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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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Sending

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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News

New Flash Fiction for March

Coming in March a new flash fiction by Fanni Suto  ‘Night Wait’ a restless and melancholic little tale.  In the meantime why not check out  some of Fanni's earlier Flash Fiction published on The Casket of Fictional Delights ‘Fires of Autumn', ' The Girl with Pearls in her Eyes', 'Rain of Thought', 'Summers End' and 'Darkest before Dawn'.

Fanni Suto's Flash Fiction stories

Competition

2018 Competition Winners Announced

The 2018 Flash Fiction Competition - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

This year’s winner is Rosie Garland with her story ‘Speaking in Tongues’  ** CONGRATULATIONS**

2nd Sync by Mark Farley; 3rd Floating by Mark Farley; 4th 1-2-5 by Gina Headden

Bikini by Sherri Turner; The Plughole Picker by Susan Carey; Serendipity by Sandra Purdy; Bombs, Lilies by Jason Jackson

Competition Results

Tweetings

  • New #FlashFiction for Friday by #Writer @rebeccapeyton 'The Unbiddable Hand' an optimistic and reflective tale #reading https://t.co/Hh6aXIy36D https://t.co/t8uAGN21M9, 13 hours ago
  • Arrived today from America ~ exhibition catalogue from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Chanel exhibition in 2005 by the late great Karl Lagerfeld #Chanel #karllagerfeld… https://t.co/rdhDc1Zqgn, Feb 20
  • Song Bird brooch/pendant by Carlo Giuliano after Burne Jones #beautiful #brooch #art #jewellery #wanttoown @ Tate Britain https://t.co/EqntgqCgEV, Feb 19
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Prefer to listen? - from the beginning The Casket of Fictional Delights has specialised in producing high quality audio recordings of short stories and flash fiction compilations. The audios are recorded by actors and voiceover artists and produced by a professional studio manager ensuring we maintain a consistent high standard. I’ve chosen three to highlight the variety and quality of work we have to offer - visit our Audio page for more. I hope you enjoy listening to them.

Casket audio highlights

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2019
Stories © various authors
Audio by Menna Bonsels
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Brooch photography by Mark Colliton