100-Word Fiction: ‘Beaches’

As large and smooth as the rocks jutting through the sand, sleek and blue-black as polished granite on top; fleshy and white underneath, they were found on beaches within days of each other, their long, beakish mouths agape in now endless smiles. Seven metres nose to tail, lying inert near to the poster-paint splash ofContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Beaches’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘A Complaint About the Building of Walls’

There is no good in a wall that only divides; That only seeks to hinder and stop; That only aims to split into sides; That takes rupture and acts as a prop There is no good in a wall that feigns to protect While causing obstruction and hurt: If it camouflages the onslaughts it’s supposedContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Complaint About the Building of Walls’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Kepler 2’

I am still out there, spinning. I don’t want to shackle the sun. That desire is gone. But gravitational pull is good and every day needs lit, surely. There are smaller stars: brighter clusters of light with common origins and achievable distances. I have spotted them in the ecliptic plane. I had never seen themContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Kepler 2’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Kepler 1’

Have a drink while we spin around a star. If I am alive! You are, if not unique. Welcome, in any case. Our galaxy contains at least 2 billion planets just like Earth – and you arrive here. Where else? I put myself first. As the suns light my mornings, I like to get toContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Kepler 1’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘The Storm of St Lou’

Yeah can you get some now now Hear it comin’ yeah yeah Howlin’ howlin’ oh yeah howl howl All the way and back and down down Down the line now baby Oh come on now keep it yeah Storm is raising Storm is raising Storm is raising Can you hear it rainin’ rain rain WhistleContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Storm of St Lou’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘The Classics’

“Classics (encompassing editions available in other commercial imprints) is the branch of publishing comprising work in the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art and archaeology of the Western canon, especially as dictated by the marketing wonks of _____ PLC. Works considered for classics status originally included only those in translation, especially works from Ancient Greece andContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Classics’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘A Slow News Week’

A slow news week. A slow news week. A slow news week. A slow news week. A slow news week. Rent a smaller home. A slow news week. A slow news week. A slow news week. A slow news week. A slow news week. Wear a warmer jumper. A slow news week. A slow newsContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Slow News Week’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘A Raft for the Medusa’

A decade’s unreported anarchy brings blood and dust, charted in numberless rusted cells where violence tells and torture proves. They flee across the desert by truck, in the hands and debt of gangs, to make border disappearances. In Libya and Yemen the smuggled bodies pay for thieved papers with degraded favours. Honours are all lost.Continue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Raft for the Medusa’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Perspectives’

Daddy. Who was not where? Beards at the kitchen table. Dad. Ties styled wide to thin. A holiday in Somerset, golden evenings and tractors. A rainy motorway and shouting. Father travels first-class now. Him and Vic. Vic Benson is important. An important name. To me. I went away. So did dad. Pinstripes blurred. Dad tookContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Perspectives’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Freedom Fruit’

They lift from the hedgerow Light as cobweb and spun sugar A shroud of lace for a season’s going Displaced migrants, the bramble’s other Temporary lover: Jenny Long Legs rise in a cloud In pestilent numbers this September As hands shake the limbs of briar For black berries and rose hips On foraging trips. PeaceContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Freedom Fruit’”