A pigeon nestles, invisible, on a steel branch behind three security cameras, each angled towards the road. A whirring too slight to disturb the bird emits from the cameras when their data transfers to digital vaults thousands of miles away. While the pigeon slowly preens itself, the cameras, awaiting the afternoon northbound traffic, observe. At … Continue reading OBSERVATION by E J Taylor (1st place, Apr24)
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)
NOTHING WORSE THAN A HUMID NIGHT IN FLORIDA FOR A HIT by Cole Beauchamp
In my line of work, you lean into your senses. Benny’s laugh was too high pitched. Forced. “You with me?” I said. We’d been waiting fifteen minutes, welts on bare arms testimony to the mosquitos we couldn’t pinch in time. Our mark was still in the car. Shaking suspension and fogged-up windows told their own … Continue reading NOTHING WORSE THAN A HUMID NIGHT IN FLORIDA FOR A HIT by Cole Beauchamp
A FORK IN THE ROAD by Lesley Bungay
She followed each sign as told, her life a map of paths well-trodden by her ancestors. When she reached a fork, she paused. The right road bore familiar footprints, the left – unused. She hesitated, removed scuffed shoes, and stepped barefoot into the unknown.The paths ran parallel for a time, but foliage frustrated her progress. … Continue reading A FORK IN THE ROAD by Lesley Bungay
HEADS OR TAILS by Tim Kirton
She’d never been what you’d call unwavering in her decision-making. Indecision, she’d convinced herself, was the last emotion before genius kicked in. Proper research and an ordered approach to the bigger choices in life were necessary; a prerequisite to a successful outcome. She looked again at her comprehensive list of pros and cons. They equated … Continue reading HEADS OR TAILS by Tim Kirton
Anything can inspire a piece of flash fiction!
It's General Election Day here in the UK. Meanwhile in the US there's all sorts of political shenanigans going on! (Don't worry, this isn't going to be a political post!) But it puts us in mind of a fantastic piece of flash fiction we received, back in November 2020 when we opened our first ever … Continue reading Anything can inspire a piece of flash fiction!
SUGAR IN COFFEE by R. D. Brown
I haven’t taken sugar in my coffee in fifteen years, I can’t drink it if someone puts sugar in it, or even worse one of those syrups people like so much. Fly buzzing around, always reminds of the South of France. I stare into the coffee, willing it to cool down. The first coffee of … Continue reading SUGAR IN COFFEE by R. D. Brown
LETTING GO by Jackie Meekums-Hales
Butterflies land their luring cobalt blue on wavering stems, bowing them beneath the shimmering sun. They flutter, hover, lift again as straightening blooms release them to the air. Like them, she vows to let temptation go, unbending to the broken promises and lies. She’ll set him free and cherish what she has, resist delusions of … Continue reading LETTING GO by Jackie Meekums-Hales
Cranked Anvil 