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Keith Menendez

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2023

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32 Stories

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Something Blue

Weekly Contest #264

Seravina Rebus posed before an ornate long mirror in the master bedroom on the villa’s first floor. The ivory Bohemian dress flowed perfectly around her athletic build. The Tasanaris had graciously allowed her to use the room to get ready. A distant church bell chimed twelve times. The ceremony would finally begin in thirty minutes. Seravina smiled as the reflection revealed two members of her new family.  Mrs. Hemingway, the groom’s adopted mother, fiddled with the final touches of Vina’s dress, while Emmy, Too...

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No Moon over Miami

Weekly Contest #260

Dean Troutman, native New Yorker, struggled to walk down a palatial residential sidewalk as the inviting Miami sunshine burned through the tall palm trees. Under the blue sky and fluffy clouds, he wiped his brow and viewed the address on his phone.The immaculate lawns, towering homes, and friendly waves from unknown neighbors, made him feel uncomfortable. He preferred Manhattan: no one made eye contact and he could hide in the shadows of the skyscrapers. He was on a mission. He had to speak to the Master about the issues in New York, and ...

7 likes

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Up to Scratch

Weekly Contest #257

Before you enter the drama department at Daniel Webster Middle, just above the door, there is a beautifully engraved wooden sign from England.  Ms. Hargreaves’ (drama teacher) prize possession reads: “All the World’s a stage, and All the men and women merely players.”  I opted out of the drama elective this year, but that quote from Willy Shakes, I read every Tuesday and Thursday morning for two years.  When I asked Ms. Hargreaves about the meaning, she smiled, and then forced us wee-fifth graders to memorize the entire speech...

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Scratch Your Back

Weekly Contest #256

I have heard people say that crying is therapeutic.  Good for your soul.  It releases endorphins or hormones to help your body cope with stress and emotions.  Part of the grieving process. Those people are morons.  For a seventh grade young man, like me, to cry in an eighth grade class even for an instant was not therapeutic.  It was not good for my soul.  The only thing it released was loud snickering by the eighth grade boys and, worse, sympathetic eyes from the eighth grade girls.  Part of the humiliatio...

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Bumps in the Mornin'

Weekly Contest #249

The cool dew saturated the entire forest as the morning fog evaporated and crept away.Ginny Mack patrolled the north woods of the Tasanari’s villa right before the spring sunrise streamed over the horizon. Her trusty rifle rested on her left shoulder and her favorite Stetson secured light brown hair. It had been two nights and three days since the newlyweds departed. Seravina and Todd , her uncle, decided to enjoy time alone on the estate, with no interference from the outside world. Vuthbert had traveled, as security, with Mario and Emmy, ...

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Not a Scratch

A polar chill ran down my seventh grade spine as Mr. Cliff, the principal of Daniel Webster Middle School, marched past me. His rank mummified breath saturated my face and infiltrated my defenseless schnoz.I once imagined evil embodied the smell of raw onions.I was dead wrong.You see my science teacher, Mr. Rattlehammer, has wicked onion breath. He eats onions like apples, especially red onions, (which are purple) and actual onion sandwiches. This year on the first day of school, he assigned not one, but two projects, due by the end of the w...

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The Fountain in the Woods

Weekly Contest #239

Three weary hikers traveled an overgrown dirt path until the birch trees fell away to an open field.  A doe and fawn jumped away due to the noisy disturbance.  In the midst of the clearing, stood an ancient stone fountain covered in dew, branches and moss.  The still blackish water in the circular basin reeked of bacteria and algae.  Early spring daffodils and tulips surrounded the structure, but thorns and thistles imprisoned them.  Tall ragweed towers overshadowed three mushroom shaped benches, each equidistant fro...

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Scratch that Itch

Weekly Contest #237

What is a kiss?  I’m not looking for a life changing answer.  I’m curious, sincerely.  It’s not like I haven’t received pecks from my family.  Mom gives me good kisses (That sounds weird).  I should be more specific.   At Daniel Webster Middle School, what is a kiss?  Putting lips on lips or lips on cheeks or other body parts. Very unsanitary.  Gross.  But at my school, if this happens between a non-family member; a girl or a boy, then it’s like the moon landing (if you believe it; I have so...

11 likes

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White As Snow

Weekly Contest #230

Mario marched to his room and stood in the doorway. Sandy followed. The ladies tiptoed down the hallway to eavesdrop. He said, “Sandy, how many closets are in this room? Now, look at the placement of the closets. Where are they?”  Sandy looked intently at the wall. “Three. One is at a forty-five degree angle on the left. The next two are parallel to each other on a flat wall.” Mario pointed. “On the right side, the wall again changes to another forty-five degree angle.” “I’m getting a headache.” Sandra complained and caressed ...

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Cupcakes by O' Scratch

Weekly Contest #228

“Hey! Thanks for making it.  Don’t you look dapper.”  A gorgeous brunette in a red trench coat called to a balding man in a wrinkled business suit.  He sat on a park bench about to read a newspaper.  He turned around looking for whom this beauty could be speaking to in the crowded food court.  She looked like a model straight out of Victoria Secrets.  He pointed to himself.  “Yes, I’m talking to you. Cliff, right? Don’t you remember me? It's me, Demona.” Cliff cleared his throat and secretly removed his ...

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Scratch Cupcakes

Weekly Contest #226

Middle school sucks! My mom told me not to use that crude word unless it was for emphasis.  It sucks hard.  I don’t know if I know what that means exactly, but things went from bad to apocalyptic since Black Friday at my school.  But you are asking, “Kids aren’t in school on Black Friday, Josh” and you would be correct. That is one reason why my story is beyond bizarre.  Hi! I’m Joshua Carpenter.  I attend Daniel Webster Middle School, in Brunswick, Connecticut, seventh grade.  Go Paladins!  I am a dece...

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Come on Down

Weekly Contest #224

Big Band music blared from the garage, as Seravina entered from the kitchen. The large circular clock on the far wall read 2:12 am. The usually organized mechanic’s paradise had car parts, wrenches, grease, oil, nuts, bolts, and an assortment of bizarre gadgets jumbled on the floor, the shelves, and the ceiling. She stepped carefully around the obstacles and spills and moved over to the mechanical beast, Tood referred to as  ‘the Chevy’ or ‘Dragon’.  The music changed to an upbeat jazz song with a female singer. The princess liste...

6 likes

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Speaking of Time

Weekly Contest #223

Mario ran through the blizzard snow, which was accumulating outside an Columbia University academic building.  He saw the blue Nissan sedan with its hazard lights flashing, which Emmy told him about minutes before.  He almost fell on some ice before he reached the door.  He opened the back door and tumbled into the seat.  EC gave him a heart-warming smile.  She wore a green toboggan and her full-length silver puffy coat. He closed the door.  “Hi!” EC said. “Hi.  Thanks for picking me up.  Right on...

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The Detective and the Deputy

Mario walked further into the organized detective’s office.  Emmy remained at the doorway.  She peered in, but made no further advance. “I don’t think I should go in there.” Emmy whispered.  A booming voice echoed behind her. “Good choice, young lady.  How may I help you?”  A startled Emmy spun and faced a tall well-built middle-aged man with slightly balding brown hair.  He was holding several files in one hand and tall a coffee mug labeled ‘Top Cop’.  He sipped his drink. “Excuse me, sir.  I was ...

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Don't Drink the Tea

Weekly Contest #221

    The former Legion captain woke up with a start. His hands were in irons as he rode on the back of Spitfire. Will led the way on his white mustang, Winter. The elf rode next to him, while Popson and Chang followed. The hooves clattered down the somber streets of Between. He stretched his sore neck and back. He gingerly touched the large bump on his forehead, which was covered in a white bandage.  "What happened? Why am I sore all over?" Popson called from behind, "You tried to ki...

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