DECEMBER 12 2013: INJUSTICE

DECEMBER 12 2013: INJUSTICE

Susan Eames

Runnin'

Single shot Jack Daniels

They saying I done rape Maisie. They coming after me.

            I didn't touch her. No Sir. I nobut fishin'. Maisie dropped her bonnet in the creek. While I wades for it, darned if she aint took off her dress. Buck naked creamy white. My knees start shakin' like a pig about to be skinned.

            'Git here, boy, or I'll holla,' she threatened.

            I turned and ran blind. Left ever'thing. Even my shoes. Figure they got proof enough. Man they catch me they gonna have a lynch party and I be the guest of honour.

            Gotta keep runnin', shoes or no.

About the Author

Susan Eames left England over twenty years ago to explore the world and dive its oceans. She has had travel articles and short fiction published on three continents. Until recently, Susan lived in Fiji, but is now currently exploring new possibilities.

DECEMBER 11 2013: A TOUCH OF THE CARIBBEAN

DECEMBER 11 2013: A TOUCH  OF THE CARIBBEAN

Janet Bunce

Sex on the Beach

Vodka, peach snapps, orange juice and cranberry juice (also known as Sex on the Beach)

He moves out of the water slowly testing the sand to ensure that its firm. He looks up and sees his favoured one and heads in her direction dancing with the calypso music to attract her attention.

            She is attempting that move that drives him wild. An erotic sideways shuffle dancing with the waves.

            Is tonight my night he thinks?

 She sees him just as a huge wave hits the shore.

            It catches him taking him back out to sea.

            Further up the beach his crustacean partner continues her love moves but with another crab who has taken his place.

About the Author

Janet is a director in financial services with a latent creative side. She lives in Epping Forest with her husband and tortoise and would like to write full  time.

DECEMBER 10 2013: BITTER SWEETNESS

DECEMBER 10 2013: BITTER SWEETNESS

Betty Taylor

New Shoes

Americano

“New shoes today,” the carer said. “Your daughter’s bringing them.”

Ellen remembered the blue kid shoes she’d worn as a child, the button fastener bright as a bird’s eye. Snapshots showed her wearing ballet shoes with satin ribbons. Then came high-heels, the photographs were of Ellen in the front row of a West End chorus line. She sighed, thinking of the shoes she had worn on her wedding day, oyster brocade with tiny pearls.

Later, the carer said, “Here we are dear, nice and roomy for your poor feet.”

The harsh rasp of Velcro tore at Ellen’s her heart.

About the Author

Betty lives and writes in Wolverhampton

DECEMBER 9 2013: EXCESS

DECEMBER 9 2013: EXCESS

Jacki Donnellan

Jump

Redcurrant Juice

“Jump!” they shouted.

He’d made it when he jumped off the flat roof of his garage. He’d landed okay when he’d launched himself off his balcony. Now he stood poised atop his house, wearing a red cape for effect, his mates throwing beery encouragement up from below.

He jumped.

His red cape billowed behind him. He soared through the air.

He was-flying! He sailed peacefully, higher and lighter, towards the clouds.

He looked down. He could see his friends, swarming like panicking ants around something that lay on the ground. From his celestial height, it looked like a squashed redcurrant.

About the Author

Jacki Donnellan currently lives in the Netherlands with her husband and two children. She first started to write while the rest of her family were off skiing but it's now become an all- year sport. Follow her on Twitter @DonnellanJacki

DECEMBER 8 2013: CREATION

DECEMBER 8 2013: CREATION

Alan Cadman

Ménage à Trois

A satisfying cup of Earl Grey; no milk or sugar

I am intrigued about who is concealed under a white blanket in front of me. I close the bedroom window, to shut out damp laden air. An earthy aroma still clings to my nostrils as I wipe condensation from panes of glass. Yesterday couldn’t have been more different. A Kingfisher streaked past slender branches of willow that dripped down into the canal. 

                Today, winter sunshine is burning off thick veils of fog. A sorrel is first to appear; then a roan looms silently into view. When an albino emerges from patchy shadows, three handsome horses roam loose around the ménage.

About the Author

Alan has been writing short stories for six years. Before that, he was the editor of a civic society newsletter for seven years. When he first started writing fiction, his published work was rewarded with complimentary copies from magazines. His first cheque arrived on Christmas Eve 2009.

In 2011 he made the short list for one story and became a prize winner for flash fiction. Alan also won first prize, of £100, in a poetry competition in 2013. The last three accolades were awarded by the same best-selling UK magazine for writers. Alan’s work has been read out on Internet radio and his stories are now published in hard copy magazines and e-zines.

DECEMBER 7 2013: FAMILY

DECEMBER 7 2013: FAMILY

Patsy Collins

Keep it in the Family

A glass of champagne

My brother fidgeting with his silk cravat looks understandably nervous. I am marrying him today so I’m nervous too.

We’re wearing new outfits, in honour of this mutually important occasion. Our suits are crafted from the same material, but I have a long tulip skirt in place of tailored trousers. My smile belies my nerves.

An unusual situation but we’ve always been very close; we’ve done everything together throughout our childhood why should we stop now we are adults? Our family are delighted for us. Glad my brother eventually found the perfect woman; happy for me beginning work as Registrar.

About the Author

To learn more about Patsy, and get details of free to enter writing competitions, please visit her blog. http://patsy-collins.blogspot.co.uk/

DECEMBER 6 2013: NOSTALGIA

DECEMBER 6 2013: NOSTALGIA

Gill James

Remembering Trivia

Fizzy cola

“I’ve got some bad news,” said Dad. We were sitting in his old Ford Popular outside the Wesley Methodist church hall. He’d picked me up from Guides.

My heart started thumping and my mouth went dry. Had something happened to Mum? Or Grandma? Or Gran?

“What?”

“President Kennedy’s been shot.”

Was that it? Everybody I knew was all right?

“Shot?”

“Yes. He’s dead.”

“Oh.”

He’d seemed a nice man to me. Young as well. His wife was very glamorous. Fancy getting shot. But America was like that, wasn’t it?

“Do you want to get some chips?”

“Yes please. With batters.” 

About the Author

Gill James writes fiction for children, young adults and grown-up adults, and teaches Creative Writing in Higher Education. Recently she has developed a keen interest in flash fiction. She is fascinated by how we always remember exactly what we were doing when big news breaks and she wrote Remembering Trivia to celebrate the release of her friend Debz-Hobbs Wyatt’s While No One Was Watching that has J.F. Kennedy’s assassination as the setting.

www.gilljames.co.uk      

Thanks Gill! Debz J Ps my novel is only 99p on Kindle for December! Spread the nostalgia! KINDLE