A hot bath can do strange things, no joke. There I was, straight into the steam with a book on the side to read. And then thoughts, good and bad. A solitary drip from the sink tap. Outside everything frozen up; trains and planes cancelled. Life’s long waiting game. There was a beep from myContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Red Hope’”
Tag Archives: 100
100-Word Fiction: ‘Horses’
Horses, statuesque and all in line. Black coats, chestnut and white. Lush manes and tails. Snorting horses standing tall. A sight to behold. A historical site. Black riders, yellow vests, black helmets. Fluorescent yellow. A bright flash across a grey street, the muddle of a crowded square, seen from a helicopter, a camera on aContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Horses’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Goldilocks’
On account of his hair, they called him Goldilocks. He did like porridge too and sometimes had it for breakfast, sat at his desk, checking his emails. He worked quietly, slotting CDs into the disk drive and humming along to songs by Lady Gaga – his favourite! It took his mind off the wretchedness ofContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Goldilocks’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘1981’
That summer, cauliflowers and cabbages landed in our garden, gifts from next door’s vegetable patch. Maybe we played army in the fields. Post-Lennon, pre-Falklands, before the first CDs, just after the Toxteth riots and ahead of Sadat’s assassination. Retro styling meant Shakin’ Stevens and the future was the Commodore 64. There were street parties whileContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘1981’”
100 Word Fiction: ‘…because we never learn…’
Every year they are sent out and cheered on… leaves fall to the ground… across the grey pavements strewn… the news bulletins roll and call… civilians giving money to young men and women in combat fatigues… There are dates… 11/11… 9/11… 7/7… 11/11… 11/11… and onwards… to the cenotaphs and the white halls and houses…Continue reading “100 Word Fiction: ‘…because we never learn…’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Leafspotting’
The warden picked up a leaf. It was perfectly orange but it wasn’t the right one. He looked around, across the park to the woods. The landscape was shades of amber and red. He picked up another leaf. No, perhaps not that one either. He walked down the path and picked up another. Not bad,Continue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Leafspotting’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘A Family’
Did I even wear spectacles when I began all this? My hair was thicker, definitely: brown, remember? Now it is thinned and grey. It needs to be cropped short. I was slim then too, though I didn’t think so at the time. Out of shape is what I said. I looked at myself; looked atContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Family’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘A Sense of Light’
I woke from a sleep that was dominated by nightmares; or, at least, I began to wake. I think I did. The images of a sleep’s horror were still a storm in my mind, dark thoughts dissolved in the tears that drenched my closed eyes. There, waiting, eyes closed, almost too painful to look. AlmostContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘A Sense of Light’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Vipera Berus’
There is a way to construct a speech – to put words together, to make people smile or clap or think you’ve said something new or important. You get taught it at management seminars. You just use the same words everyone uses. Swap them around a bit. Don’t worry. Look confident. Don’t take risks. It’sContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Vipera Berus’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Your Arms Around Me’
To have your arms around me again. Your arm around my shoulders, resting there a moment. So many things come to mind. The times we have embraced and all of the reasons. Yes, love. Of course, love. We do love. That arm of support. The arm that draws me near, into your reach, to yourContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Your Arms Around Me’”
MW Bewick 