Thanks for making it this far!
The story follows a group of multiversal duplicates of Kyle as they host a self-help group for other wayward Kyles. It’s dark, funny, and explores what it means to find yourself lost in a sea of sameness. How do you stand apart when everyone you know… is you?
Below is an excerpt from the short story The League of Extraordinary Kyles.
“Can we get back on subject, please?” K-963 sipped from a canteen tucked inside his hazmat suit. “I’m sick of these meetings without end.”
“Screw you, bagboy.” K-29 spat, folding one leg over the other. “We’re Kyles. We argue, get over it.”
“Stuff it, both of you.” K-22 matched K-29’s tone. “Nothing’s changed since we got here. Till today.”
“Not again…” K-203 muttered, propping himself up on the podium. “Everybody, just calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down.” K-29 shouted while rising from his chair. “Who put you in charge anyway?”
The room burst into a chaotic symphony of shouts, snide comments, and jabs about one’s mother before a loud knock came at the door. So loud that it stopped them all dead in their tracks.
A delivery driver toting a massive box rolled past the group, dropping it in the center of the room. Walking up to K-203, the driver tapped a pen against a clipboard in his hand. “Dead-Ex delivery for… Kyle?”
Exchanging nervous glances, K-22 and K-29 examined the box while K-203 read the document the driver provided. “We never order anything.”
“Look, are you Kyle or not?”
“Yes.” The room unanimously answered.
“Great. Then sign here. I don’t have all day.” The Dead-Ex delivery driver curtly replied.
“Sure, whatever, I guess.” K-203 said, signing the receipt.
Tearing off his copy, the Dead-Ex driver slapped the paper in K-203’s hand and walked off. “Thanks, bub.” “What the f…” K-998 locked eyes with the delivery driver, noticing it’s a much older Kyle in disguise, silently shushing him with a finger to his lips and a wink. His nametag read, Hello, my name is Jerry.
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© 2025 Benjamin Clay. All rights reserved. This story is for personal reading only and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used commercially without permission.
