audience, each of the 600 upholstered maroon seats stared back at him with taunting flat faces. “Jaxon Jesse Simpson!” Screeched the teacher. Literally. She was a puffy, square-shaped screech owl with chestnut tufts for ears, and round golden eyes the size of saucers behind her wire framed glasses. Jaxon jumped and glowered at her. His scruffy eyebrows pulled into hoods over his eyes. The th...

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“The Christmas Hat” by Tanya Humphreys

Miss Smithereen, as excited as her class, stood in front of the chalkboard. The short, spiney quills down her back poked through the soft red wool of her most Christmassy dress. She stamped her tiny hedgehog feet, shod in sensible black penny loafers, and clapped her tiny hedgehog paws together for attention.She pushed her eyeglasses up her pointy black nose and said, “Now class, we still have an hour before the bell…”The class of woodland animals groaned in unison. Eddie, an outspoken raccoon child, looked around ...

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“Gunther, Son of Krampus” by Tanya Humphreys

Gunther smiled at the pretty she-elf and offered her his ginger snap cookie. Her clear blue eyes grew round as ping pong balls, the silver bells on her pointed red hat tinkled as she trembled, and her pouty rosebud lips quivered. At last, she let out a scream so high pitched and supersonic, it caused a small avalanche a mile away.Her breath was peppermint and vanilla cake. She swatted the cookie into the snow and ran towards her friends that had stopped their birdlike chattering to stare at Gunther in horror.

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“Grampa Owl and Grandfather Mouse” by Tanya Humphreys

“My father told me of the great massacre of Summer, 2020.” Randolf’s grandfather began.  Randolf looked over at his twelve siblings, they were all spitting images of Randolf- wee ash grey mice squatting comfortably like furry little pom-poms. All twenty-four of their shiny black bead eyes were wide with raptness, Randolf joined them in their gaze towards the elderly, somewhat scruffy mouse with one torn ear and a kink in his tail. Grandfather mouse continued when he had all thirteen children’s attention in full, ...

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Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #120
Grampa Owl and Grandfather Mouse – read story