100-Word Fiction: ‘Faces and Names’

To S___ on High Street it would be the time when the names were erased. She counted them up, window-shopping in the spring sun. The names that were now gone, in such a brief spell of time. Sam T and Granny F. Uncle, suddenly. The fit guy in the year above. And now they disappearedContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Faces and Names’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘In the Night’

I waded to the middle of the river and was swept along, searching, searching. I was high in the air but tumbling downward trying to catch you. I stared at the screen until my eyes were dry and sore. I ran down the street pushing past shoppers, over and over. I shouted, screamed, shouted. IContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘In the Night’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘You Inspire Me So Much, And You Make Me Want To Just Take Everything And, Y’Know…’

Must work harder be better see clearer longer straighter closer must be fairer cooler more even leaner stronger fitter must take more time drink less tea and beer or more tea and must be more sociable and read more read quicker think smarter think deeper have ideas react better don’t worry so much just doContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘You Inspire Me So Much, And You Make Me Want To Just Take Everything And, Y’Know…’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Some of us woke’

It was meant to be a different story but the call came late, at 21:51. Fifty-nine children had been shot or burned to death by a terrorist group in Nigeria. The words on the wire… bodies… ashes… discovered… bullet wounds… students… more than 300 this month. In Venice it was carnival. In New York photographersContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Some of us woke’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘A Thesis’

His thesis, written in the 1960s, argued that any embodiment of the word ‘refugee’ struck terror into human hearts and minds. Whether a refugee fled persecution on account of race, religion, nationality or political opinion did not matter. To understand the predicament, examples of geography could be avoided: in fact, any person who sought refugeContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Thesis’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘If Just Once Those Birds’

If just once those birds That scatter snow from the tall tree – Its branches shaken from white to green By whirled circles on the wing – Would cross to us and feed If just once those birds Would cease from flailing And flashing their colours To the phosphorescent sky And be still If justContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘If Just Once Those Birds’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Those Pathways’

Kirsty was very tiny and those paths were wide and sometimes she would feel scared but then she would have her dinner and feel full and forget. And soon she was growing and the paths were all thick with flowers and weeds and then some of the paths she couldn’t see so well. And thenContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Those Pathways’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Driftwood’

The boy’s thoughts were taken with a small piece of driftwood lying on the pebbles. A line of seaweed marked where the tide had reached earlier that morning. He stepped across it and picked up the piece of wood. It looked like an antler, but bone white, smoothed and polished by the sea and sandContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Driftwood’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘A Week In the Sun’

Sunshine. I could cry when I think about it. In January, when the rain teems down and those mornings are so dark, I want sunshine, no less. Have you got any holidays planned? asks a colleague. To know that you deserve a break, a week or two in the sun. How long to go? MaybeContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Week In the Sun’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘He Walked Away’

As he walked away from the football fields he heard a cheer. One of the kids must have scored. He looked at the time on his phone: it was fine, he’d be in the pub in twenty. Sometimes he wondered whether his own boy liked playing football. How old would he be now? Nine, maybeContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘He Walked Away’”