-The best stories on the web-
Read or link to over 1000 stories listed under Stories to the left.
Submit your short stories for review as a Word document attached to an email to: Read@Short-Story.Me

Latest Stories

March 19, 2024
Fantasy Stories Wondering Monk

Just My Imagination

The alarm clock went off and started playing an awful tune. Tom opened his eyes and closed them back, squinting. He reopened one eye and stood up to stop the torture. The phone was on the desk, in the furthest spot from the bed. Although he changed his way of…
March 19, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Ocelotlzin

Earth Is Dead

Recording… It doesn't matter who I was; I probably lived a long time ago, and I am now just a voice someone added to the audio-visual records. What is essential is the recollection of events that lead to the current state. So, a little history needs to be…
March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…

Tracey and her son stand by the parked car, assessing the damage. She kneels down, running her hand over the wheel arch.

“He’s not going to like this,” she says. “We’d better go inside.”

They head into the kitchen, and take a seat at the table.

“Charlie,” she says, “what the hell were you thinking?”

“I was just gonna go for a drive.”

“A drive? You don’t even have a licence!”

“I know, but I’m taking lessons.”

“You’ve only had five, son. You’re still learning. Where were you going to drive to?”

“I dunno,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “Just over the tradey.”

“The trading estate? Who with?”

“No one. Just me.”

“Why the trading estate?”

“The roads are quiet,” he says. “Not much traffic about.”

“You haven’t taken your dad’s car up there before, have you?”

“No, I haven’t,” he says, shaking his head. “I’ve been up there on my lessons.”

“And what happened, exactly?” she asks. “You just hit the fence post when you reversed?”

He nods his head.

“So you didn’t even go anywhere?”

“No.”

“You didn’t even get off the drive?”

“No. I didn’t.”

“Unbelievable!”

“Oh, give me a break, mum. I didn’t mean to crash it, you know.”

“I know that, son. But what happens if you hit something?” she asks. “Or someone.”

He doesn’t answer.

“Charlie. You’re only eighteen. Don’t screw your life up by doing something stupid.”

He sighs and buries his face in his hands.

Tracey leans forward, placing her hand on his knee. “It’s all right, son. Just promise me you’ll never take the car again.”

“OK.” He rubs his eyes. “I promise.”

Tracey leans back in her chair and lets out a sigh. “I don’t want to be too hard on you, son. But it’s a dangerous thing to do. Not to mention illegal.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“Right, then – what are we going to tell your dad?”

“He’s gonna go mad.”

“I should think he will.”

“I’ll be grounded. And what if he stops my lessons?”

“Well, I don’t know what he’ll do. He’s not going to be happy, that’s for sure.”

“And he said he’d help me buy a car, once I’ve passed my test. But he won’t now, will he?”

“I don’t know, son. But…”

“What?”

“I might have an idea. Why don’t you make us both a coffee while I have a think about it?”

He returns a few minutes later, and places her cup in front of her.

“Well?” he asks.

“I did it.”

“What?”

“We’ll tell your dad that I dented the car.”

His face lights up. “Yes! Brilliant!”

“I thought you might like that.”

“But why, mum? Why say you did it?”

“The lesser of two evils.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your dad won’t be happy, and I can’t say I’d blame him,” she explained. “And you don’t want to be grounded, right?”

“No.”

“And you want him to help you buy a car when you pass your test?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“So, I’ll tell him I did it.”

“But, then he’s gonna be mad at you.”

“Yes, for a little while. And he’ll probably say something stupid about women drivers. But that’ll be it.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “If you tell him you did it, the atmosphere round here will be awful. It’s better my way.”

“Yeah, mum, that’s brilliant!” He gives her a hug.

She laughs. “OK, OK. Take it easy, Evel Knievel.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. Take a seat.”

He sits down again.

“You’re not getting off that easy.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ll be doing chores for the next month.”

“Oh.”

“Whatever I tell you needs doing.”

He shrugs. “OK. When will you tell him?”

“Not tonight, not after he’s had a drink. I’ll tell him in the morning.”

“But he’ll see it when he comes back from the pub.”

She shakes her head. “No, no way. He’ll pass this side of the car when he comes home.”

“Yeah, you’re right. And it’ll be dark.”

“Don’t worry, he won’t see it tonight. And I’ll tell him that I did it in the morning.”

“OK.”

“Right, then - let’s get our story straight.”

 

At 11.00 p.m. Charlie sits at his computer, chatting to a friend on Facebook. He hears a car pull up outside his house, and rushes to his window.

He sees his father climb out of a taxi and walk by on the near side of the family car, oblivious to the dent on the other side. He hears a key scratching at the front door, then it opens and closes. Five minutes later he hears his dad snoring downstairs in the front room.

He breathes a sigh of relief, and thinks that this might just work out after all. He closes the chat with his friend, turns out the light and climbs into bed.

He thinks about having to do the boring housework. And he thinks about taking more lessons, passing his test and having his own car. Then he drifts off to sleep.

 

Morning comes and Charlie lies awake in his bed, listening to muffled voices from downstairs. He can make out a few words, and figures that his mother is telling his father about the dent.

He hears the front door open, then the sound of gravel crunching on the driveway. He climbs out of bed, and peers through a gap in the curtains.

His father is crouched down by the rear wheel of the car, running his hand over the dent and slowly shaking his head. His mother then comes outside, standing by the bonnet with her arms folded. Seeing his father start to talk, Charlie opens the window slightly to listen.

“I told you, Steve,” Tracey says, “I was just going to pick up some Chinese for me and Charlie.”

“You don’t even like bloody Chinese!”

“I do sometimes. And Charlie fancied some.”

“How many times have you reversed out of this drive?” Steve asks.

“Hundreds. Thousands. I don’t know.”

“And one day the fence post just jumps out at you?”

“I’ve said sorry. It was an accident. What more do you want?”

He shakes his head and kicks the car tyre. “You’re calling the insurance company. I’m not.” He heads back inside.

Charlie closes the window and sits on his bed. His father looks annoyed, but he seems to have bought the story. He smiles, thinking that he’ll still get his car after all.

He figures he’ll give them some time to finish their conversation, and give his mother chance to call the insurance company.

He brushes his teeth and gets dressed, thinking that things have turned out well so far; but he wonders what torture his mother has in store for him.

 

Steve sits on the garden bench, taking in the afternoon sun. He smokes a cigarette, and watches his son take a garbage bag out to the wheelie bin.

Charlie then fills up a watering can, and starts to sprinkle the plants around the border of the lawn.

Steve finishes his cigarette and joins his son.

“Bloody hell, that’s a first!” he says.

“What is?”

“Seeing you working!”

“Ha-ha, Dad,” says Charlie. “Very funny.”

“I’m only kidding, son. How come you’re being so productive, anyway?”

“Mum just asked me to do some jobs.”

“Yeah, but why are you actually doing them? You normally find some excuse.”

“I dunno. Maybe she’ll give me some pocket money.”

“Ha-ha! I knew there must be a reason. Have you seen the dent in the car?”

“Yeah, mum showed me last night.”

Charlie uses the last of the water, then takes the empty can into the garage and emerges with the lawnmower.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re going to cut the grass too!” Steve rubs his eyes theatrically. “I think my vision is getting blurry!”

Charlie shakes his head and plugs in the power lead.

“How come you two were having takeaway?”

“Erm…I don’t think there was anything in for dinner.”

“And why didn’t she just have it delivered?”

“I dunno, Dad.”

“Bloody women. They don’t like to do anything the simple way.” He puts his arm around Charlie’s shoulder and says, “Between you and me, son - women shouldn’t be allowed on the roads!”

“I dunno, Dad. But I have to get on with this. Mum says I have to clean the bathroom after doing the garden.”

“Well, don’t let me get in your way, Mister Working Man!”

Steve watches his son mowing the lawn, and reflects on how quickly he is growing up; he remembers when Charlie used to hate doing household chores.

 

End

I am English. I worked in casinos for 20 years, 15 of those years spent working on various cruise ships. I enjoy reading and writing.

0
0
0
s2sdefault

Donate a little?

Use PayPal to support our efforts:

Amount

Genre Poll

Your Favorite Genre?

Sign Up for info from Short-Story.Me!

Stories Tips And Advice