The beautiful young maiden would sit down at the same spot by the lake and wash clothes for the people of her village. Each day she would gaze over the lake at the other village beyond, hoping to catch a glimpse of the handsome young man who would also sit down to wash clothes. Each […]

Jack Waite, a small-time crook, was hiding behind a large skip in a dark alley. The rain lashed down and he pulled his jacket tightly around him as he shivered in the cold. He threw the smouldering remains of his cigarette onto the damp ground and stamped it out with his heel. He trembled. Not […]

Once upon a time there were three little pickers, Sallie, Kathy and Alison, who worked for Sweat Shop Ltd. The three pickers loved to spend all day rushing around with their picking trucks, working hard, in the hope of gaining one hundred PI or more for a paltry bonus to top up their measly excuse […]

Nick was sat down at his desk working away on his new story. Hiding on the balcony was a man holding a scarf. As Nick typed the man slowly crept out from his hiding place. The man’s eyes were glazed and his staggering walk indicated he was drunk. With a sudden leap forward, he wrapped […]

The young soldier embraced his fiancée and planted a soft kiss upon her forehead as they stood on the beach waiting for Higgins Boat, the troop-carrying landing craft that would take the young man and the other soldiers to fight the second world war. Shared tears fell between them as they said their goodbyes, knowing […]

Tommy stood in the bathroom brushing his teeth. Gazing into the mirror he admired his cropped blond hair and (in his opinion) a handsome set of features. Averting his eyes to his Power Rangers pyjamas his mind drifted to that glorious day when he could be just like his heroes. His mum had promised him […]

Susan sat at her dressing table examining the bruises on her face. The swelling around the eyes had gone down and the remainder of the bruises could easily be hidden with a bit of makeup. Taking a tablet would probably remove some of the physical pain she was feeling after the attack but only time […]

It had been six long months since Sandra left. She couldn’t put up with me any longer. Hardly surprising as I’d been a poor husband to her. During our four years of marriage, I had foolishly gambled and drank our income. I couldn’t control myself. For years I enjoyed life to the full. I drank, […]

My name is Andrew. I am tormented by memories of the past. People have always told me to forgive and forget. Learn a lesson from the event and move on. Accept what happened and look upon it as an experience that could benefit you in the future. Do these people know what it is like […]

The rain lashed out at me as I climbed out of my car. The strong cold wind howled and the force made me shiver. I wouldn’t normally be out on a day like this but today was a special day. Today I decided I would return to my old school to re-live some happy memories. […]

It was Christmas Eve in Rochdale and the local residents were happily spending what little they could afford out of their minimum wage to ensure they would find a little happiness and escape the harsh reality that they work for an unfeeling company for poor wages, with unions that won’t offer the support they really […]