She stares at us, her anxious family, impassive and unblinking. After a long silence she tuts and fluffs her salt and pepper feathers, settling them over her stout body like a thick musty shawl. She shuffles her scaly feet and flexes her blackened talons. We shiver as she shreds the old newspapers that line […]
Competition Twenty Highly Commended: My mother has become an owl Read More »
When Action Man used to fight Sindy it would always end in tears, usually Action Man’s. Sindy played dirty and would use her superior strength to throw him across the room. I made every month of my leverage count. We’d line up the farm animals in order of ferocity. I made you believe
Competition Ten Shortlisted: Sindy fights dirty Read More »
Ruth checked her watch and chewed the inside of her mouth. The train was late. A bored voice announced a five minute delay. She started tapping her foot and stared unseeingly at the opposite platform. Her blank gaze snagged on a dark haired child holding tight to a woman’s hand. The girl appeared to be
If I’d known it was going to kill him, I’d never have done it. I loved him, everyone knew that. We’d been together ten years and were still pulling in the crowds. The Flying O’Farrells. Yes, it was new; we had to keep innovating to stay ahead of the competition. That was where Dolores came
Breathtaking – For One Night Only Read More »
Dad disappeared when I was eight. Not in a puff of smoke. He was just no longer there. Not in the house, not in the garden (I looked) and definitely not in Mum’s bed. When I sat down to tea that Sunday I asked where he was, expecting an easy answer. Instead I felt
