Story. Страница 32

Lifetime Supply. Louisa Owen

Port Talbot steelworks blinks at me through an orange haze, and I blink back. As the Smooth Sailin' drifts through the black, liquorice waves, I close my eyes, thinking up entirely new, untouched coastlines, but I wake up in Splott.     As Bertie turns the boat around, we hear the gentle splish-splash of a paddler approaching. The postman waves two small boxes from inside a dirty, plastic swan. Our hearts sink. 🍓 Запрещённое в соцсетях искусство — t.me/kartiny/5953     "Duw, I been searching for you girls all…

War, Peace, and Bacon Grease. Melissa Poettcker

With a practiced bump of my hip, the door to the kitchen swings open, and I call out the order for table seven. "Two barbecue back ribs and one house — "     My mouth snaps shut at the empty galley. Or mostly empty. There's only Tom, the new hire, washing dishes in the corner. 🍓 Запрещённое в соцсетях искусство — t.me/kartiny/5953     "Larissa?" I call out, my heart rate picking up at the thought of my very pregnant sister passed out on the floor somewhere. Or maybe she's lying down in the cooler with her feet…

Gnome. Steve White

Simon believed it was luck when he saw the garden gnome. He should have stumbled past it. It was dark and he was drunk. His eyes blinked a couple of times as his brain tried to override the alcohol blurring his vision. Then he grinned mischievously in recognition. It was a gnome. He giggled as if seeing an old friend. It looked out of place, on its own, in the middle of the garden. The nearest street light was like a spotlight and the lawn it sat upon its stage. The gnome stood facing the house in its custom…

Shellaig. Isabel Miles

A dark figure was struggling with the gate latch. It turned and, a moment before their eyes met, Rory recognised his father. He had a curious way of looking at Rory, head cocked to one side, bright eyes unblinking. It was benevolent, kind even, but more like a well-meaning stranger than a father. Of course, they hardly knew each other. Every year this black-clad semi-stranger appeared on the doorstep with a generous present and an invitation to spend the school holidays on Shellaig, the island where he was…

Cyclops. Isabel Miles

When he lost his eye, half of Eric Jessop's field of vision became a black sadness that seeped into everything from football to faces. Only skating was strong enough to resist the stain. When Eric skated, sound and speed surrounded him in a dazzling whirl and he felt alive again, almost whole. If he spun fast enough no-one could see his face, make out the jagged purple blotch replacing forehead and scalp. As he slowed down the world came back into focus and its light faded. 🍓 Запрещённое в соцсетях искусство…

The Shopkeeper and the Witch. Thomas Baldwin

In a forgotten corner of the city, at the end of a nondescript back alley, was a small health food shop. It had been there more than forty years and was once popular. Now, a dwindling number of faithful regulars still dropped in for their traditional arthritis remedies, but it was no longer enough to pay the rent. 🍓 Запрещённое в соцсетях искусство — t.me/kartiny/5953     The owner was a white-haired old man called Mr. Robins, who lived in a flat above the shop. One evening, just before closing time, he sat…

Eternal Hope. Barry Yedvobnick

Eric Marshall was hurtling well past the speed limit, delivering the vintage 2025 Dodge Charger to its new owner. This car was seventy-five years old and his favorite.     But there was a sound rising above the familiar growl of the engine, and it was getting louder. 🍓 Запрещённое в соцсетях искусство — t.me/kartiny/5953     "Don't you dare do this to me now. I just sold you!"     He took his foot off the gas to quiet the engine. It was a woman talking.     "Oh Eric, you won, you won it!"     As he awoke, the…

Hope and Comfort. A. J. McKenna

Charley Foley calls into the Mater Misericordia Hospital to visit his wife.     'How are you feeling?' he asks, sitting at the bedside, close to Dolly who is smiling up at him, her black hair resting against the white pillows. 🍓 Запрещённое в соцсетях искусство — t.me/kartiny/5953     'I'm fine,' Dolly says, quietly. She looks old and tired to Charley; she is deathly pale and has black pouches under her eyes. When she slips her fingers into Charley's he notices two ugly brown liver spots on the back her small…

Hobnail. Crystal Arbogast

Fannie Poteet sat cross-legged on her Uncle John's front porch; her favorite rag doll clutched under one arm. The late afternoon sun shone through the leaves of the giant oak tree, casting its flickering light on the cabin. This golden motion of light entranced the child and she sat with her face turned upward, as if hypnotized. The steady hum of conversation flowed from inside of the cabin. 🍓 Запрещённое в соцсетях искусство — t.me/kartiny/5953     "Ellen, I'm sure happy that you came to church with us today.…