Johnny’s high-pitched wail rang out in the confined space of the car. Maria turned round and reached over to the back seat, picked up the dummy and popped it back into Tommy’s mouth, who immediately stopped crying. ‘Remind me again why that man is coming with us?’ Richard asked as he flicked on the indicator … Continue reading Two’s Company…
Month: July 2020
Pieces
Leah lent back against the illuminated plastic billboard of the bus stop. The heat of the light made her shift around as Jason towered over her. Jason’s eyebrows were drawn in and his lips were thin, ‘I saw you together. I saw you. You can’t deny it’, he shouted. Leah pressed herself into the plastic … Continue reading Pieces
Birdsong
Robert Stroud a.k.a The Birdman of Alcatraz - did you ever wonder why he caught that first bird? Why he risked punishment and solitary to breed them? It wasn’t because he was lonely, it wasn’t that he was bored, it was because of the silence. Alcatraz was a dead zone for birds, no scraps, no … Continue reading Birdsong
Chamber
Muir crouched down behind the ragged concrete wall; the decimated tower block looming behind him. The single bullet in the chamber tore at his heart as he watched his son laying in the road. The child’s cries of pain rang out in the silent night of the empty city. His torn and bloodied clothes where … Continue reading Chamber
Faded Light
Henry sat on the bench overlooking the bay; the seat beneath him was warm, but either side water saturated the wood. As he saw the wreckage of American Airlines flight A728 sink into the bay, an unnerving calm fell over him. On the road below, the blue and red emergency lights reached through the mist … Continue reading Faded Light
Beware the Glistening Snow
Beware the glistening snow; for under foot, cacti lie. The gentle slopes of white, where once were ravaged peaks. The treacherous fields of ice, where once were endless valleys. Beware the friendly stranger, grown cunning in times of need. Their hound is not for patting, their food is not for sharing. A kindly face is … Continue reading Beware the Glistening Snow
Fences
It was a quiet neighbourhood, not idyllic or well to do, but quiet. We knew a couple of neighbours and like a daisy chain, that continued all the way down until a community was formed. They were rows of semi-detached houses, far enough apart that it felt like you had one proper neighbour and then … Continue reading Fences
The Falls
Tom and Jess sat on the grass watching the crowds of people walk passed the No Swimming sign. Their towels peaked out of their bag, signally their intentions to all those that were paying attention. The groups of tourists snapped photos of the waterfalls as they tumbled off the cliffs and into the exquisite turquoise … Continue reading The Falls
Spelling Bee
I was in the back seat of a car with my mum, two men were in the front. We were close to home, but not going home. We were playing a game - just me spelling out words they gave me. My mum was proud of my spelling, I was on the black label books … Continue reading Spelling Bee
Picnic
Rosa bounced around in the baby carrier on Stan’s back, who strode down the country path. She spotted a low hanging branch up ahead and reached out for one of the leaves. Stan swatted away a fly from his face, thus turning the carrier and diverting Rosa at the last minute. As the leaf passed … Continue reading Picnic
