All Stories, General Fiction, Story of the Week

Elsa by Tobias Haglund

DSC_0592

There’s a temperature – not too warm, not too cold, just right – where I am caught for hours. Thousands of tiny water drops form like islands in an ocean upon the inner wall of the shower stall. Streams run down, connecting the islands and growing bigger to eventually drop to the puddle at my feet. As the water hits my forehead, eyelids and cheeks a comfort settles, knowing no matter how long I stand here, the water won’t stop. Sooner or later all of the thousand islands will be connected and new ones will form. The streams reaching my feet will not stop streaming and the flow will keep wrinkling my hands. I lean left and the shower hits my shoulder creating a waterfall.

Continue reading “Elsa by Tobias Haglund”

All Stories, General Fiction

True by Des Kelly

DSC_0592

I wrote poetry for an illiterate. She was pretty. We made bad love in a goodly way. She wanted to live in a doll’s house near nesting swans. Furiously describing anxiety, panic attacks. I saw her through the night, but days went badly. Trauma for effect; the actress at her art. Drinking water from zippy bottles, dropped out the window when used up. The landlord never understood.

“You creeps gotta get out.”

Continue reading “True by Des Kelly”

All Stories, General Fiction

For The Best by Hugh Cron – Adult content

DSC_0592

 

Minutes of Meeting dated 05.11.13. 15.30pm

Those Present:

Jane McGuire – Unit Manager

Claire Green – Assistant Unit Manager

Andrew Reid – Nurse In Charge

Peter Welsh – Health Care Assistant

Mandy Fraser – Health Care Assistant

Jean Duncan – Clerical Assistant (Taking Minutes)

Continue reading “For The Best by Hugh Cron – Adult content”

All Stories, General Fiction, Story of the Week

The Gully by Richard Ardus

DSC_0592

Put yourself in my position. You can’t stop thinking about something that happened here years ago, when you were just a child.

Three boys wake up one morning. Three beds vacated eagerly.

You remember the incident but never really knew the details. Not knowing means your thoughts are just looping around uselessly.

Continue reading “The Gully by Richard Ardus”

All Stories, General Fiction

Mercy by Diane M Dickson

DSC_0592

Phillipa had always known that she would be a nurse. The admission tests for University were easy because she was confident, no panic or night-time angst for Phillipa. She was born to be a nurse.

The University was attached to a teaching hospital with a world-renowned reputation. It would look great on her CV as she climbed the career ladder. She was a little regretful that they weren’t required to wear caps, crisp white aprons with scissor chain attached and black tights, but she made a supreme effort with the trouser uniform and always appeared smart, clean, fragrant and fresh.

At last, at the end of the Preceptorship, which of course she had zipped through in the shortest time possible, Phillipa felt that she was at last truly “Nursing” and was joyfully taking her turn at being “Nurse in Charge”.

Continue reading “Mercy by Diane M Dickson”

All Stories, General Fiction

Everything Happens For A Reason by Adam West

DSC_0592

“Everything happens for a reason, Josie, is the lamest philosophy – if you can actually call it a philosophy – I ever heard.”

“I’m sorry, I– ”

“–Why do you say such things?”

“I don’t know, Steve. I thought that–”

“–You don’t think Josie. You just repeat stuff other people say. Usually stupid people.”

“That’s a bit strong, Steve, isn’t it?”

Continue reading “Everything Happens For A Reason by Adam West”

All Stories, General Fiction, Story of the Week

Season’s Greetings by Tobias Haglund

DSC_0592

Simon sat at his desk. His boss Michael walked in.

”It’s approaching the holidays.”

”You mean Christmas?”

“No, we can’t say that.”

“Because we don’t want to offend other religions?”

“We don’t want to offend large groups of consumers, yes.”

Continue reading “Season’s Greetings by Tobias Haglund”

All Stories, General Fiction

The Lady in the Bauble by James McEwan.

DSC_0592

It’s bedtime now. Santa will only come after you have gone to sleep.

‘Oh Grandpa, tell us a story.’

Only if you both stay still, no jumping around. Come on now, settle under the blankets and listen. Let me tell you about Grandma’s Christmas bauble.

It was a dark wintry night and we were huddled together reaching towards the small fire, stretching our hands into the warmth. No one spoke because they were afraid, so afraid that if they slept they might not wake in the morning.

‘We’ll wake, won’t we Grandpa?’

Shussh, let me tell the story.

Continue reading “The Lady in the Bauble by James McEwan.”

All Stories, General Fiction

Mary, Joseph and the Baby by Diane Dickson

DSC_0592

 

“Me toes are freezing.”

“Come ‘ere, give ‘em ‘ere an’ I’ll put ‘em under me coat.”

“Oh nice, that’s nice.  Are you cold Joe?”

“Mmm a bit, just a bit, snuggle up and we’ll warm each other won’t we.”

“Lovely.  This place in’t bad is it.  I know it’s a bit wet in the kitchen and it dun’t have electric like the last squat but it’s not bad ‘ere.”

“No, an’ it feels safer I fink.”

“Yeah.  Eh, what’s that noise?”

“Dunno, I’ll go look you stay ‘ere, stop under the blanket and keep warm.”…

Continue reading “Mary, Joseph and the Baby by Diane Dickson”