Push it down. All the way down. Everything is fine. I can do this. I can. It’s just a test. Mom always says that a test is just to help the teacher see if the teaching is working, or if there are gaps. The test is more about the teacher, not you. She always says … Continue reading GLASS by Fiona McKay (1st place, Flash Nov21)

Percy’s tailor would be unforgiving if he saw the mix of textures. Rough plaid with silk-velvet and raw linen. He’d warned against such matches. But smoothing down his waistcoat, Percy asked his refection… Am I presenting sufficient intrigue and colour? Will I be enough for her crimson verve? He took a taxi to the Brasserie. … Continue reading THE SUNSET PEACH AND THE LEMON TREE by Dettra Rose (2nd place, Flash Nov21)

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)