Moving to the beat of the rhythmic cadence of a long-forgotten patriotic song, steel molds chugged down the conveyor belt wrapped with flavored prophylactics: mango, licorice, hazelnut. Marva twisted each condom nipple, discarding those that broke, like Todd did after her diagnosis, dumping her for no longer meeting his standards. Jeff Harvey lives in California … Continue reading QUALITY CONTROL by Jeff Harvey

It’s a special treat for a birthday ending in a zero. First class train tickets, then lunch, fresh from the kitchen garden. Waiters wear floor-length aprons. They speak with heavy accents. Are they really French? No matter.“Will Monsieur choose ze wines?”Alarmed at the prices, hubby breaks sweat but orders anyway.“Madame will try tian de champignons?”I … Continue reading A BIRTHDAY TREAT by Ros Levenson

Janet is melded to her armchair, running her finger along the arm’s ragged piping, faded from burgundy to russet, cushion cupping her buttocks. The radio DJ yells, ‘Tony from Blackpool, Beyoncé is the correct answer. You’ve just won £25,000!’ Janet chokes up when Tony does. He says how he’s going to buy a new living … Continue reading WINNERS by Rebecca Klassen

He'd just managed to reach her before she departed through the exit of Terminal 3."Pete, what the hell are you doing? You will have missed your Edinburgh connection.""Look, Sam. A twelve hour long haul from LA to London with a total stranger. So, she's the best thing that has ever happened. That's it. Can't let … Continue reading LONG HAUL by Bob Ballard

A couple of old tissues, a polo mint, two rubber bands, a cinema ticket. Keys (garage? office? shed?). A biro (cracked), some sellotape. A business card from my husband’s agency: same address, different department, a woman’s name. When I phone, she calls my husband a lying bastard and says I’m to tell him he's never … Continue reading BETWEEN THE SOFA CUSHIONS by Mandy Wheeler