In a private club tucked away in central London three gentlemen sat savouring their brandies. The oldest, a plump figure bald, lived-in face, his eyes bird-like darting everywhere.
”The memorial service was pukka, don’t you think?”
His colleagues nodded their agreement. The man with a military bearing leaned forward, glancing around.
”Just thank the lord he did the honourable thing after his traitorous behaviour.”
Continue reading‘Bring the traitor in,’ the major said.
Flaming orange hair topped his rugged head. Next to him sat the captain, his blue eyes chill discs. Fire and ice together hunkered behind a desk. A youth in khaki pushed in a tall man, his hands tied behind his back.
‘You’ve been found guilty of treason,’ the major said. ‘You will be executed by members of the people’s liberation army immediately. Any last words?’
The man spat on the floor in contempt and was dragged out.
Continue readingJasmine approached her make up like an artist approaches a canvas. Her case of pastel eyeshadows as complex as a painter’s pallet. She dabbed her eyelids with emerald green and turquoise, transforming herself from housewife to glamourous movie star
Jasime glanced at the light blue veins that braided her translucent wrists like Ming replicas. Marred only by a faint butterfly tattoo just above her pulse point. Ink so stubborn it resisted removal by any modern method. A dogged reminder of the secrets she carried like a long-buried splinter
Continue readingKevin Bentley is an evil, soulless wretch, and has caused me nothing but pain, misery and utter suicidal despair.
We were once (I thought) best friends. I remember the first day of school, a frightened Kevin stood all alone in the corner of the playground and only I cared enough to talk to him. Our first few years of friendship were great, we would hang out at each other’s homes, sit next to each other in class, share our toys and video games but alas then puberty arrived and although it was remorseless to me, (my nickname was pizza face) it transformed the runty Kevin into an adonis, and that’s when his utter cruelty began.
Continue readingThings can soon go downhill. One minute the town was a pleasant seaside resort, then it turned rapidly into an environmental catastrophe. There were rats of course, and seagulls ready to exploit the new chaos – much better organized than the people, as it turned out.
It needs to be said that this was never a local matter. Far from it, it was a global problem, but that penny took a while to drop. Meanwhile the locals took a critical view of the situation, allocating blame with a distinct lack of evidence for causes or remedies.
The refuse services did excellent work trying to keep up with clearing the constantly replenished rubbish amassing on the beaches and spilling onto roads. It wasn’t their fault the landfill sites were overwhelmed and foul smelling garbage had to be disgorged on available green spaces and parks. But blame was allotted and curses duly exchanged.
The sea as an agent of revenge was considered.
Continue readingAt eight-thirty a.m., the corridor was quiet except for the office orchestra: the tick of the heating as it warmed itself to wakefulness, the hum of the vending machine, and the low burble of the watercooler. Michael switched on the coffee machine, adding to the symphony, and stood with his tie loosened.
Rajinder appeared at the end of the corridor. He caught the faint scent of sandalwood before he saw her, straightened—not enough to be obvious.
“Morning,” she said.
“Yeah, it’s definitely morning again.”
Continue readingHOMEWORK for deadline Thursday 10 pm, 20.11.25.
TASK: ‘Traitor(s)’. Write 500 words or fewer about ‘Traitor(s)’, singular or plural. Your story title isn’t included in the 500 words.
Homework to be in by 10 pm at the latest, Thursday, 20th November 2025. (This time deadline will be helpful to both Martyn and Pat).
Meeting at 1.30 pm, Sunday 23.11.25, Waterstones Bookshop, top floor [via stairs or lift], Oxford Street. Finish about 3.00 pm.
To submit, if you do not have Pat’s email address, please leave a message using the contact page, and we will send details.