Every morning, I get up before dawn to make coffee and saunter to either the bench under the apple tree or to the conservatory when it's either cold or when it rains. When I choose the conservatory, I usually open the doors to let the sound and smells of the garden into the house, unless it's really cold. That feels...

The clock couldn't move fast enough. My best friend was due in ten minutes, and I'd been ready for almost an hour. An hour and twenty minutes. I was bloody pathetic. Finally, the door flew open, and Max's voice blustered, "Victor! Where are you?" I leapt off the sofa and ran to the front door. "Here, buffoon!" We...

I’ve had a new neighbour for over a month now and I think she’s struggling with something. She wanders around the garden and inside the house, holding a book and muttering to herself. I just want to make something nice for her and leave it at her door. You might think, Tom, why don’t you just talk to her? Well, there’s...

I was busy clearing out a cupboard in the living room when I found a package hidden in the back of the bottom shelf. It was wrapped with a string of rope, and something was written on the front. I squinted to read my aunt’s chicken scribbles. *this is a lovely painting but I hate it so much now I’ve seen the stupid cow...

I study the book with a frown, stare at the stack of trays before me, and look at the book again. I mumble, "Plant six trays each of chamomile, basil, lavender and thyme. The rest of the herbs in the basket need only two trays each. Make sure you set them into the greenhouse alternating, and to keep the trays with...

this story is set in the same world as the first one in the challenge I lay awake in the middle of the night, the light on my nightstand just bright enough to read. My book rested in my lap, though, I was too busy staring at the battered ceiling above me, worried the torrential rain would hammer through the thatched...

I woke up a couple of minutes before my alarm and yawned and stretched. I inhaled like someone hovering over a cup of fresh brew. Something was different. I put on my robe and opened the curtains of the cottage that was my home since the heart of winter. I gazed into the garden with my mouth sagged open. Overnight, the...

I was clicking through music mix videos on youtube, and wondered what stories they could inspire. I clicked through until I found something that made me want to write, opened Pagecord, and here it is, in all its raw glory. This is the video: heart is never silent, constantly whispering words at my fingers. Even when I...

Okay, I have to tell my story before I go insane.I'm going to post it here on my little blog because I hope one of my friends will read it and come to check on me. I need someone to see what I see and tell me I haven't gone completely insane.Let me come right out and say it: there's an alien in my cupboard.I suck at...

A repost of a story I wrote years ago on my blog to a prompt. I bet it was chocolate. ---Footsteps. Bare feet. Ten meters. Five. Four. One. Soft thud. Footsteps disappear, swiftly. I frown as I glance at my pocket watch. 6 am. What a curious time for a delivery. Might it be a new case?I move up swiftly, light my candle,...

 I wish I could write her a poem.  I would write it on beautiful paper, with a pen that the old scribes used.   Then I would roll up the paper, and tie it with a red bow. She loves red.   Then I would hand my gift to her with the glass of milk, small bowl of fruit, two slices of bread, strawberry jam and butter she...

This weekend I read an article about AI, and a plot bunny hit me over the head. It scared the heck out of me so I had to write it, obviously. First short story in a long time. --- Report From: Bot343560467A To: SupervisorA3498 Subject: Report on citizen AAG-0983268-52 As requested, I submit this report in human readable...

I’m in so much trouble.  The other day I pranked an author.  Nothing bad, I promise you! I just waited until she fell asleep and then I sorted her library by colour and tidied the mess on her desk.  She totally freaked out when she woke up, though!  Oberon went off on a litany! “You went too far, Puck! She’s my...

(Originally posted on Mastodon) Finally, puzzle time! I open the box, set the lid aside and free the puzzle pieces from the bag. Both hands move in tandem, finding edge pieces, eyes scan the picture on the lid. The edge complete, I move to sort pieces by colour, smiling. “Captain?” I sigh. “Yes, ship?” “I’m approaching...

I was so happy when I first learned to ride a broom. They said it would take me four weeks to get used to flying. Well, as I’m ever a contestant for the overachiever of the year award, I aimed for three. It all went so well, I could kick start within two days, hovered steady in a week. Today, two weeks and six days...