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The Casket of Fictional Delights

Brooches Podcasts Stories

Left Behind

by Joanna Sterling

Flash Fiction Amusing, Philosophical

Are those the remains of the starter?  Urgh!  Hummus and garlic, if I’m not mistaken.  You’re using the paper napkin.  You didn’t even remember a pen.  Cadged one off the waiter.  Which one is the jotting about?   The comb-over in the corner? The fat legs protruding from the lycra mini skirt? The repeatedly licked full red lips? The gaunt head with a scarf  tied tight to cover chemo?  You never care they might catch you in the act.   Can’t you wait till you come home?  Remember it in your head?  You used to take me everywhere, I was your second skin, better than any little black dress in your wardrobe.  Keeper of scribbles, lists, notes, annotations and secrets. I did warn you the bag was too small.  I said I wouldn’t fit.  I suppose you’re going to sellotape the soiled paper in the back of me.  Along with the gas bill envelope and return train ticket to Scarborough.  I’d have liked to have visited the seaside, have sand between my pages.  But you left me behind.

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About Joanna Sterling

Joanna writes short stories and flash fiction, has had her work published in a number of magazines and anthologies. She lives in London with her ever growing collection of Brooches.

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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.

Joanna & The Casket of Fictional Delights Team

 

Stories

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Please consider making a donation to The Casket of Fictional Delights.  All content on the website is free and widely available to audiences worldwide.  We do not receive any grants and all our content is Ad free.  The Casket of Fictional Delights specialises in producing high-quality podcasts which are recorded by professional actors/voiceover artists from around the world. We hope you enjoy reading and listening to the stories and finding out about Joanna’s varied brooch collection.

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Tweetings

  • Its July in the life #SusanTate the quirky #librarian who lives in #Canterbury with her #cat ‍⬛#CharlesDickens - Derek has a surprise for Susan's #birthday You can #read or #listen to the story read by @MennaBonsels #free https://t.co/YudZOQtdto https://t.co/oyMBRICsQ4, 9 hours ago
  • New Story from The Casket of Fictional Delights - https://t.co/VXl4GzrC2e, 9 hours ago
  • More adventures from the quirky #librarian #SusanTate who lives in #Canterbury with her #cat ‍⬛#CharlesDickens - the sun is shining and its June Susan goes to a #party and a #WineTasting . You can #read or #listen to the story #free https://t.co/U66svWkFOe https://t.co/DzDpqmE9EX, Aug 2
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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
Maintained by Brighton WebTech