Winners/Highly Commended
Latest Winner
Milkshake
By Deborah Shewell
He had already visited the Mermaid Cafe twice that week when he arrived on Friday just before lunchtime. Immediately he realised he had made a mistake. He had avoided Thursday as he didn’t want to come three days in a row, but today was busy. His usual corner spot under the stuffed seagull was taken and he was forced to sit marooned in the centre of the café, at a table already occupied by the annoying old woman and her dog. He had seen her feeding it from her plate earlier in the week, the dog resting its paws on her lap, spraying its doting owner with flecks of food and spittle.
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Runners-Up
By Barry Schweiger
I don’t care. No one cares about me. I’ve hitched from California to Maine, bumming rides, stealing cars an’ leavin’ ‘em. Worked a bit waitressing, slept outside mostly. What’s left?
God that river is beautiful down there, so smooth and peaceful. It’s so dark tonight, I wonder how deep it is? I can just fly down to it, be embraced in its waters. The danger, the floating in air . . .
By Julie Evans
Charlotte walks past the fishermen, all set up with their folding chairs, pop-up tents, camping stoves. In spring they’re always there, each at his own station, a home from home beside the lake. They’re all men and this is all they seem to need – something to hunt, somewhere to rest, something to eat and drink. One of them always gives her a friendly smile as she passes, a younger man in an oilskin coat.
Highly Commended stories
Another eleven stories have been recognised as Highly Commended
from the latest competition. For full details, and info about how to
get brief feedback on your story free of charge, see here.
