Click the titles below for free samples of my published stories
|
|
Missing. Of course I still see her. All the time. Only last week, when I was on the bus into town, I saw her near the hospital. I don’t know how I stopped myself banging on the window. I thought if I could only make her look round she’d see me and wave. It was her walk I recognised. She always walked fast with her head held high like she had somewhere important to go. Porridge would be good, Danny said. Porridge was cheap and kept out the cold. He remembered a bright, steamy kitchen filled with the bustle and banter of a family getting ready for work and school. He could taste the scalding porridge cooled with creamy milk and dollops of homemade jam. But his smile faded as he watched Holly shrug and pour boiling water into plastic tubs. The label said porridge but it wasn’t the same. |
Creak. Crack. Sigh. The sounds take her back to Granny’s house where she’d whimpered in the dark listening to ghosts creeping up the stairs. But Granny had brushed away the tears. Hush, nothing to fear. It’s only an old house settling down for the night; its timbers have shrunk, its pipes are rusty and the slates let in draughts. Creak. Crack. Sigh. Nothing to fear. It’s only an old woman settling down for the night. Jonah was invisible to most shoppers, and ignored by the rest, but he enjoyed his job. He took a pride in keeping the supermarket shelves filled. He loved seeing everything in its rightful place, everything clean and tidy. One day, he was so happy he sang out loud to the background music. You make me feel like a natural woman. Embarrassed, he looked round and was even more embarrassed by the surprised smiles and applause. |
And if you're feeling generous ...
|
You'll find thirteen of my stories in this collection. Please click on cover for details. |
|