Andy glared at the damp sock in his hand as if it was the root of all problems. His other grey socks, along with his white vests and shirts, pleated trousers and frayed Y-fronts, covered every available space on the radiators of the silent semi-detached. This one was missing its other half and the very … Continue reading WASHING DAY by Richard Hooton (1st place, Flash Aug21)

The Brians came back last night. I didn’t notice until my son said, “Mummy, there’s a Brian in a box at the end of my bed. I don’t like him. Can you throw him away?” I wished I could. But we can’t. We wronged them somehow, long ago. No-one remembers exactly how; we just know … Continue reading THE BRIANS by Hilary Coyne (2nd place, Flash Aug21)

Jem liked those posh yogurts.  The ones that came in real glass jars with proper twisty lids.  Every jar kept, label picked off, soaked in warm suddy water.  Some jars she kept for salad dressing or pickling tiny onions, some she’d put little posies of flowers in, maybe a bud rose and some ivy, or … Continue reading SOAKING THE JARS by Bernadette Stott (1st place, Flash May21)

Three o’clock. In fifteen minutes, Jen can release thirty children into the custody of their parents. Today they are, so far, all unmaimed. She begins to relax. Too soon. Tilly tugs on her sleeve and points to her cheek, which sports a new, angry scratch. The child’s teary eyes accuse Jen of failing to keep … Continue reading THE UNSAYABLE by Alison Wassell (2nd place, Flash May21)

When it became clear she truly was the most fascinating woman in the world, everybody wanted to be near her. And, because she genuinely was a fascinating woman, and hadn’t simply been mistaken for one, she could think of nothing worse to be than fascinating. At first, it was intrusive but never especially dangerous. People … Continue reading THE MOST FASCINATING WOMAN IN THE WORLD by Andrew Boulton (1st Place, Flash Feb21)

‘There have been times,’ she stopped reading the magazine article, ‘when I’ve thought about it.’ ‘Of course,’ he said, and she’s glad he understands. ‘Me too.’ ‘Oh,’ came out of her mouth without warning – she hadn’t expected this response. It was an unequal marriage after all – she had the money and position, while … Continue reading LET’S NOT by Colette Coen (2nd place, Flash Feb21)

He’s drinking the glass of warm milk as he’s always done before bed, a ritualistic habit, born from his childhood. Slurps it down, wipes his lips with the back of his hand, says a satisfied “ahh,” then puts the glass in the dishwasher after rinsing it with lukewarm water. I think it’s the only pleasure … Continue reading WARM MILK by Hannah Sutherland (1st place, Flash Nov20)

I had my fiftieth birthday at the end of April. I look around me now and struggle to believe that at fifty years old, I now sit here. The path had been so clear, glinting and gilded. Yet, this is where I am now. Despite the preconceived notions that I was dim, this could not … Continue reading SOUP KITCHEN by Rose Walker-Taylor (2nd place, Flash Nov20)