THE TRAIN TO BRIGHTON by Caroline Ross Tajasque (3rd place, Jul21)

Salim was supposed to go on the tube. But he doesn't do the tube, not since he had a panic attack at Mile End station. The buses were all packed, 8.15 in the morning, you couldn't get a seat and some of them didn't even stop. That was when he'd started to feel it coming … Continue reading THE TRAIN TO BRIGHTON by Caroline Ross Tajasque (3rd place, Jul21)

SOAKING THE JARS by Bernadette Stott (1st place, Flash May21)

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)

THE UNSAYABLE by Alison Wassell (2nd 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)

SHINDIG by Letty Butler (1st place, Apr21)

Ursula is in her usual fireside spot languishing in her own flesh, whilst reading an old Argos catalogue aloud to Boggo. He can’t hear her because he’s in the galley doing something revolting. She squints at the silver clock and wishes she could tell the time - she wants to know how long it will … Continue reading SHINDIG by Letty Butler (1st place, Apr21)

THROUGH THE RUSTING GATE by Rosie Morris (2nd place, Apr21)

Jake’s mammy always wove the most wondrous tales, carrying him on the magic carpet of her imagination to kaleidoscopic worlds far beyond the everyday. Through her, he became an intrepid explorer, roaming enchanted lands, befriending fantastical creatures, performing the bravest of deeds. She made him an intergalactic adventurer: he discovered planets, soared through space and … Continue reading THROUGH THE RUSTING GATE by Rosie Morris (2nd place, Apr21)

THE COUNTER by Chris Cottom (3rd place, Apr21)

You love clacking the abacus beads across their frame, counting off the nights until Father Christmas comes. You like the red ones best, the top row. The enemy are the blue ones, next row down. You play French and English, dead soldiers to the right, last-man-standing always a red-blooded Englishman. You envy Griffin when he … Continue reading THE COUNTER by Chris Cottom (3rd place, Apr21)

THE MOST FASCINATING WOMAN IN THE WORLD by Andrew Boulton (1st Place, Flash Feb21)

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)

LET’S NOT by Colette Coen (2nd 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)