It was the week she discovered Bob Kaufman and read a poem of his (now forgotten) while the rain streaked across the window of her suburban flat. It was the week the cancer first looked ineluctably fatal. The news streamed in dolefully: news of supporters and opponents, the disaffected and the quietly optimistic, as ifContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Cancer Party’”
Tag Archives: election
100-Word Fiction: ‘The Captain’
“The wee fat man: the Mittel-European; the guy with the cheeky smile; the captain of the ship; the Boss. He’s the one you want. But you’re starting from the wrong place. You are at the door of his castle, but you can’t enter. You must speak with his agents. His agents are not here. IContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Captain’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Stasis’
There will be no clichés. No morning light, no birds singing, no greening of the year. This is no bildungsroman. We learn nothing. We will repeat the same mistakes because we have the same hopes and the same fears and we continue to lack the facility to contend. We are compromised by ourselves and othersContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Stasis’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Down the Lonning’
– What are the white flowers in the grass? – Cow parsley, said John. – No, no, Alex starkly corrected him: it’s Queen Anne’s Lace. She held his stare. He turned around and started down the lonning. – Maybe May flower, something, he said. – What was that? – Nothing. Nothing. Jack ran up toContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Down the Lonning’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘The Elected Time of Year’
I can’t explain it in any other terms, she said, waving her hands in front of her and gesturing at the trees. I can’t read the papers any more. I can’t watch TV. I know what’s coming. It’s like this every time. Whoever wins out, it will be the same. We’ve still a month toContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Elected Time of Year’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘The Populist Trick’
In a pub, the winner of a popularity contest, as captured in a reporter’s photograph, balances an empty pint glass on his head and grins a rubbery wet slop of a grin. In the background, unwitting members of the public, alongside some of the man’s friends, are also grinning. Their mirth has been caused byContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Populist Trick’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘David Cameron is Out To Lunch’
No comment. A statement will be issued in due course. First things first, what you need to understand… It is not our place. All in good time. We should not jump to any conclusions. Of course these issues are a priority. Our work does not stop. We cannot pre-judge the matter. There is no pointContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘David Cameron is Out To Lunch’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘6 May 2010’
A light aircraft just dropped out of the sky, enmeshed, literally, in its own trail of propaganda. Over our own heads are helicopters and, down in the square below, hundreds of office workers have congregated for a fire drill. We are booking my birthday meal and discussing people’s relationships: how friends are feeling; what mightContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘6 May 2010’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Captain’
You’ll be the away team captain this week, the teacher shouted. Nick stepped out of the line-up and turned to face the other boys. He started to shake. Choose goalies first, then a good striker, then a midfielder – defenders last. Finally only two boys remained to be picked. One was a big scowling ladContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Captain’”
MW Bewick 