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Ann Kilgore

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2025

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20 Stories

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The Birthday Surprise

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #343

"I wish he would stop looking at me," I quietly whispered to myself. I looked down at my hands placed in my lap. I slowly lifted my eyes, without lifting my head, to see if he was still looking at me or was I mistaken. "No, he is still looking at me with those baby blues of his," I said to no one again. I heard the footfalls of his feet coming towards me. "Maybe he is not coming towards me at all. Maybe he is going to talk to someone else in this huge ball room of people," I told myself again."Hello," he said to me as he lifted my face up so...

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The Blueberry Smudge

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #341

My 16th birthday summer was spent on the family farm. The family farm of my aunt and uncle and my crazy cousins. I loved spending the summers with those silly, funny people. There never was a dull moment to be had. This hilarious family of cousins consisted of 6 boys and 1 girl, which one would have to say, 7 boys. Fun started the moment my parents drove off down the country road in our rickety pickup truck going home leaving me with Tomi, Sam, Elmore, John, Art, Amos and Don. As soon as their disappearance at the end of the road and th...

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Walls

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #338

Standing atop her horse, Carly used the binoculars scanning ahead for a spot to stop for the night. In their estimation there was about an hour left of daylight, so they began their search for some sort of dwelling. “There seems to be something up ahead, Billie.”“Good. Get down, and let’s get going. What you see could be an hour away from here and it could be dark by the time we reach it.”Billie watched her rodeo companion and best friend scan down the road they just traveled. “They won’t be looking for us, Carly.”“Your dad may not come...

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Wrapping It Up

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #335

Standing outside Diamond World glancing at the face of my dead phone, I waited for the glass door to the jewelry store to open. Every once in a while, I would lift just my eyes and toss an occasional glance at my surroundings. It seemed like the 10:00 grand opening time was never going to happen. I walked across the hallway of the mall across from Diamond World and sat on the child’s musical horse that ate quarters to take them on a wild ride. I did not drop a quarter in its mouth but just sat patiently acting like I was reading email or ...

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The Fireflies of Freedom

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #334

“Heads up, everyone! As I have told you every day since your arrival on my plantation, the woods are off limits. Don’t even think about escaping through these woods because it will only end up in death. There are alligators, water moccasins, pariah fish in those waters and if they don’t get you MY DOGS will. We will find you and drag you back here.So, as I have told you on many, many occasions, DON’T TRY IT!” the tyrant plantation owner shouted from the back of the cotton wagon. And he had to punctuate it with a crack of his whip.I am su...

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Sweet Revenge

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #332

Everyone in the classroom stood or half-sat in our desks. We were armed with our backpacks slung over our shoulders waiting for that glorious dismissal bell to ring. At the sound, we charged the door hearing the faint voice of our teacher talking loudly at our exit, “Ya’ll have a great evening.” I heard a few voices responding with, “You, too, Mrs. Harper.” I was not one of those voices. I had a bus to catch that would take me home by 4:30 promptly or there would be hell to pay.I knew exactly how long it took for the bus to arrive at the...

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A Smile a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #330

“I am Thomas. I just want to let you know if you need help with anything, just ask. I’ll be glad to help. I have been here 25 years and on your first day, I am sure you have little butterflies in your stomach. Don’t be afraid to ask,” I said with a smile to the new young lady employee.I noticed a little nervous tick around her full lips when she entered the office and her hand shook. I wanted to ease her introverted fear as much as I could. Mr. Tooke, our boss, stood to announce Darla Crew as our new secretary/receptionist and went aro...

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Tears on the Red, White and Blue

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #326

I ran as fast as I could hoping I would outrun all the other football players to the dressing room following practice. I had learned from experience you either get in there first or last if you wanted to avoid the towel popping. Man! Towel popping could hurt. But this morning the coach kept me back for a “talking to” which caused me to come in just in time for the commotion to have already started. I could hear the laughing and hee-hawing before I even got to the doorway. Bursts of laughter could be heard throughout the dressing room. ...

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Out of the Shadow

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #325

CW: Sexual violence, Physical violence, gore or abuse Bawk, bawk, bawk, bawk. The robotic teacher was going on and on and on. I felt her beady eyes staring at me with my mouth wide open in a yawn. I was bored to tears. But then a glow glimmered around the angel who walked on air into our classroom. I imagined a halo over her blond hair as SHE timidly walked in. I remembered it like it was yesterday when in reality it was 25 years ago. Last row, last seat. My favorite place. I found they would not bully me so much if I sat back away from ever...

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Screams from the Heart

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #324

CW: Grief, implied suicide Screams from the HeartThe scream was loud, eerie and clear as a bell. I froze in my footsteps turning towards the sound of the wail I heard from over my shoulder. My knuckles were white from gripping the top of the picket fence that surrounded the little cottage. I looked up and down the beach searching for the person who let out such a hair-raising, frightful scream.“Ms. Barnes? Ms. Barnes? Won’t you come inside?” the real estate lady called out.I glanced down the beach one more time before turning to greet Mrs. S...

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The Secret Behind the Door

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #322

“I will go and find him, Sis. Just stay here and entertain everyone. It won’t be long. He couldn’t have gone far,” she giggled as she turned to leave to look for her brother-in-law.“Tell him we are about to cut the cake,” Polly said with a big smile and waved the cutting knife meaning for her sister to hurry along.Janet left the kitchen where everyone was standing waiting for the guest of honor to appear to help his wife, her sister, cut their 15 year anniversary cake.“Where in the heck did he disappear to?” she angrily muttered to hersel...

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Unforeseen

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #321

CW: Includes themes of psychological and physical distress A cool breeze welcomed me as I stepped outside of the mine. I wrapped my arms around my shoulders wishing I had my buffalo coat. The mountain air had a peaceful feeling about it. I could smell just a hint of the nasty odor of death from inside the mine behind me. I looked up at the sky and breathed deeply through my nose holding in a crisp breath of sweet air. Watching the leaves dance from a gentle breeze made me sway. The ground was covered with green grass and wildflowers of all c...

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Hollow Inside and Out

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #320

It would be 7:00 p.m. in about two hours, and if the weather held up, Jen and I would arrive in Denver. However, the snow was accumulating on the hood of the truck and my anxiety was building. Blurred lights ahead led us to a service station. We pulled in early for gas and food. Jen was driving as she said she had experience pulling a horse trailer carrying horses. Not only did I not have that kind of experience, I also had no idea how to drive in snow.I covered Abby, Jen’s baby, with a heavy blanket, grabbed my purse and stepped out of the ...

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And The Winner Is.....

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #318

Flying, pushing and elbowing their way around in the crowded dressing room the beauty contestants searched for a place to land. Hoping to claim a vacant styling chair took the skill of an acrobat. I managed to get to the chair first. But out of the blue, I was pushed by someone causing me to fall hitting my chin on the arm. However, Carrie jumped in it before Miss Bandera got her leg draped over the back of the chair.“Girls, we have 30 minutes till curtain call. So pull it together PDQ. The pageant manager shouted above the chatter of th...

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Resembling the Past

Ann Kilgore

Weekly Contest #317

He limped back to his seat to the back of the train, when a vision caused him to stop in his tracks. Stopping too quickly to check his thoughts on the vision, he stumbled onto the lady in her seat. Pushing him off her, she grumbled, “Get off me, you oaf! What is the matter with you?” she queried.“I am so sorry, mam. I thought I saw something out your window that shocked me, and I stopped suddenly to get a second look. The train rattled and shook as I leaned over for a closer look and I accidentally fell. I am so sorry,” he explained as he tr...

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