LEAVE TO REMAIN by Ros Levenson (3rd Place, June25)

My first thought when I woke up was that I was cold. Freezing cold, colder than I had ever been before. You know how the mind tries to make sense of situations that you don’t understand? I spent a long time, or so it seemed, trying to figure out why I felt so bone-chillingly frozen … Continue reading LEAVE TO REMAIN by Ros Levenson (3rd Place, June25)

THE DARE by Kathy Goddard (2nd place, Flash May25)

‘You know the rules, Billy. If you want to be one of us, you’ve gotta go to the witch’s house.’ ‘Yeah, but you gotta go inside as well.’ I stared round at them. ‘Inside?’ ‘Yeah, like wot ‘e said. Properly inside. You’ve gotta wave at us through a window – an upstairs one.’ ‘Aye, that’s … Continue reading THE DARE by Kathy Goddard (2nd place, Flash May25)

RITE OF PASSAGE by Margaret Magee (1st place, Flash, Feb25)

The woman walked around the ruin of the house she had fled years back; its secrets sandwiched between the loose mortar of the old walls. It was a perfect June day, laced with the smell of cut grass and the five-note call of a wood pigeon. She slipped out of her court shoes and walked … Continue reading RITE OF PASSAGE by Margaret Magee (1st place, Flash, Feb25)

THE NIGHT DEATH ALMOST GAVE UP by Margaret Davis (2nd place, Flash, Feb25)

Sometimes, Death only whispers from the other side, promising escape and peace, and the soul comes dashing. Often, Death slouches down slightly in the armchair, with a bacon sandwich in one hand and feet up on the stool, grabbing with the other hand, to whip life away too abruptly for it to resist. But this … Continue reading THE NIGHT DEATH ALMOST GAVE UP by Margaret Davis (2nd place, Flash, Feb25)

PAS DE DEUX by Chris Cottom (1st place, Flash, Nov24)

Suzie’s a snowflake in our nursery school Christmas Gala, petticoat-frothy, with her hair pinned tight. I bash my cymbal when Miss nods from the piano, although I’d wanted to be the King of the Mice. She’s fourteen and back from ballet school for the summer. At the youth club dance, sweaty after Reet Petite, we … Continue reading PAS DE DEUX by Chris Cottom (1st place, Flash, Nov24)

PERHAPS ON A SUMMER’S DAY by Laura Besley (2nd place, Flash, Nov24)

Perhaps on a Summer's Day there is a young woman whose bottom lip wobbles, whose eyes bristle with tears. Perhaps her name is Sadie. Perhaps Sadie has just lost her job and doesn’t know how she’ll pay her rent next month. But perhaps Sadie’s tears are happy tears and she’s biting her lip to stop … Continue reading PERHAPS ON A SUMMER’S DAY by Laura Besley (2nd place, Flash, Nov24)

STRANGLING ANGEL by Alison Wassell (1st place, Flash, Aug24)

Logbook 1894 26th January Punished several children who arrived late. Attendance poor, weather bad. Miss Harriet Caldwell appointed by the Board as Assistant Mistress. When, on first meeting, Harriet Caldwell calls her by her first name, Agnes realises she will be more of a burden than an asset. She lacks gravitas, smiles too much, and … Continue reading STRANGLING ANGEL by Alison Wassell (1st place, Flash, Aug24)

MR FARNSWORTH by James Hancock (2nd place, Flash, Aug24)

The pig sucked in a mouthful of pipe smoke and blew it overhead. It clung to the ceiling like a cloud of rolling white music notes, twisting and changing shape as Ophelia watched from the comfort of the leather sofa. “Interesting.” The pig, Mr Farnsworth, gazed at his folded trotters as he contemplated things. Ophelia … Continue reading MR FARNSWORTH by James Hancock (2nd place, Flash, Aug24)