It is boat season and migrating humans attempt more perilous journeys across the Mediterranean. Europe is a dream but not always a destiny. Paper-sketched holding centres are a plan for refugees: some sand-blown pop-ups in north Africa and the Middle East – not a solution, just a siesta for peace. News from the front lineContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Composition at a Toumani and Sidiki Diabate Concert’”
Tag Archives: short
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: ‘The Cottage’
Can you see it? asked James. Corrina was squinting into the May sunlight. It was somewhere over there but I can’t make it out exactly. But the cottage was around here? Here? Somewhere over there, near the horizon, past the trees, where it’s all blue with the distance and haze. We could drive around theContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Cottage’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘Clouded Out’
A broad-brimmed black felt hat lies on the tracks below the bridge that crosses the railway line on Shoreditch High Street. They sip sweet creamy coffee, shuffle and talk of failed interviews and jobs that didn’t work out. A man by the Tube shouts ‘Freedom out!’ or perhaps ‘Free Time Out!’ They add a pre-meetingContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘Clouded Out’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘720 Sentences’
07:20 is the time he leaves the house, pulls on his coat, blows a kiss, says goodbye, gets embraced, steps onto the concrete, breathes the air, checks his pockets, flicks his hair, buttons his coat, checks his phone, walks down the street for the last time. 07:20 is the time she closes the door, waitsContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘720 Sentences’”
100-Word Fiction: ’18 Sackings’
The man who did too little. The man who did too much. The woman left in the frame. The woman who ducked the issue. The man who spoke too late. The man who spoke too soon. The woman with the loudest voice. The women you never heard. The man who no one liked. The manContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ’18 Sackings’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘The Red Dust’
The red dust came from desert skies sanded the paper and screens of the press caught in the eyes of conspiracy freaks piled up the stress of Western dreams grazed the feet of measured prose stormed the sounds of drum and song covered the rows of memorial crosses and all their long-remembered losses tickled theContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Red Dust’”
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: ‘The Silence of the Sea’
No matter how hard I search, the internet will not uncloud my memory. How many secrets are trapped there, out of reach? I have been searching for a specific edition of a small and rather famous book by the French resistance writer, Vercors. In my mind its cover is blue, but nothing I find confirmsContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Silence of the Sea’”
100-Word Fiction: ‘The Old Woman and the Bear’
The bear wandered far and wide until it came to the hut of an old woman, which was raised off the ground by a single chicken claw. The old woman hit the bear about its head then bade it sleep. The next day an eagle descended and the bear tore it apart. The old womanContinue reading “100-Word Fiction: ‘The Old Woman and the Bear’”
MW Bewick 