Cherrypicked stories

We Watched from the Shore

By Jane Hyphen on Mon, 05 Feb 2024

We watched from the shore, is he really on board? There’s no sign of him on land or sea or yet behind this sealed sky. He is behind our eyes, as a...

Poem

Certificate U

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4182 reads

2 likes

Gerald

By Terrence Oblong on Sun, 04 Feb 2024

Gerald was grey-all-over old, that’s the first thing I noticed about him. He was tall, about six feet ten, had a long, straggly, grey beard and was...

Miscellaneous

Story

Certificate 15

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4 comments
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747 reads

World of Hedges

By Terrence Oblong on Sun, 04 Feb 2024

“The hedge needs cutting,” said Finch. “Why is there a hedge here in the middle of the High Street? This is a High Street isn’t it, not a planet...

Science fiction

Story

Certificate 15

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4 comments
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801 reads

Cherries and Dahlia Petals

By Turlough on Sun, 04 Feb 2024

The story of a magic carpet-ride through Persia - Part Twelve, the final part.

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24 comments
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6426 reads

1 likes

"The Coffee House Spy" 14

By Penny4athought on Sat, 03 Feb 2024

“Give us some answers and we may leave you in a nice place when we dump you.” Brent threatened with a cold smile. “I’ve already told you I’m a bead...

Other Fiction

Story

Certificate 15

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3 comments
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802 reads

Unforeseen Circumstances

By luigi_pagano on Sat, 03 Feb 2024

Do you believe in Fate?

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6 comments
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1277 reads

1 likes

"Unwanted Magic" 4

By Penny4athought on Sat, 03 Feb 2024

Joey listened intently to the bird’s singing in the tree and began to hum the tune along with them trying to remember the words. Joey’s dad picked up...

Fantasy

Story

Certificate 15

An Octopus Picks Litter at the End of the World

By MistakenMagic on Sat, 03 Feb 2024

A serrated bottle cap. A triangle of green glass. These are unusual shells: strange, immortal tools that she collects during a morning’s foraging...

Nature

Poem

Certificate U

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16 comments
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5977 reads

2 likes

New Directions (9)

By Ed Crane on Sat, 03 Feb 2024

Dev called and asked me to drive to his home. He dictated an address in West Wycombe which I was able to dial into my navigation app while he spoke...

MALIGN INTENT - Teaser chapter - The wood by the estuary

By Robert Craven on Sat, 03 Feb 2024

Crowe slewed his car down the estuary road. The recent downpour had turned it into an unforgiving quagmire. Each tap of the brake might tip him into...

Story

Certificate U

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591 reads

Cold steel

By Mentalelf on Fri, 02 Feb 2024

When I returned one time from war I brought a "trophy"home, going from that to "ordinary" life is almost impossible for many, it's why i've always...

Other Non-fiction

Non-fiction

Certificate 15

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1118 reads

1 likes

Frankie! (Bring Out Your Dead series - Part 53)

By philwhiteland on Fri, 02 Feb 2024

It's only taken 53 episodes but here we are, finally, at the funeral of 'Sir Lewisham'. Now, what could possibly go wrong?

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1907 reads

1 likes

The Gaddafi Effect

By Turlough on Fri, 02 Feb 2024

The story of a magic carpet-ride through Persia - Part Eleven (with photographs, though they're the same photographs as in Part Ten, so you may have seen them before).

1 likes

New Directions (8)

By Ed Crane on Thu, 01 Feb 2024

Normally it was an hour’s drive to Dev’s from Celia’s village, but ten miles east on the M4 the snow had been more successful at screwing things up...