She Wanted More

Honeysuckle Kumar wanted More. More of what, she was not quite sure. Perhaps more space to figure it all out.  

Theoretically Honey (as she was known as to friends and family) had Enough and should have Nothing to Complain About. A high earning husband, a software developer who took his role of provider seriously. Twins, Hari and Jasmin, who recently took up places at good universities. The mortgage on their detached three bedroom house in a middle class (albeit boring) area was paid off.

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Christmas Party for One

            Owen walked the dog down the lane and turned towards the Norman castle. It was very quiet there, befitting Christmas eve. The Teifi gorge around two sides of the ruin was invisible, making its threat of a blind descent into the underworld stronger than ever. The dog was nervous. Usually it loved the lane, its smells. In pitch black Owen was about to turn back when, atop one of the castle’s walls, he saw a figure, like a lonely guard defending his prince’s grounds centuries after his master’s death. He looked again and the solitary warrior had vanished. He and the dog both slunk home with their tails between their legs, unsettled.

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It’s My Party

I can tell you this, it was the worst thing ever. One minute I’m whole and healthy and the next I’m draped over the pavement with a spine in two bits and no movement in my lower half. RTA they call it, huh, more like EOL, or end of life as it was.

Long story short, it could have been much worse – my top half works pretty well, but nothing from the waist down. It’s stunning what medics can do to put Humpty Dumpty together again. Family rallied round and helped where the wheelchair couldn’t go. I moved in with my parents (for a while) so they could share the work of looking after me. Carers cared, and a PA arranges things that need arranging: meals fetched, clothes washed, library books changed, shoes laced, soft voices, no rows (I miss the rows).

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Carol and the Case of the Suspicious Neighbours

“We’ve been infiltrated,” said Carol, scanning the assembled members of the W.I. “I saw our cake recipe on Val Clark’s shopping list in Tesco this morning.”

“But… it’s only a Victoria Sponge!” said Julie.

Carol flung her arms in the air. “How many times do I have to say it? Use the code name!”

It was fair to say that former Superintendent Carol was finding retirement a struggle. It had only been six weeks but already she was exasperated.

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Which Way?

Walking out of the town hall Aldo turned to me: ”Nan, isn’t Alan Parson wonderful. He can get this country back to the way it should be.”

Looking at him, I sighed. He had the look of the converted, his eyes shining at the thought of a wealthy life for all, poor boy. I should really keep my thoughts to myself but that man was dangerous, all his talk fantasy to lure the youngsters in. 

”My Mam told me about a guy who broadcast during the war; his name was Lord Jaw Jaw . The broadcasts sound very similar to that man, only he was trying to get us to surrender promising he would make us all a wonderful life under Titler. ”

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Third Party Liability


Borstad McSingewad focuses. He feels uncomfortable talking to holographic jurors, despite it being years since the Jury Security Act passed, but out of habit, he walks to the jury display.

“Binaries and nonbinaries of the jury, Jonathan Blurt, is accused under the Third-Party Liability Act of responsibility for the actions of his putative grandfather, a murderer convicted in-absentia,” he says.

“The prosecution alleges he would not exist had his grandfather, Aloysius, been convicted of his crimes. They say Aloysius couldn’t have impregnated his wife, Berenice, because of his incarceration. The prosecution has tried to establish a Prima Facie case denying my client’s right to exist.”

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May 2025 Prompt – The Party

HOMEWORK for deadline Thursday 10pm, 22.05.25.

TASK: ‘The Party’. Write 500 words or fewer about ‘The Party’. Your story title isn’t included in the 500 words.

Homework to be in by 10pm at the latest, Thursday 22nd May 2025. (This time deadline will be helpful to both Martyn and Pat).

Meeting at 1.30pm, Sunday 25.05.25, Waterstones Bookshop,1st floor, Oxford Street. Finish about 3.00pm.

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