Hailey Denevere
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Stories (5)
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Paint the Town Red
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Jack parked his truck I looked over at Samantha. “Looks like someone’s discovered our party shack.” Mike leaned forward from the back seat, “we’ve got plenty of beer.” Kya turned on a few battery-operated lanterns and passed them to her friends. She rolled her eyes, “Jack, you’ll talk to them about the candle? Those boards are over a hundred years old. If a draft blows, the whole place goes up.” Jack nodded, “I’ll take care of it.” Mike and Jack carried the cooler into the sitting room while Kya dusted off the couch. “Looks like whoever was here forgot to put it out before they left, because the place is empty. Who’s cabin is this anyway?” she asked sitting at the end of the couch. Samantha shot her a sideways glance, “it’s the old CIA safe house.” Mike saw Kya’s eyes widen in surprise. He laughed and flopped on the couch next to her opening a beer, “Gather round ladies! It’s time for Jack to tell the story of Billy the Butcher.”
By Hailey Denevere4 years ago in Horror
Char
The most iconic and ubiquitous summer food is the char seasoning a bonfire or grill lovingly imparts. The charred bits of a marshmallow, seared edges of a steak, grill marks vegetables, and the soot-smothered skin of a hot dog is a testament to summer’s unmistakable heat. Char is an acquired taste, to say the least. As a child, it was the enemy of a perfect campfire marshmallow. The bitter crumbs confirmed our shortcomings and overpowered the sweetness of melted sugar. Inevitably, a kind adult would either remove the burnt skin or eat the marshmallow raving about how much they love the burned ones.
By Hailey Denevere4 years ago in Feast
Summer's Three-Course Meal
I’ve always seen summer as a months-long feast that matured with the season. The first taste of summer was always a crisp, sun-warmed green bean. My mom’s garden held the bulk of our plants, but a green bean patch under a window was all my own. Summer after summer, the green beans would produce first. I learned planning, patience, consistency, and eventually basic math in that 1-foot by 3-foot plot. I’m not a fan of green bean casserole or steamed green beans, but the earthy texture and satisfying snap of a fresh green bean always takes me back to the first few days of summer. When I need a quick infusion of hope and promise, I put a bag of fresh green beans in my cart. With every bite, I bask in the feeling that this is the beginning of brighter carefree days ahead.
By Hailey Denevere4 years ago in Feast
The Wyvern and The Dragons
“There weren't always dragons in the Valley.” I wiped a tear from my niece Kya’s face before tucking her stuffed animal under her arm and leading her away from the pile of embers she once called home. “When we were kids, the village had a festival at least once a month. We’d go home sick from all the sweets we ate and your grandmother would have peppermint tea waiting for us."
By Hailey Denevere4 years ago in Fiction
