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Catherine McKenzie

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2025

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18 Followers
7 Following

21 Stories

336 karma pts

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External Dementia

Weekly Contest #345

It started with a dream.I had that feeling you get when a dream stays with and lingers for a while after you begin your day. It’s both cozy and eerie and reminiscent of that déjà vu feeling. But if it started as a dream, it ended up a nightmare.That first morning I started the coffeemaker before showering. My partner usually gets up after me and makes us both breakfast, and then I pack us both lunch. It’s been our system for a couple of years. But that morning, I walked into the kitchen to find my girlfriend eating alone.“Hey, where’s breakf...

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The Wrong Head Tumbled

Weekly Contest #344

As she kneeled there, the image of the Red Queen shouting “Off with her head!” flashed through her mind. She was mildly disappointed that her life didn’t flash in front of her eyes, but considering the circumstances, she didn’t feel right being too disappointed. It started a couple weeks ago when Marta got into an argument with her best friend over the most idioctic reason. Her parents expressed their disappointment to her for changing her major from pre-med to art in her senior year of college. Jackie had always been her biggest supporter ...

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Dahlia's Revenge

Weekly Contest #303

It had all become too much.Mrs. Rod was known for having good rapport with her teenage students. She balanced the pressures of classroom teaching with the ever-increasing policies from an inept administration and school board that consistently piled on more work without taking anything away. She never took out her stress on the children in her classroom and gave them frequent redirections to correct their behavior before relying on help outside of the classroom from parents and principals and security. Her kids tried to live up to her expect...

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Magda's Revenge

Weekly Contest #303

Chloe just wanted a cute picture for her profile. She asked AI to whiten her teeth, tone her arms, and even out her tan. The picture it produced looked almost like her but not quite right. It was a little creepy and seemed to be smiling at her. She showed her friends and laughed it off then forgot about it.Magda didn’t. She was surfing the veil when she felt a thin part and passed through right into the image of Chloe’s creepy doppelganger. It came equipped with Chloe’s memories and knowledge.“Lovely,” Magda said, smiling.***Chloe had a roug...

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L@$t

Jody was known for letting her friends down. She had decided that she was going to return her library books on time for once. The night before she had set them on the floor in front of the door, so that when she opened the door they would fall on her feet. She tried hanging her bookbag on the handle, but she just walked out without them. Well, today it worked. She put the books in her basket and started pedaling the few blocks to the library. It was a lovely spring day. The kind that makes you forget about how awful the weather can be. No ...

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Poor Marvin

Weekly Contest #302

Mable was murdered on accident. If you can plan a murder where everything went wrong, you’d end up with her death. Marvin and Hazel had a whirlwind romance and eloped in Vegas to the surprise of everyone they knew. People misinterpreted Hazel to be cold and calculating, but she was just one of those people who relies heavily on logic and reason instead of emotion. For her to suddenly get married with no planning shocked those who knew her. Marvin is a super sweet guy known to be a player. He never meant to be. Women are drawn to him for how ...

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ADHD Arranges an Amazing Day

Weekly Contest #301

Jody was known for letting her friends down. She had decided that she was going to return her library books on time for once. The night before she had set them on the floor in front of the door, so that when she opened the door they would fall on her feet. She tried hanging her bookbag on the handle, but she just walked out without them. Well, today it worked. She put the books in her basket and started pedaling the few blocks to the library. It was a lovely spring day. The kind that makes you forget about how awful the weather can be. No cl...

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Gone Viral

Weekly Contest #298

Phyllis had gone viral. She hadn’t wanted to and was rather embarrassed by it all. In grade school, she wanted a skateboard. Her parents refused for various reasons, but the two that stuck out stuck with her the most. First, they were for boys. Her counterargument was that all of her friends had one and they skateboarded around the neighborhood without her. Second, her brother had one that he barely used anymore and she could use his. That didn’t go over well–just like with the Legos.Phyllis had asked for Legos a couple of years before. Her ...

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Dare to Unravel the Universe

Weekly Contest #297

Nikki feels the familiar pull of her night fading as the first fingers of color paint the horizon. Fear and excitement intermingle as she anticipates this meeting. She chooses to gaze at the remaining twinkles of stars instead of the sunrise as a last attempt to hold on to the night. The ocean breeze brings the scent of decaying seaweed and salty brine. Like the emotions swirling inside her, the good mixes with the bad. When Rory arrives she plans to voice her anxiety about how she needs to change but fears the repercussions. If Rory can’t a...

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An Unrequited Moment

Weekly Contest #297

Today was the day. She had stayed up late making that decision and planning it out. When the bell rang to signal the end of 4th period, she ran out of the door first and headed to the commons so she could look like she was standing there nonchalantly. Carmen at first half-leaned on a table but felt awkward so she shifted to stand with hands on her hips. That felt more natural, so she relaxed.As her eyes scanned the area that was filling up with students, her eyes linked with Mrs. Withers, the old librarian across the way. They were very fami...

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10:45 am or The Time that Thing I feared to Happen Finally Happened

Weekly Contest #297

I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s every teacher’s biggest fear…well, after school shootings and such. For 21 years, I managed to avoid it though I knew it was only a matter of time. What are the odds that it never happened? There had been a couple of close calls, but each time a student had covered for me. For that, I will forever be grateful.I was thirty when I started teaching. Older than most new teachers but still youngish and fresh. I was much more slender and cared more about my appearance. I wore makeup daily and would’ve bee...

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Alice in Dairy Queen

Weekly Contest #296

Alice was excited to attend her first wedding. Her parents eloped when she was twelve and most of her relatives didn’t bother getting married at all. She had been working at the Dairy Queen since halfway through her senior year, and now at 19, her assistant manager invited all staff to her ceremony and reception at the VFW hall where she had attended bingo with friends a few times. The invitation suggested a formal or semi-formal dress code, and the couple preferred light colors. Perfect! She had wanted a chance to wear her prom gown again. ...

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Oops! I did it for real!

Weekly Contest #295

Lucy had always had vivid dreams, but incredibly more so since starting her new anti-anxiety meds. The first night she dreamed she was in the grocery store inspecting a carton of eggs for cracks. It was such a mundane subject, yet she felt so amazing checking those eggs. It was as if a cozy, warm light was filling her with euphoria as she turned each egg looking for a flaw. She woke up feeling great, but when she told her colleagues about her fantastic dream, she realized it was actually quite dull with no elements of fantasy. Not so fantast...

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Who's Really in the Casket?

Weekly Contest #295

“Has anyone seen Paula?”“It’s a closed casket, ma’am,” someone responded.“I know,” said Jane. “I mean before. When was the last time anyone saw her?” The small group gathered for the wake, which had been reported to be a private viewing, discussed this topic amongst themselves. Paula had left to travel for her gap year three years ago. She wanted to ski at places around the world. Occasionally, she would flit through town to visit but was always on her way to somewhere else. The odd thing is that she grew up and foster care and had no money....

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The Unnatural Paper

Weekly Contest #295

Clara couldn’t recall who gave her this stationery. She vaguely recalled some preadolescent birthday dinner with elderly family members she hadn’t met before. They were in town for the funeral of some great uncle she had also never met, and her birthday dinner coincided with their travel plans. Of course, Mom invited everyone. The worst part was that, due to their various dietary restrictions, they could no longer dine at the Cajun seafood restaurant she had selected and had to instead go to a rather bland buffet place. The dinner bill was s...

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