“Remember the Amber Room?” “Sorry?” He looked up from his phone, in equal measure disoriented and disgruntled. “The Amber Room.” She wondered how long it had been since she hadn't needed to repeat something she had asked him. She pulled her knees in for comfort. “I took you when we last went to St Petersburg. … Continue reading THE AMBER ROOM by Marina Merryweather (1st place, Flash, Nov22)

At five, he tumbled into the box. It smelled of possibility. The floor was thick with things to dress up in, people to become. He lifted a fireman’s helmet, pressed a doctor’s stethoscope to his chest. There was so much choice. In the corner, he spied a cowboy hat with a broad, curled brim. The … Continue reading BOX by Mark Stocker (2nd place, Flash, Nov22)

It was the morning of our Moon Landing Party and Mum was in orbit herself. She’d loaded the icebox with Zoom lollies and beeswaxed the rosewood sliding doors of the black-and-white television we rented from Rediffusion in Reigate High Street. ‘Just us and next door,’ she said, spraying enough Pledge over my Thunderbird 3 to … Continue reading THE MOON AND MAGDALENA by Chris Cottom (3rd place, Flash, Nov22)