There within
I look to the child held in her mother’s arms, awash in the surfeit of love so vast there is no moment without laughter, no moment of lack or want. She is…
Coccinella
43 stories written on Ficly, 2009, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0. Their page on ficly.com
The art of painlessness
‘Say what you like about serial monogamy,’ declared Annette, ‘I value the process of elimination. I’ve learned what I want and what I won’t stand for. And…
The greatest myth of them all
Her endless skirt swirled in silvery tides and currents. Far below, at her immense hems, they sat, swarming and intent, like worker bees or ants. Stitching…
Four pencils
Yes but. Yes but your spelling sucked. Yes but you need to learn about paragraphs. Yes but I wanted just a little bit more to make it excellent. Yes nearly.
Five pencils
A few weeks ago I read a story that actually haunted me for days. I still click on the author’s profile frequently to see whether she’s written anything else…
I am Legend in 10 words
Noooooooo! KILLER ....... MONSTER ....... PLAGUE! At least I have my dog.
Citizen Kane in 10 words
Lost sledge drives print tycoon to fame, fortune and dissatisfaction.
Egbert fails at Feng Shui
“What do you mean, she moved the furniture?” asked Dave. “She moved things. Around. Chairs, sofa - furniture,” said Egbert. “You took home a woman that moved…
American Psycho in 10 words
Patrick Bateman cleanses, moisturises, tones, rapes, kills, hallucinates et cetera.
Alternative Titanic in 10 words
“Rose?” “Jack!” “Rose...” “Jack...” “Rose!!!” “Jack!” “ROOOOOOOOSSSSSSE!!!” “JACKKKKK!!!” “Ro - o-o-o-se....” (sinks)
The Big Lebowski in 10 words
Dude’s rug gets stolen. Jesus bowls. Donnie dies. Dude abides.
The conversation of insects
By the age of 5, Phyllis could understand the conversations of insects. Phyllis’ unusual talent brought with it a degree of solitude, which further fuelled her…
A different menu
Egbert couldn’t see why Dave had insisted he needed a different place for the second date. But, thankfully, the Snout and Whisker looked almost identical to…
Egbert looks for love
“The first date, and you think – she might be The One?” Dave said slowly. “Yep,” said Egbert, picking up a potato wedge and dipping it momentously into the…
My big brown boots
On the day he left I walked the streets I lost my shoes, my feet were bare You took my hand and led me home You found my clothes and combed my hair You took me…
this room
in this strange unwalled room i did not see your face and if I saw your hands tomorrow i would not recognise their shape in this room in no country this room…
Party pack
“Don’t worry, you’ll meet someone. You won’t be a single mum forever,” she says, sympathy piped into her voice like the rosettes on the Smurf-blue cake. We’re…
Bad dream in the void
Where is my shadow? He wondered in sudden panic, Awake and alone No sun cast an answer so Forty-Two went back to sleep.
Pan fried
With bubbling noise the plains of Pan awoke As butt’ry whiffs arose upon the smoke. The legions rose, awakened by the sound, And thund’rous in their hunger…
Heart of Darkness
Is your death metal starting to feel a bit lite? Has your existential angst turned from bespoke heavy-duty personal baggage to pint-sized Prada cocktail purse…