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Renee Yancey

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2023

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69 Stories

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Stray Dogs Don't Get Baths

“You are blessed,” my mistress says to me, “stray dogs don't get baths. No one cares enough for them.” I don't feel blessed as I am carried to the water place. I knew as soon as she picked up the water carrying away cloth that this horrible bath thing was going to happen. Now she pours the water over me, getting me wet and taking away the natural scent I have been working on for a week now. She is my mistress, my world so I won't bite her. Never! Anyone who tries to harm her will feel my teeth, never her though, no matter who many baths I ...

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A Stolen Book

She frowns as she searches, once again for it. It should be right here among the mystery books. She knows no one has purchased it. This particular book, were it to be bought, the sheriff would have to be notified. No ordinary book was this for it told the story of a killer. Ten years ago around the time she opened her little book store, a young boy was found raped and strangled behind the boiling alley. In this small town such things didn't happen. The last murder had been almost thirty years prior, a domestic violence situation that got ou...

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Dark into Light

It was endless. The dark is as oppressive as the feelings going through her. She never expected this, no, not like this. A horrible slow death from cancer, yes. Time to say goodbye. But never this. A sudden stroke that took her mom away from her as quickly as the phone call that had informed her. The ICU waiting room is full of relatives who wait as anxiously as she does. Above them all is the ever present TV, even in death watch, you can't escape it. Tuned to one of the many shopping channels, its forced cheer is a stark contrast to the vi...

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Yard Sale

It was just something to do on a Saturday morning. The sun is shining, not too hot, the wind is blowing just enough to keep the sweat off. A perfect day to wander through yards looking through other people's junk in search of treasure. She didn't expect to find anything. Not really. Maybe a new to her coffee mug, a pretty picture to hang in her new apartment. That is the reason she is taking her precious Saturday to go yard saleing. Having recently moved out of her parents house after graduating from college, she has the bare bones of a home...

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Nightmares

July 1st It happened again. I was back in high school. Goodness, that would be enough! But no, my subconscious offered more. Thanks for that. I was wandering around, moving through room to room, searching. Completely lost. Absolutely horrible. Yeah, I woke up gasping for breath. Took more than a minute to understand that I was not in high school, not lost and was, in fact, at home, in bed, almost forty years past high school age. July 2nd Seriously! I am not watching anything to even deal with high school yet, once again, I had another night...

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Lost ( from hell)

It took me a few seconds to realize I was utterly and completely lost. My eyes scan the street, searching for anything that looks familiar. My heart starts to pound when I realize that not a thing does. A sick feeling draws my stomach up into a tight ball. I feel sweat cover my brow despite the cool evening air. I have been just walking, trying to work out the situation with him. Whether we stay together, if I can trust him after what he did. Walking helps to settle my mind but now I have walked too far. The issue of his cheating falls way t...

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What you Know

“Write what you know?” She studies us, her wide eyed and eager students, “Old advice and advice only for new writers, like yourselves. Think about it, if you continue to write only what you know as you develop skills, you will quickly run out of ideas. But now… for this first assignment, I what you to write what you know.” Even though I am working on a nursing degree, this creative writing class is my favorite of the semester. Maybe it should have been a sign. At the time I thought it was just a way to relax after the more intense classes. T...

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Just a Story

“It isn't my fault,” her laughter has an hysterical bent to it, “it was just a story that had to be told. How was I too know it would do all this?” Her hands fist on the table causing the handcuffs to rattle. Her eyes look past the grey walls and the officers sitting in a semicircle on the other side of her. “I think you better start at the beginning.” The lead detective says. Her unfocused eyes blink a few times in rapid succession before turning to him. “The beginning? That is easy. It started with the story idea. It woke me up at midnigh...

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The One

The Secretary of Health.” He frowns. “Beth Harper?” “Yes, why? It is just a precaution. Some in the line has to sit it out. That's all.” “I know,” He drops into the seat in front of the desk, “ is the country ready for a female president?” His boss laughs. “Yes. Besides that, if she becomes that, the country will have a bigger problem than her gender.” “A very good point.” She sits in her office, signing papers when the President walks in. Startled, she jumps up. “Good evening sir.” “Relax Beth. Please have a seat.” she sits back down. ...

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Childhood

Fresh cut grass. Popsicles melting on hands. The taste of slightly warm water from the garden hose. Hot pavement under feet before a quick jump into a pool instantly cools them. New jeans and t-shirts and sweaters as the days get shorter and cooler. Brand new trapper keepers full of college lined crisp paper. Freshly sharpened number 2 pencils. Sneakers that have to be broken in. Beans and hammocks simmering on the wood stove. Mittens, hats, and scarfs dying beside them. Snow melting on the floor. Hands warmed by homemade coco and the heat...

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Therapy Session

What I did, how can I ever get forgiveness for that? You say it is easy, just ask for it. Hah! You don't understand. If it was just me then… It wasn't, err isn't. If it was just me, then well… but it wasn't. Don't you understand. No, you can't. You would have never. No one decent would have. I know, I know. I can't be held responsible for what I did before I knew, and understand my own childhood issues. It is easy enough to understand intellectually. But… My heart knows better. The deepest part of me understands that I should have known. I ...

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Just Three Minutes

“How long?” She sighs as she answers him once again. It is the third time he has asked since she brought the test in here to her bathroom. “Three minutes,” at his groan she adds, “Hey it used to be a lot longer. Mom said it took ten minutes to find out I was on the way.” She meant to be flippant, to change the tense atmosphere of the room. “Good Lord!” He sputters out as he starts pacing around the confines of the bathroom. There isn't a lot of space to walk. Between the bathtub, toilet, and sink, as well as the stand alone shelving, he can ...

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Stray

She sits still, hoping not to be seen just as she is desperate to be. Where her person has gone, she can't know. All she knows is she is gone. Now she sits amongst the trash, as thrown away as the rubbish that surrounds her. All she has known is deprivation. The adult that was with her has moved her from place to place, providing enough substance to survive but not thrive. Still, her presence was safe, her version of a lovey. Without her, she feels completely lost. Her knees shield her chest, protecting her like a prey animal protects its th...

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Fate

Weekly Contest #289

It was to be a quick trip before she starts her career. She recently graduated from college with a degree in finance and will be starting a job with a major bank in a month. Before the pressure of starting her life as a real adult, this trip, camping for a week in her favorite spot, all alone, will allow her to rest and renew. That is the plan. She parks her Chevy in the parking lot at the start of the trail. Opening the trunk, she lifts out her pack. It is heavy, filled with all she needs for the week. Camping pans and a stove, a sleeping b...

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Tea with Mom

There are many things she misses, many things she would love to have back again. One of the ones that presses on her heart most, is a simple cup of tea. Her mom took it as God made it, without sweetener. You knew the cup she used most because it was constantly stained with tea. No matter how much they washed it, it would never come fully clean. Now that all her cups are free of stains, she would give almost anything to see a tea stain again. They would sit at the dining room table, a jigsaw puzzle between them, hot tea within arms reach and ...

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