Category: Short story

  • Last of the pre-9ers

    Last of the pre-9ers

    I didn’t want to do it, but the money they offered was good, really good. I had to think of my 34 great-great grandchildren.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Colin

    Colin

    Soon it was my turn.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • F is for

    F is for

    I can’t say how long I was in that place…View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • The Excellent Trap

    The Excellent Trap

    …there had been no career plan, just trial and error, opportunistic – sometimes desperate – leaps from rock to rock.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Navigation Aid

    Navigation Aid

    I’m going to die, and it will be a big joke.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Buzzworld-X

    Buzzworld-X

    At that moment, most of the customers believed they were about to die.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Passing Back the Wisdom

    Passing Back the Wisdom

    “Knowing what you know now, write a letter using exactly 100 words to yourself at the age of sixteen.” That might be fun, thought Nick. Surely it was only fair to give the boy the benefit of his experience?View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • 51 (extract)

    51 (extract)

    “For Ivy, the beautiful auntie we never knew. With love from Washington and Ivy.”View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • The Golden Tree of St Francis

    The Golden Tree of St Francis

    A woman was screaming.  Pitched halfway between fear and anger, loud and sustained. An adult woman, Dan thought, yet there was a note of petulance, the suggestion of a toddler tantrum.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Finish line

    Finish line

    Negative thoughts swim in.  When my Garmin reaches sixteen miles, my first thought is great, only ten more miles to go.  But no, the official marker is still point one of a mile away.  And the distance is 26.2, not 26.  Somehow that 0.3 acquires a crushing weight in my…

  • Jeremy Corbyn and the Large Flightless Bird

    Jeremy Corbyn and the Large Flightless Bird

    Amusing, no?  Well, no…View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Six Spades

    Six Spades

    Aelwyn felt the familiar tingle of anticipation as he turned over his cards, and held them close to examine them.  Not bad, there might be something on here…View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Pulled Pork Baguette with a Side of Grief

    Pulled Pork Baguette with a Side of Grief

    I floundered at the enormity and horror of what she had just told me, and feebly attempted a few words of sympathy.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • No Dragon Wood

    No Dragon Wood

    And perhaps the path through the wood once followed a regular course…View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Midnight

    Midnight

    I had to bring Emily to this place, to this beautiful place, where my mother brought me twenty-seven years ago.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • Ronald

    Ronald

    Aelwyn started it.  He won me in a New Statesman competition.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • The Restless Miller

    The Restless Miller

    I stared in disbelief and fear for some time, before I finally switched on my bedside light.  There was nothing there…View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • At Pantclyd Farm

    At Pantclyd Farm

    Thomas lay on his side, his head turned away. Richard contemplated him, His mouth was dry as he took in the strong back and the muscular brown arms.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • The Fisherman’s Girl

    The Fisherman’s Girl

    She said nothing and looked at the milk bottle.  Then gave a little shrug of acceptance, but seemed subdued while she ate her cereal. Warning: Suicide themeView post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

  • High Barnet Train

    High Barnet Train

    Kate, not usually demonstrative, broke off from planting her patch of garden, and ran to give Dad a long, slow hug.  Almost as if she knew. Warning: Suicide themeView post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.