100-Word Fiction: ‘Round the Table’

The men had gathered round a table so shiny that, had they wanted to see themselves, they would need only to have looked at its polished surface. But they didn’t. Instead they looked at each other warily. One frowned. Another blushed. Another grinned. We are not here to judge, said one: We are here toContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Round the Table’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Panda Eyes’

She had panda eyes. Huge and dark. They would twinkle when he watched her and they were mournful too. People said she was cute but he thought she was stronger, tougher than that. It was just those moments when suddenly she would lower her head and she looked like the most lost and lovely andContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Panda Eyes’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Wild’

As the leaves were ripped from the trees one wild weekend, and a paper cup scuttled down the street, and the clouds were driven by, and the concrete towered high, and the feathers of a hat were bowed, and the sound of drums echoed, and the rifles saluted, and the cannons rolled, and the crowdsContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Wild’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Berlin’

I have been to the bridge. It was like many bridges. Cars passed over it, old and new. Pedestrians shivered in the cold and made their slow way too. The city is full of gleaming skyscrapers, swish offices and red brick heritage sites. Tourists with rucksacks smile. But the bridge is an iron ghost. TheContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Berlin’”

100-Word Fiction: Quote Marks

“Let’s talk. Everyone likes to talk. We want to talk. You want to talk. We must talk. It is important to talk. We will not be being responsible if we do not talk.” “But we have made our decision. We talked amongst ourselves. You were not invited to talk, but that is not our fault.Continue reading “100-Word Fiction: Quote Marks”

100-Word Fiction: The Last Post

The old man opened the door. I’ve a parcel for you, said the post lady. Oh fantastic, said the man in a high, wheezy voice: It’s from my son. He’s away in Australia. Married. I have two granddaughters. Can you sign here, asked the post lady. Here, I’ve a pen. The old man signed: You’veContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: The Last Post”

100-Word Fiction: ‘The Bad Man’

Let the man speak, said one. No, said another. He has nothing to offer us. He should not be here. Are we afraid of him? asked another. There is nothing to be afraid of, said another. There is lots to be afraid of, shouted another. He is the one who is afraid, intoned another. HeContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Bad Man’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘It Was Inevitable’

It was just when the light was beginning to fade. He wanted a cup of tea but didn’t have the energy to make it. It felt like everything might fall apart. He wanted to hold it all together but there was nothing to grasp. In his mind, there were years and years of memories: goodContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘It Was Inevitable’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘Life and Soul’

She was laughing. She liked to laugh, to giggle. The world was a funny place. People were funny. People said she was the life and soul. She liked to dance and let her hair down. Alison said she should be a comedian on TV. She would like to be on TV. She would be goodContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Life and Soul’”

100-Word Fiction: ‘The Sky at Night’

The road was quiet and amber in the street light. She could hear the sound of violins and voices from high in one of the office blocks. Someone was playing Verdi. She looked upwards. There were no stars in the sky. Beyond the clouds would only be the vapour trails of aeroplanes streaking across theContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Sky at Night’”