Fish pie or tapas?
George Hardaker and Minnie Jessop arrived at THORNTREES on the same day. ‘We like our new residents to arrive at the same time,’ she smiled, rocking backwards and forwards in sturdy black shoes, her arms clasped behind her back.…
Lillian Bradbury
Taste the Nectar
The breath of learned scholars wash over the youngAs they sit in rows, on seats of wisdom,Transfixed with ideologies of their teachers,Strangled in their youth, as creeping bindweed kills a delicate flower.Our existence is, but a speck of time, our…
The Find
The oasis at the foot of the mountain was a welcome sight to the hundreds of people gathering there. The lush vegetation of the ferns and splendid palms gently swayed in the light breeze and the cool water was invitingly…
On Your First Day
On your first day report to the Sister in charge of the ward. Your apron must be well starched and your cuffs three inches above your elbow. Your hair off your face and collar. You will show fear – for…
Winter
I was born in a snowstorm the worst ever knownSix foot snowdrifts surrounded my home.So it’s no surprise my aversion to the coldI was a delicate child…or so I was told.I wasn’t always like this, in my teens it was…
A Wedding Day
The small gold filigree basket captured the sunbeams as they filtered through the lace voiles, giving the illusion that the small antique object was magically sprinkled with stardust. It was sitting on the dressing table in room 206. The year…
The Laundry Basket
I sat on the bathroom stool and opened the laundry basket. It had been a fabulous day out, just the two of us. The twin’s PJ’s lay on the top, they’d been for a sleep-over at my mum and dad’s.…
Freedom
‘Martin. Do you know what freedom is?’ Miss Price watched the boy over her round rimmed spectacles, her foot tapping on the lectern’s step. Her mouth puckered expectantly and her nostrils flared. Miss Price was of slight build with…
The Turkey’s in the Coal Bunker
It was early on Christmas day morning that I saw her write the note. She was sitting down at the kitchen table her eyes screwed up. She would normally put on her glasses when writing, but today she was behaving…
Brown Eagle
The mountain reached up to a blackening sky. Dusk was falling and shadows were cast on craggy outcrops. Hidden in one of the rocky crevices was an empty nest … A young brave moved stealthily through the thick lush undergrowth.…