Tanya Humphreys

“A Bug in Your Ear” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #131

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 his head, that’s why he always knows all the answers!” Danny thought to himself, ‘Maybe he’s just really smart.’ Some stuff was gr...

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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 thick wool rugs. The tall man that strode into the room thought to himself, ‘This is Hell.’ Hanly’s soft, t...

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“Hatmo Resort” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #129

“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 into the trees and came out a few se...

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“The Golden Teapot” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #128

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 with a garnet eye. Th...

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“Peyton Runs” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #127

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 were called ‘Runners’, collectively, ‘Running Game’. Mostly t...

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“The Hungry Christmas Tree” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #124

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 tinsel hai...

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“The Nativity Goat” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #123

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 three kittens playi...

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“The Christmas Hat” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #122

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 at his classmates...

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“Gunther, Son of Krampus” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #121

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.He looked sadly do...

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“Grampa Owl and Grandfather Mouse” by Tanya Humphreys

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #120

“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, he savored the dr...

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“Spiders Creep” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #119

The girl on the deck in the floppy sun hat was afraid to open her eyes. She’d been awakened by a sound. One that had followed her from her nightmare. The noise was a clicking, skuttling sound, not unlike tap-dancing feet, but far more sinister. Breathe held, Weechoo Soo opened her eyes slowly while peaking from her splayed fingers…the enormous spiders were still there, only three feet closer than when she’d first seen them.  They surrounded her on three sides, at her back was the glass patio door. ‘Oh, fuck me.’ Sh...

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“A Halloween Cat-astrophe” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #117

As I lounged on the tree branch, I observed the witches below me, engaged in their spooky yet hypnotic dance. I imagined I was a powerful panther, my silky coat of black making me one with the inky shadows. ‘Invisible.’ I froze perfectly still to not give away my watchful perch. Well, almost perfectly still. The tip of my tail twitched, giving away my anxiety concerning the scene below me. They were not real witches of course, but young hopefuls in costume. The thirteen young women gyrated and swayed around the bonfir...

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“The Covid Gremlin” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #116

Phoebe came through the back door into the kitchen. The small figure at the table looked up at her with all the sadness in the world reflected in his hazel eyes, and the weight of a ten-ton boulder on his back. His small face was wet, a rivulet of snot glistened over his lips like clear, sticky, slug slime. Phoebe rushed to her brother’s side and took the little boy in her arms, wishing she could shield his trembling body like an umbrella protects from a downpour. “Is he doing it again?” She asked softly. Trevor dampl...

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“Somebody's Watching Me” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #115

As Fiona stepped out of the Forever 21 and into the airy brightness of the mall, the chorus of ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’ sounded from behind her. She spun around; her long auburn hair swirled like a satin sheet. No one there.‘Ah, my phone.’ She thought, though she still sported a furrowed brow over a frowning mouth. She wiggled it out of her jeggings back pocket and looked at the screen.Penny came out of the store, carrying a humongous yellow shopping bag. She said, “What is that?”Fiona glanced up at her cherub-like blond ...

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“Pitbully” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #114

The pure breeds dominated the side of the schoolyard the bleachers were on. On the top of the stack of six long benches, a large Pitbull terrier sat with his buddies. Fat Freddy, a Bassett hound, said to the pit, “Hey Conan, get a loada the new pup? He’s so mutt I’m gonna call him Heinz…hiyuck hiyuck!”  Frenchie La Pooch, a black French Bulldog, elbowed Fat Freddy in his jiggling girth and said, “That’s such an old one dude! Give it up.”  They looked over at Conan because he remained silent, which was so...

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