The Manipulator
The physiotherapist flexed her muscles.“You’ve allowed your body to get totally out of shape, Mr Smith. This will hurt, I’m afraid.”The patient nodded apprehensively. “Do what you must.”She began...
View ArticleFlyover Frank
With money no object, Frank heard there was to be a total eclipse of the sun in Nova Scotia. After all, Carly had written a song about him (he kept telling everyone), and he had a reputation to live up...
View ArticleThe Theology of War
Orphaned, the little girl is being led down a crater-filled road towards safety. Her guide, and last remaining friend in the world, is a Catholic priest. All around, buildings are in ruins. And it’s...
View ArticleBandits
There were three of them, dressed all in black, sauntering aimlessly around a hundred yards away. They shouldn’t have bothered me, but I committed the mistake of making eye contact.Very gradually, they...
View ArticleHoward and the Freezer Guy
A longer story this time. I think everyone has at least one neighbour like this. Howard and his two children emerged from home to find a giant delivery lorry parked across his entrance gateway. Howard...
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Taylor Swift, True Professional
Written as Taylor Swift began the European leg of her ERAS tour only a mile from my home. The entire country went mad. Edinburgh – Scotland – the UK – all of Europe had gone mad.Over 70,000 ‘Swifties’...
View ArticleAndy Takes People for Granted
Andy took everyone, and everything, for granted. Andy never tipped taxi drivers or in restaurants, or gave his cleaner or gardener a Christmas present. Andy saw no reason to pay someone extra ‘simply...
View ArticleThe Collector
I get great satisfaction from my job. I do it well.No one is genuinely ready for me, whether they’re in Gaza, Ukraine, in a hospice or a car crash. And they’re all expecting a man. Heaven knows why;...
View Article45 Applies for a Job
Candidate number 45 glared across the table at the three-Martian interview panel: Algernon, Beatrice and Claire.Claire began. “So… 45, why should you be CEO of Mars?”“I’m the colour of Mars. And...
View ArticleA Journey of Understanding
Woken by the doorbell at six in the morning, Peter opened his front door to see three men and three women, each wearing white coats.“We’ve come for you,” their leader, a women, said.“What for?” Peter...
View ArticleA Movie Ending
Monday 4th November, 2024“People say that I ramble but I’m actually brilliant I’m a very brilliant man and I don’t ramble I weave different themes together, in and out like a tapestry and it takes a...
View ArticleAll Because the Wall Didn't Do Its Job
In Spring, the migrants came north, encouraged by improved weather and better life opportunities. The Wall proved no barrier.There’s little doubt that the migrants were helping themselves to whatever...
View ArticleTwo Tribes and the Wise Man
A wise man once said to two warring tribes, “If you could only hold your fire briefly, you would not only find peace, you could also become wiser. For if you listen, you will find that you learn more...
View ArticleJack and the Mobile Phone
Jack’s new Nokia could text and take photos; even make telephone calls. Friends were insanely jealous.Jack loved hiking. One day, he dropped his pride-and-joy down between some rocks. Determined to...
View ArticleAt the 999 Call Centre
On the weekend the clocks went back... “Emergency services, which service do you require?”“Ambulance – I’ve broken my leg!”“What happened?”“I took the stairs too fast, slipped, and fell.”“When was...
View ArticleThe Thief of Time
For Halloween. Jamie loved long-case clocks, and loved stealing other people’s grandfather clocks. Never caught, or even suspected, newspapers dubbed the mystery robber “The Thief of Time.”But it was a...
View ArticleSchool Lesson
“So what did you learn at school today, Chloe?”“There’s a new President, Grandpa. He’s son of the old President, and grandson of the one before that.”“That’s right, Chloe. Was your teacher...
View ArticleThe One After That Old Guy
By 2028, he owned every TV station, every newspaper, and every publishing house. He’d bought Microsoft and Apple, and had added every other social media outlet. He owned every postal and delivery...
View ArticleAddict
Alone in the house, her opportunity had finally arrived.Furtively, she removed her illicit supply from her secret cupboard store. It was wrong, but she couldn’t help it. Months of work, of one-to-one...
View ArticleThe Cyberstalker
Cyberstalker Cecil settled down for the evening with four pies, ten cans of beer and his computer. A former priest and respected pillar of the community, it had emerged that he’d been rather too close...
View ArticlePeace on Earth
Over the course of history, Religious Leaders appeared in various corners of the Earth, each claiming the True Faith.Thousands of years ago in the Middle East, one Religious Leader appered promising...
View ArticlePeace Offering
Four writers knelt before the High Editor in Edinburgh Castle’s Great Hall.“Mighty Editor,” they intoned. “We’ve travelled thousands of miles from Canada to beg forgiveness for our sins. We forgot our...
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A Fatal Mistake in the Heat of Battle
The room’s heat rose, the contest intensified: I could see sweat trickling down his face. Deep in concentration, I sensed he was nevertheless in great peril. This was my moment.He paused for effect,...
View ArticleAt Santa's Grotto
A little boy is next at Santa’s Grotto.“Well, young man, what’s your name?|“Noah,” the boy replies.“Nice name. And have you been good this year?”“I hope so.”“Very good, Noah. What would you like for...
View ArticleHer Final Journey
The pain came in the bathroom. She'd been expecting it, but not just then. Let me be clean, be respectable. Desperately, she reached for paper and did her best, pain racking up all the time as she...
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