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Bikini

by Sherri Turner

2018 Flash Fiction Competition Runner-up

Flash Fiction Bittersweet, Poignant

She was standing in the rain in a jungle print bikini, relishing the whipping of the wind round her bare torso, her face uplifted to the stair-rod pummelling. A small group of people had gathered round her, fewer than there would have been but for the storm, some laughing, some trying to encourage her to go home without actually getting too near. She ignored them all, her happy face dripping, her arms outstretched. It would have been funny if it hadn’t been so sad.

I watched from my window, waiting for the smile to turn to tears as it had so many times before. It would be harder to tell in this weather, but even from here I would see the slight change in expression, the onset of a confusion that became despair in an instant, and then I would bring her in.
I would hold her and dry her and make her some tea and chat about the weather until it all faded away and then we would find her a nice frock to wear and I would do her hair and choose a pretty necklace and get the holiday brochures out and she would point to the pictures and say ‘I’ve been there’ and I’d say ‘Yes, Mum, you have’ because how was I to know where she went in her bikini, what foreign sun was shining on her smooth tanned face as the rain pelted down?

And who was I to deny her that?

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About Sherri Turner

Sherri has had numerous short stories published in magazines and has won prizes for both poetry and short stories in competitions including the Bristol Prize, the Wells Literary Festival and the Bridport Prize. Her work has also appeared in several short story anthologies.

Sherri tweets @STurner4077

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4 responses to “Bikini”

  • Douglas says:
    October 12, 2018 at 11:39 am

    I’m not normally a fan of the twist in the tail thingy, but this is neat and the whole flash so well written.

    Reply
  • Zoe Fairbairns says:
    October 12, 2018 at 3:07 pm

    Great story, Sherri. The surprising-but-so-credible ending made me blink, as good flash fiction should.

    Reply
  • Sherri Turner says:
    October 14, 2018 at 11:27 am

    Thank you both for your kind comments.

    Reply
  • Susan A Eames says:
    November 12, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    Succinct, unexpected and beautifully written.

    Reply

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Starting in June and through to the end of September  The Casket of Fictional Delights presents more Susan Tate adventures.  Enjoy following a year in the life of Susan Tate the quirky librarian who lives in Canterbury with her cat Charles Dickens written by Joanna Sterling, read by Menna Bonsels and illustrated by Michael N Green.

There are many other short stories and flash fictions available to read and listen to in our Stories and Podcast sections.

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2022
Stories © various authors
Editing by Joanna Sterling & Alyson Faye
Audio by Menna Bonsels
Brooch photography by Mark Colliton
Other photography by Rosie Marks
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