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)

LATE SHIFT AT THE MUSEUM OF SMELLS by Chris Cottom (1st place, Flash, Feb24)

I’m working afternoons on our enquiries desk. ‘Old leather walking boots?’ asks a raincoated lady who reminds me of Gran. ‘Freshly buffed with beeswax dubbin?’ I’m gagging for a cup of tea. ‘Sorry, madam. The museum’s banned bee-based treatments.’ Across our cavernous hall, kids are staggering out of our ‘Monarch Immersion Experience’ clutching their heads. … Continue reading LATE SHIFT AT THE MUSEUM OF SMELLS by Chris Cottom (1st place, Flash, Feb24)

THE UNIVERSAL SOUP by Richard Hooton (2nd place, Flash, Feb24)

Our anniversary meal was plodding along same as the previous thirteen when I noticed there was a universe in my soup. Eddying in the centre, a vast blackness teeming with galaxy clusters that reflected and refracted like diamonds. I tore my eyes away; the restaurant’s walls, plates and tablecloths as clinically white as a hospital … Continue reading THE UNIVERSAL SOUP by Richard Hooton (2nd place, Flash, Feb24)

MY HANDS by Dominik Slusarczyk (1st place, Jan24)

[EDITOR'S NOTE: this story deals with themes that some people may find upsetting] I We came last. The other teams laughed at us. Most of them did it behind our backs but a few of them were brave enough to laugh in our faces. You have to be brave to laugh at Jimmy: he might … Continue reading MY HANDS by Dominik Slusarczyk (1st place, Jan24)

THE PHOTOGRAPH by Jill Forrest (2nd place, Jan24)

There are four people in the Bennet family photograph, but there are five stories to tell. SHIRLEY’S STORY: This picture was taken on the day the beautiful lady came. I saw her come round the side of the house. She was waving and saying, ‘Cooee’. No-one else noticed her at first - they were all … Continue reading THE PHOTOGRAPH by Jill Forrest (2nd place, Jan24)

THE DAY A STRANGER FOLLOWED ME HOME by Angela Fitzpatrick (1st place, Flash, Nov23)

I was on my way home from school and it spooked me when he ducked behind a hedge as I turned to cross the road. Then, when I stopped to read the text from Mum - Can you get milk, please? - he walked past and turned into Parsley Close, so I relaxed and shook … Continue reading THE DAY A STRANGER FOLLOWED ME HOME by Angela Fitzpatrick (1st place, Flash, Nov23)

THE ONE THING THEY COULD ALL AGREE ON WAS THE HAT by Mandy Wheeler (2nd place, Flash, Nov23)

The Hat Woman (as she became known) chose the counter in the far corner of the bank where the squinting CCTV could only produce a distorted picture of the tall, or possibly average height, figure in an orange coat that might have been yellow or maybe a greenish brown with gold buttons. As she pulled … Continue reading THE ONE THING THEY COULD ALL AGREE ON WAS THE HAT by Mandy Wheeler (2nd place, Flash, Nov23)

THE AMBER ROOM by Marina Merryweather (1st place, Flash, Nov22)

“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)