Wendy Kaminski

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2022

Stories (23)

23 Stories

3879 karma pts

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“Tenacious Day” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #188

It’s my birthday today – The Big 3-0! – and all I want to do is stay in my cozy room and have someone bring me milkshakes all day… but the sun is out, my alarm’s going off, and it’s time to get to the office, I suppose. At least there's something to look forward to: a few friends are dropping by to have a little celebration in my honor after work tonight. Note to self: need to pick up some booze and apps! As I don my favorite white outfit in the early morning chill, I wonder how it is that Covid somehow gave everyone but me a pass on ha...

141 comments 141

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“Dammit Tibbles” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #187

I am the legendary Dammit Tibbles, the mightiest huntress who ever lived. Fear me, all ye lesser creatures. In truth, “Tibbles” is just what I've let David call me. I don’t care a dropped whisker for his calls, so it doesn’t matter if he calls me Tibbles, or Chunky Dumpling, or Babaganoush. It isn’t like I’m going to answer to any of it… though, when he eventually expanded it to “Dammit Tibbles,” it amused and flattered me on a deep level which I cannot quite explain. I know it is the ultimate compliment, because I'm kind of a big deal in hi...

123 comments 123

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“Disjointed” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #186

Do you really want to hurrrrrt meeeee, do you really wa– HONNNNNK SCREEECH Wow, I need to clean this spot on the windshield better… SMASH CRASH TINKLE TINKLE ... that took care of it... Wheeee I’m a bird! Never seen the sky like this before, amazing Oh man pavement, that’s gonna hurt like a son of a bit– Sploot skiddddddddd Nothingness NothingnessMurmur murmur murmur murmurNothingnessMurmur murmur murmurrrrrrr murmurrrrrrr distant screamingMurrrmm “... out of nowhere!” MutedUnderwater sounds … is that screaming?Sounds like underwwuuuhU...

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“American Pi” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #186

"There were three..." "Point??" "...None." Silence, then: "...For what?" He sighed at her. "Did you even read the text? Fifteenth century not interesting you?" Eyes glued on her phone, she casually responded: "Nein." “Look, I can’t do ALL your homework for you. December 26 or so, Columbus' ship Santa María ran aground and was lost,” he soldiered on.“It was among… five total?”“Argh! Three ships, not five: the Santa María, Pinta and Niña! I thought everyone knew this stuff.” Exasperation threatened an eclipse of his current good deed. “H...

105 comments 105

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“Aesop Was a Jerk” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #185

Look, I had pica, ok? Oh sure, Aesop tried to disguise his retelling and pretend it was just some "random" fable he "suddenly" invented, but everyone knew who and what he was really talking about. Thanks to him, I've never heard the end of it at our volcanic-barbecues-slash-virgin-roasts. I'm Larry. That's right, Larry the FireLizard, go on and get it out of your system. My folks weren't very creative when it came to naming their whelps. To be fair, there were about 200 of us, and pretty soon you kinda run out of the interesting stuff. At le...

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“Just Oregon” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #184

The alien vessel’s bridge fell silent as Kz’Rrr’s mighty scaled tail thumped the floor repeatedly, its owner lost in thought. He tapped the panel twice then addressed his second-in-command: “AND YOU SAY THERE ARE EVEN MORE EXAMPLES THAN ALL OF THOSE?” Pryr. Jtt was nervous about relaying the scope of his findings at this late stage, but he was otherwise prepared with his remaining data. The fates of them all – as well as the financial legacy of their distant civilization – relied upon him illustrating the issue in such a way that the su...

116 comments 116

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“Snapshot Holmes” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #183

I'm pregnant, and I'm desperate to have my father be a part of her life, read the Facebook message. Mom refused to tell me anything about him, but I found this in her nightstand drawer. I'm hoping it might help. I reviewed the digital attachment, then messaged the sender – Carmen – to drop by my place that night after work with the original. Carmen had come to the right gal: I advertise on Facebook as Snapshot Holmes, Crack Image Detective, but my small following of fans just call me “The 2-D P.I.” Librarian by day, my true loves are photo a...

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“Rural Route 12: Bev's Shoes Attend a Party” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #182

Allergen Warning: Profanity A pink palace in a sea of perfectly-manicured green lawn, the large "shoe-shed" at the back of Beverly Meeks’ property was a beauty to behold and a testament to depraved matrimony. Originally a mid-sized industrial chicken coop, the customized shed now held the footwear trophies of her successful behavior modification experiments on her husband, Dan, throughout the 17 years of their marriage (he remained oblivious). Yards of unending styles and colors “popped” – metaphorically – as the door opened, along with aut...

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“A PSA about Ivory, Gold, and Grey Matters” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #181

The odds are good that you may never have never held nor even seen a genuine ivory trinket in your lifetime, especially if you live outside of Africa. Ivory is seen by many as a relic of a bygone era of cruelty we like to think we’ve risen above. It wasn’t so long ago, though, that the jetsetters felt otherwise. I see ivory trinkets at least annually, in my capacity as a Guardian and Conservator for elderly clientele with advanced dementia. Ornate hand-held Japanese-style carved fans; bracelets, rings, brooches, pendants; delicately-carved f...

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“She and E” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #180

She flicked the freezing, fetid mud from her heavy-duty gloves. No luck today, but this area was mostly tapped out, and soon she'd have to make a decision as to whether to move on permanently. E shifted slightly in the makeshift carrier on her back; she removed a glove and reached back, tucking the blanket more snugly around him. He was resting still, which was good. There wasn’t much else for him to do.Used to be, you could find valuables by the cartload, courtesy of the destruction wrought on the wealthier hillside neighborhoods where...

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“Rural Route 12: The Beverly Meeks Clinical Research Facility” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #179

Beverly Meeks determined long ago that if she couldn’t find Mr. Wonderful, by God she was going to create him, and she even had the vision boards from over the years which proved her lifelong devotion to the cause.Beverly had first dreamt of marrying the perfect man as a little girl pretending to wed the tux-clad family dog. The years of her youth were spent plotting out her elaborate wedding and her dream life, but as a teen and 20-something, she had hit a wall. However, despite a constant volley of first-and-only-dates and failed relations...

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“Round the World at the Holidays” by Wendy Kaminski

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #178

Today is the Friday before Christmas. This would normally be relevant news to at least one of us, because I have Fridays off and I’d have the time to shop for traditional Christmas dinner – you know: ham and turkey, side dishes, pie, the works. I may be a little late to the scene on that, but if you put off something long enough, you avoid the rush of the better-prepared, is my motto. Only, it snowed last night, and I can’t get out of the driveway now. The door of my car is frozen shut, even. Good grief… I don’t have a motto for this! W...

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“Screaming Flowers” by Wendy Kaminski

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #177

Outdoors, it is a brilliantly sunny day in May, and the sunshine forces its way indoors unbidden.Her apartment window is propped open, and a stiff breeze invades the studio, but no curtains billow: the room is empty now, its only decoration a mural of huge flowers in a riot of colors on a chipped and fading wall. She painted that mural with her own hands, but she thinks perhaps she should have put some of that effort into repainting the wall, as well. Now the too-loud colors of the flowers seem to scream at her from their deteriorating priso...

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“The Chimperer” by Wendy Kaminski

SENSITIVITY WARNING: Contains profanity, but with the gore and fecal matter, you would curse, too.Chimpanzee people are crazy. For starters, you have to be off your rocker to want an animal that will rip off your face because it’s Thursday. Did you know that a chimp can deadlift 1000+ lbs? They can easily pull any human adult male up a tree with ONE ARM while hanging onto the tree with the other. Chimps are not to be effed with, is my point here. They are scary-strong.On top of that, though, they – chimp people, that is, and to a o...

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“Monsters of New Madrid: Event 149” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #176

[The Exhort's back story can be found at https://blog.reedsy.com/short-story/rohzpj/]On shore, it looked like an enormous, dirty gray tarp, discarded and collapsed onto itself. The muddy waters of the Mississippi lapped at its edges, stiffening them in the ice-cold January current and causing steam to rise from the unholy-looking flesh. Hiding behind a nearby pier, Cole Miles -- who knew what it was -- urgently whispered to his younger brother, Jarod, “Go get Mom. Hurry!”Upon arrival, Lily Miles surveyed the detritus that had washed ashore. ...

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Author bio

What's the secret to more exposure? Get out there and show people some love! There are so many great writers on here, even the ones who don't win or get shortlisted - and so many things worth reading! Take a minute, go to "Contests" and click on the 2nd one down on the list. Check out some stories that interest you, upvote and comment. You will meet some great people and get some good feedback on your stories, as well, by making people aware that you are out there, too! Good luck! :) Bonus tip if you are new: Contests aren't won on upvotes. They're nice to have, but just keep doin' you and don't get discouraged! The judges here take the time to read and individually vote on all of the stories, regardless of likes. :) (...but if you're here to entertain, be entertained, practice your craft, and hang out with like-minded individuals... you win every week! :) ------------------------------- I'm still experimenting with different styles and themes, trying to find my niche. I realize that not everything's going to be a hit, but I appreciate your feedback, regardless! Prefer to critique in email? It's firstname.lastname@gmail. Thanks! Also: www.ToastedWry.com ------------------------------- All my stuff is © 2023 for time and all eternity or whatever usually goes here, so step offa my intellectual properties!

Shortlisted 2 stories ⭐️

Contest #178

Round the World at the Holidays – read story

Contest #177

Screaming Flowers – read story