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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…

Mike was reliving his evening with Sarah as he expertly edged the lawn.  The date, which had been arranged by friends, turned out much better than he could have ever imagined.  He knew he wasn’t a great catch but he really wanted Sarah to agree to go out with him again.  From the moment Mike entered the bar and saw her, he couldn’t believe his luck; she looked stunning in her well-fitting jeans and Tshirt.    He found Sarah to be confident but not overbearing and Mike wasn’t his usual tongue-tied self.   He loved the way her blonde ponytail jiggled about as she spoke enthusiastically about her job as a nursery teacher.   Mike looked around, appraising his work.  Two more gardens to do and then he would be finished for the day and Sarah should be home from work and hopefully would want to chat.

It was Sarah who had suggested a tour round his garden when she found out what he did for a living.  She told him of her passion for flowers and how she was only able to plant up tubs in her small yard and proudly showed him photos of them on her phone.  Mike could see she was no gardener but complimented her on her use of colour which pleased her immensely.  What he didn’t add was that he found the layout of the mismatched pots somewhat higgledy-piggledy and the gravel path could do with a bit of attention.

On the one hand Mike couldn’t wait for Friday evening, but on the other hand he had so much to do.  His own garden didn’t take priority in the summer months but at least his flat was neat and tidy, only requiring a fresh towel in the bathroom and a straightening of the cushions on the sofa.  Mike just had enough time to line up the pots on the patio and remove a few wisps of grass from between the paving slabs.  The borders were in full bloom; the pattern of the well-staked, flowers both in colour and form was repeated three times.  An even, green lawn which wouldn’t look out of place in a bowling club finished off the picture.  He made a small adjustment to one of the patio chairs and surveyed his plot with approval.

Sarah arrived dead on six.  Mike, who liked punctuality, thought that they had a lot in common.  He considered that this relationship seemed to be going well as he followed Sarah who was making straight for the garden.  He was a little disappointed that the polish on the toe nails revealed by Sarah’s sandals was rather chipped.  He waited for the exclamation of delight when Sarah set eyes on his garden which, even in his eyes, looked pristine.  She turned to face him, her eyes wide.

“Mike, It’s really ..... neat.”

Mike smiled contentedly as he considered that he had found his soul mate in Sarah.

 

Author Bio:  Linda Casper hails from Yorkshire and, after a long career as a high school teacher, she has recently begun to write and has had many short stories, poems and travel articles published.  Linda has a keen interest in gardening and is a judge for Yorkshire in Bloom.

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