A Decade Short: Stories

Legislative manuscripts and books of law line the shelves. In front of the solicitor is the will and last testament of Mr Bankcroft’s stepfather.  ‘Mr Bankcroft, as you can see here you’ve been left the estate of Mr Kelso.  As discussed very little has been left as to why he’s left this property to you, but he has left a note.  Perhaps it would explain more.’ Mr Bankcroft looked at the envelope, it looked cheap, the kind his stepfather bought in bulk like so many other things.  He pulled the letter out and read it. His mouth let out a wry smile.  ‘Well what is it?’ Mrs Cecilia Bankcroft pulled on his elbow.  ‘He says we’re allowed the house as long as we don’t take down the picture of his mother.’ ‘What? That’s it? Did he not say anything else?’ ‘Only that we’re allowed the house if we keep his mum up on the wall.’ ‘How are they going to police that?  Can you police that?’ Cecilia looks directly at the solicitor. It was the fir...

Prologue It was the blizzard that kept her indoors.   So it was from the sanctuary of her bedroom that Alice watched the snowfall. She brought out her notebook and began to draw the lines of the snowflakes as they spiralled out on the window. They began to web, appearing to make cracks in the glass.   As if a spider was waiting for its prey. It was the first days of winter. And the first time Alice heard about him . She spiralled the ice onto her paper, the pencil askew as she heard the fatal screams from next door.   A mans head rolled on to the ice below stuck like a fly onto the frozen web. Chapter 1 Static played from Alice Harbinger’s walkie-talkie, a voice was trying to reach her. It hummed with the stray flies.   Alice lifted her walkie and flicked the switch, turning the dial, tuning out the feedback. Crccht…. “Welcome to Willholme…”Chrcct.   The voice belonged to a man, his voice deep but gentle. “…Bill?.” Rccct… “Alice!” fzzr “Shouldn’t you be running ...

Timothy looked in the mirror. His shirt was oversized but it still made him look smart, he had managed to make his scruffy hair tidy with an excess of hair product and even though his tired eyes watered he was ready to start his new job.  It was significant.  Not because it was work, but because he had given something up by putting on that shirt and allowing himself to count numbers for a living.  He thought about his past as he straightened himself out.   The tram came by and all Timothy could think about was how everyone crammed into the carts, popping out like clowns from a small car.   He didn’t mind that part of the day. As he watched the landscape shoot by he noticed how the speed made the colours of the trees smudge and stick together.   It was like bubble gum that was being pulled apart by hand to hang like a large painting that hung from station to station.   He looked around and disappointingly no one else could see the bubble gum canvas...

Authors Note: I apologise, this isn't a finished story but I think it has a lot of potential. Think it's still worth a read :) Your Afterlife Explained Bernie sat down for a meeting set up by his ghost. it was a special meeting.   They were to discuss the celebratory meal, their   ‘Melt’ was 20 years ago today.   Not everyone celebrated their Melts but Bernie was sentimental.   His ghost, Evie, could never find it in her to care. It was hard for her to feel anything being dead.   Ghosts started appearing over 100 years ago, there was never any scientific explanation as to why but most assumed that the afterlife was blocked up.   ‘Cogged up like a drain’ Evie would say, ‘it just needs someone to put down the bleach, or whatever the equivalent’ she’d snap.   She always got a little touchie when people pushed her on it.   ‘Just because I’m dead, doesn’t mean I know the meaning of life.’ She’d say.    But she did wish she knew, ‘Even if I di...