The Morning After

It’s Saturday morning and my head is throbbing. Vague recollections of Matt and a crowd of guys in Kelly’s Bar and a river of scotch...

Coffee Date

We'd matched on Tinder. And now he was here. He was handsome; I was happy. Then I saw the slogan on his t-shirt.

Rock-a-bye

Mark woke early on this Saturday morning and his eyes gently glazed over his wife sleeping beside him

The Edge of Twilight 17- New Beginnings

A few months later Chepi and Bel sat outside their new home watching the young cubs play and enjoying a warm early autumn afternoon. What with building a new den and keeping on top of the cubs, Si and his goons seemed like a distant nightmare.

The Edge of Twilight 16 – Wolf Talk

As the sun rose the next day Brach and Achak chatted as they watched over the lair. ‘Is it really all over, Brach?’

Edge of Twilight 15 – The Pack Returns

Chepi, the Young Vixen, sat down next to her aunt. She was exhausted. Bel handed her a cup of tea.

The Edge of Twilight 14 – Inheritance

The next day the Young Vixen and Bel had just finished giving Skid and Achak’s pups their breakfast when one of the young male wolves returned to the lair. He had with him two fox cubs; a bit worse for wear but alive.

The Edge of Twilight 13 – If Nothing Else, There’s Tea

The Young Vixen and the Old Fox sat at the lair entrance staring into the forest and the sunset. ‘It’s almost like old times,’ said the Old Fox

Edge of Twilight 12 – Gathering the Pack

Edge of Twilight 12 – Gathering the Pack Brach's pack is gathered and Rigby has some explaining to do.

Edge of Twilight 11 – Unexpected Guests

Edge of Twilight 11 – Unexpected Guests The sun glistened on the lower limbs of the forest trees. Inside the wolf lair there was a kerfuffle in the main room. Six wolves stared at the two figures in the dim light. Brach turned to his mate. ‘Achak, wake up the Young Vixen’

The Edge of Twilight 10 – Introductions

The Edge of Twilight 10 - Introductions As the small group of travellers approached a clearing in the forest it was an awestruck Young Vixen who seemed lost in her thought, she didn’t notice the majestic grey-furred male wolf waiting at the far side watching them.

The Edge of Twilight – The Journey

The Edge of Twilight – The Journey The sun had barely risen above Woodland Trails when Bel and the Old Fox gently woke the sleeping Young Vixen. The elegant figure of Zuzu was sat in the parlour sipping tea and waiting.

The Edge of Twilight 8 – Old Fox Returns

The Edge of Twilight 8 – Old Fox Returns It was late in the evening when the Old Fox returned. He entered Bel’s kitchen and was immediately hushed by Bel. ‘Let her sleep,’ Bel whispered, nodding her head towards the Young Vixen sleeping in the chair by the fire.

The Edge of Twilight 7 – The Young Vixen’s Surprise

The Edge of Twilight 7 – The Young Vixen’s Surprise The next morning a small group of foxes made their way through the Dark Forest. The Young Vixen and stood with Bel and the Old Fox as Vanda and the cubs disappeared with two muscular dog foxes.

Edge of Twilight 6 – Gone Missing

Edge of Twilight 6 – Gone Missing The next day the Young Vixen was woken by the sharp knocking at her door. As she opened it three boisterous cubs rushed past her and she saw Vanda standing there, her face weary with worry. ‘Come in,’ said the Young Vixen.

Edge of Twilight 5 – The Photoshoot

The Young Vixen had managed to convince Bel to employ Vanda and Reynard. Bel had been unsure, but the Young Vixen had argued it would look more professional. In return she had promised to tempt the Old Fox into joining them too. ‘He’d would look so dapper in some of her more gentlemanly fashions,’ Bel had said.

The Edge of Twilight 4 – TV and Pizza

The Edge of Twilight 4 – TV and Pizza The following day Si was sat in his plush leopard-print office, beneath what he called his penthouse flat which in fact was the two storeys above his photographic shop, watching re-runs of ‘The Dogs of Chaos’ on the floor to ceiling pencil thin plasma tv.

Edge of Twilight 3 – The Young Vixen’s Dilemma

Edge of Twilight 3 – The Young Vixen’s Dilemma The words of the Masked Bandit haunted the Young Vixen in the days following their confrontation. In normal circumstances she would have talked things out with the Old Fox, hoping he would have some gem of wisdom to help her. This time she was under no illusions, if she told the Old Fox what Rigby Raccoon had said to her, he would be insistent she gave up her new job.

Edge of Twilight 2 – The Masked Bandit

Edge of Twilight 2 - The Masked Bandit Reynard gave his permission to the Young Vixen but with one proviso – he did not care for nudity in advertising and she was to keep her modesty at all times.

Edge of Twilight

Edge of Twilight Part 1 As they sat on the old wooden bench at the edge of twilight the Old Fox and the Young Vixen stared into the fading horizon. They snacked on pink sherbet popcorn and drank the remains of a bottle of alcohol-free wine.

Moving On

Flash Fiction - Romance A misty rain was falling making the amber street lights shimmer as the clubland folk started hustled through the town centre looking for a good time. I sheltered in a shop doorway opposite the cluster of pale-yellow lights that hung over the fountain and watched the water drops play while I waited for Kim to arrive.

Happy Anniversary

A cosy night in. Good wine, good food and hot sex. Is there any better way of celebrating your first anniversary?

Airs and Graces

Flash Fiction 350 - Fantasy Langstone Crescent had once been the elite part of town, where the privileged wealthy had set up home. Now, the once height of fashion homes looked shabby and rundown as the rest of the town. Still Margot Jennings tried to keep lofty standards and still considered herself a cut above the other inhabitants of the town.

A Night Out

Flash Fiction 350: Erotica Last night he had come to her call for help. He hadn’t said a word but drove her home in silence as she babbled the excuses for her presence at the pub on the wrong side of town. He had said it was a bad idea and she wasn’t to go but she did anyway.

Case Closed

Flash Fiction 350: Crime Two weeks ago, Tess White had been found dead in her parents’ apartment. She had come in late from a party complaining of feeling unwell. Her parents had assumed it was a result of too much alcohol.

The Middle Shoe

Flash Fiction 350 word limit Genre: Sci-fi It had been some years since they had started living among us. I was just a child when they first arrived and don’t really remember the transition of Earth being a human planet to a home to beings from many worlds. To me that was normal. In fact I loved the diversity.

Notches on the Wall

Flash Fiction I have lost count of the days that I have been here. They are just notch marks on the branches that make the walls of the hut I built. And I built that a fair few notches ago. The only life I have seen in all that time has been seagulls and fish and they don’t say much.

The Crossing – Farewell Arina

Flash Fiction Serial During the second winter, Arina’s health began to fail. It was shortly after my graduation from school when she collapsed that first time. Even the doctors put it down to the excitement of the day.

Reflections of Helena

Romantic Flash Fiction Helena, she was my perfection. From girl to woman I had watched her grow, always showing her the natural clarity of her beauty.

The Crossing – Searching for Answers

I got home to a letter from my pen pal, Lynne, in England. Inside were photographs and postcards from her holiday, each numbered on the back, so I could follow the descriptive within her letter.

When Eyes Meet

Across the crowded dance floor, I saw her. Her soft blonde hair cascading in loose curls over her shoulders. Her sparkling eyes staring into the darkness of the room. Her lips curling softly under the ruby gloss.

The Crossing – The Raid

One morning in late spring Loban was sat in the kitchen finishing his breakfast. I sat sipping tea and he looked at me. ‘Kip, it has been quiet too long!’

The Crossing – Caution

Even months after escaping the grip of the System and finding freedom I cannot quite get used to being able speak freely and without fear. Even the simple act of writing my journals would have found me put before a firing squad. Expressing the truth or an opinion carried an automatic death sentence. They could not stop the mind from thinking though.

Perception

As Cathy left the station it should have been the normal short walk to her home. Instead the street was silent, deathly silent.

The Crossing – Tatters and Ruins

Arina had a fondness for visiting historic buildings. Once or twice I had been with her and wandered round unused rooms arranged in a set period from the past. It intrigued me listening to Arina explain the details of the people who had lived there in the distant past. This time was different.

I, Gigolo

Lionel Ritchie crooned across the dance floor. I held you in my arms, leading you into the romantic rhythm of the music as I sang the lyrics to you. After the dance I led you back to the table, attending to your needs as any gentleman should – including a red rose from the seller …

The Crossing – Brothers

Since our walk in the forest, Arina made sure we spent time each evening just talking. Sometimes Gai and Loban would join us. One evening Arina, Gai and I were in the garden planting out seedlings around Arina’s fountain. The conversation was light and easy. Suddenly Arina was silent, too silent. I rushed to her …

A Body of Knowledge

The buzz at Carstairs Defence was electric. Rumour and speculation had been rife for over 6 months that young Adam Rickard, the boy genius, had developed a new missile detector. Sure enough, the 17-year-old had kept himself behind the closed doors of his lab day and night. Now Sir Damian Carstairs had called a meeting …

The Crossing – Spring Floods

Winter turned to spring and the snows thawed. The news was about floods back in the old country. I remembered those well. It all seemed so far away but as more estimates of people losing their lives to floods were reported my memories were all too clear. Here the land was soddened but not flooded …

Squirrels on the Common

I often sat on the common at night, alone with my thoughts. After a hectic day, it was a perfect way to comfort body, mind and soul. Today had been hectic, the computers had crashed just after lunch launching the entire office into chaos and panic. So here I was sat on the common just …

The Crossing – The Tolling of a Bell

In that first January Arina’s sister died. Loban and Gai had been at work when the phone rang. School was still on vacation and Arina and I had been sat in the kitchen drinking tea. I had her speaking then her voice changed. I watched as her face changed, and instinct told me to move …

Ridges in the Mist

I would never have believed I would be totally dependent on her, yet in the last few hours, she had kept me alive. It had been a beautiful cloudless day when we had started up the mountain path. It was on the second ridge that we came across the young family. The kids, being kids, …

The Crossing – Blurred Memories

The first winter with Loban and Arina was a severe one. The ground was covered with a thick layer of snow by early December. Trudging through the snow and back or school was arduous work and always my clothes would be wet through. Arina kept the cycle of clean laundry going somehow and I was …

Protest for Love

Lloyd and Kim had been dating for several months now and tonight he was going to ask her about Africa. Kim was different from the others. They had met at a political rally, protesting the heinous acts of some government or other. Lloyd was a wealthy man with a deep social conscience. He had grown …

The Crossing – Letters

At school to improve my writing the tutor suggested I write a letter. I had carefully composed a letter of introduction to no one in particular. The tutor had seemed pleased with the result and took my photograph and I had forgotten all about it. A few months later Gai and I were working out …

The Crossing – Wishes

I woke up on the morning of 3rd October and I did not feel any different to how I was on the 2nd. I did not miraculously feel all mature and worldly wise and I do not think I had expected to. I had expected something – some sign or transition from boy to man. …

A Royal Birth

Candice was special, she was lucky, she had been chosen. That is all she had heard for the last nine months. Now the time had come for the child to be born. Desperately she kept telling herself it wasn’t her child it was theirs. The child was for the survival of the hive. They started …

Wastelanders of Friadan

The Wasteland people didn’t talk much. What language they had was limited sounds from the back of the throat, and we didn’t know or understood what they meant. Their homesteads, if they could be called that were sparse and ramshackle. Makeshift shelters surrounding a central fire, but to them, it was home.  The concept of …

The Crossing – Signals

It was the last day of September, and it was a day that time kept suspending itself around me. I was sat with Arina in the living room, listening to the heavy rain falling outside. She was sewing, and I was watching the silver needle dart in and out of the fabric. It was hypnotic …

Brief Glances

I’m quite a reserved guy, the type that goes to the gym when its quiet. On the odd occasion there would be one or two other guys in the changing room but today it was crowded, a heaving mass of masculinity. Maybe I should have given up then, but instead I took a deep breath …