Shocking

  • Pins and Needles

    Head bent, Emily stitched in the wavering candlelight, bone-weary, eyes dazzled by the glitter from thousands of sequins, creating mini starbursts in her peripheral vision. They shimmered from the piles of handmade lacy shawls, stacks of velvet evening purses, and silk dresses pinned to the trio of mannequins (dubbed ‘Mister’, ‘Mistress’ and ‘Missy’) which stood…

  • The Client List

    Lena sat on the edge of the bed clutching the phone. She felt fine, a bit run down, but that was nothing unusual, she kept strange hours. She stood up and took a pen and paper from the top drawer of her dressing table. She examined her reflection in the mirror. She looked okay, a…

  • Lucy Reborn

    I do not remember dying, yet I must have. I remember kissing Arthur and bidding our friend, the Doctor, to guard him and then all was darkness. I baulk at the memory now. Arthur was a pathetic human. I recall stupidly asking the Doctor to give me peace, but in this strange, half-life, I sense…

  • A Bigger Tree Each Year

    6th December My Dear Caitlin, Here’s hoping you are enjoying the big city. Granny says how was the chicken she sent?  It’s the usual frost and storms here. The ballroom flooded, what a mess. But we are cosy in the kitchen and plenty kindling since the stables blew down. Talking of wood, Uncle Kenny is…

  • A Single Shining Dot

    The eye-shaped tree knot on the coffee table looks at me with unblinking intensity. The graffiti of sun rays coming out of the window frame extends onto the floor, ceiling and the adjacent wall. It says: ‘No limits’. I’d love to see Mum in this place. She who rummages around for the house keys four…

  • The Pool Man

    It’s not easy being the youngest. Izzy was always being left out or left behind. It wasn’t fair. She so wanted to be in. Especially with them. So when Jake and Joss had laughingly challenged everyone to the “hugest dare ever,” Izzy had been the first in the gang to leap up and accept. Now…

  • Margery Breaks Free

    Margery Taylor swings around to face the descent. Her eyes are bright with defiance, a sheen of sweat glistens on her smooth young skin. She is sick of rules. Slow down Margery! Keep off the road Margery! She has pushed the bike all the way up the steepest hill in town, on what will be…

  • The Last Straw

    Eric held the present in his large hands, surprised at its weight. Not a scarf then, he thought. He picked at the edge of the sellotape with his right index finger. As he did so, fragments of dried grime were dislodged from under his fingernail. “Oh give it here.” Margaret grabbed the present. Eric noticed…

  • Statue (1/3)

    Different Ways of Killing Trilogy Part 1 “Yeah, I know, I know…” The door’s open so Christina must be in, she thinks. “I know…” Keys in one hand, Polly pushes the fob deep into her jeans pocket and heaves her bag from elbow to shoulder. “I know…” her mobile is locked to her ear. “I…