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)

BOX by Mark Stocker (2nd 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)

THE MOON AND MAGDALENA by Chris Cottom (3rd 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)

YEAR OF THE TIGER by Lianne Warr (1st place, Oct22)

“That’s £6.50, please,” I said, flashing the customer my mouth-only smile; it never reached my eyes here. The fluorescent lights glared and buzzed annoyingly. I was tired, on the verge of a headache. “Are you fucking kidding, it’s a sandwich love!” he snorted. Obviously I’d heard that before, and obviously the price was ridiculous. I … Continue reading YEAR OF THE TIGER by Lianne Warr (1st place, Oct22)

NOT AFTER MIDNIGHT by Karen Storey (2nd place, Oct22)

Ellen slumped in the passenger seat of their motorhome, bare feet up on the dashboard. Marcus glanced across. ‘I’ve told you before not to do that. If we have an accident your legs will be crushed into your chest.’ ‘How are we going to have an accident this time of night? We’re the only people … Continue reading NOT AFTER MIDNIGHT by Karen Storey (2nd place, Oct22)

THE MAGNOLIA TREE by J D Revitt (3rd place, Oct22)

On that unexpectedly hot, hazy afternoon, I sat in the shade, propped against the trunk of the tree, book balanced on my knees. Daffodils lolled drunkenly, jaded, their time over. Clumps of fearless fresh cool grass poked up out of the monotonous brown soil, speckled with daisies nodding conversationally. A large, delicate, pink-veined petal plopped … Continue reading THE MAGNOLIA TREE by J D Revitt (3rd place, Oct22)