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
Author: Cranked Anvil
BETWEEN THE SOFA CUSHIONS by Mandy Wheeler
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
April 2024 – shortlist and winners
The development of Cranked Anvil continues. There's been more added to our website in recent weeks, with further announcements coming soon, all of which are geared towards helping new and established writers to get the most our of their writing. Keep your eyes peeled here and on our social media. If you don't already, hit … Continue reading April 2024 – shortlist and winners
OBSERVATION by E J Taylor (1st place, Apr24)
A pigeon nestles, invisible, on a steel branch behind three security cameras, each angled towards the road. A whirring too slight to disturb the bird emits from the cameras when their data transfers to digital vaults thousands of miles away. While the pigeon slowly preens itself, the cameras, awaiting the afternoon northbound traffic, observe. At … Continue reading OBSERVATION by E J Taylor (1st place, Apr24)
A YEARNING FOR BANANAS by Taria Karillion (2nd place, Apr24)
"NOT LIKE THAT, Y’EEJIT!” The bellowing was only half audible in the whistling wind. “Michael! … MICHAEL! … For the love of God will you STOP before you do yourself a mischief!" I jerked back the blowlamp with a curse that my Ma, God rest her, would've clipped my ear for. My workmate pushed up … Continue reading A YEARNING FOR BANANAS by Taria Karillion (2nd place, Apr24)
NOTHING WORSE THAN A HUMID NIGHT IN FLORIDA FOR A HIT by Cole Beauchamp
In my line of work, you lean into your senses. Benny’s laugh was too high pitched. Forced. “You with me?” I said. We’d been waiting fifteen minutes, welts on bare arms testimony to the mosquitos we couldn’t pinch in time. Our mark was still in the car. Shaking suspension and fogged-up windows told their own … Continue reading NOTHING WORSE THAN A HUMID NIGHT IN FLORIDA FOR A HIT by Cole Beauchamp
A FORK IN THE ROAD by Lesley Bungay
She followed each sign as told, her life a map of paths well-trodden by her ancestors. When she reached a fork, she paused. The right road bore familiar footprints, the left – unused. She hesitated, removed scuffed shoes, and stepped barefoot into the unknown.The paths ran parallel for a time, but foliage frustrated her progress. … Continue reading A FORK IN THE ROAD by Lesley Bungay
HEADS OR TAILS by Tim Kirton
She’d never been what you’d call unwavering in her decision-making. Indecision, she’d convinced herself, was the last emotion before genius kicked in. Proper research and an ordered approach to the bigger choices in life were necessary; a prerequisite to a successful outcome. She looked again at her comprehensive list of pros and cons. They equated … Continue reading HEADS OR TAILS by Tim Kirton
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