At Least You Are Paid Well

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At Least You Are Paid Well

Rolling hills of green pine sway softly in the wind. The sun, high in the sky, is casting its golden gaze upon your bare chest. You lay there, basking in the warmth, content. A calm trickling sound catches your attention. Your gaze falls lazily upon the crystal clear water of a small flowing river beside you. You could spend an eternity here ...

“Beep, Beep, Beep.”

Every morning you are in a rush. Cringing at the shrill alarm, you relish the warmth for another second. The sheets are hugging you, the bed is soft. It is almost pleading with you to stay.

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Billson’s Best

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Billson’s Best

The following quotes were found attached to a board under Jones’ desk, following an Occupational Health and Safety review to ensure compliance with the company’s policy on the safe use of storage areas. Since discovery, both Billson and Jones have been placed on administrative leave pending review.

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Are You A Wage Slave?

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Are You A Wage Slave?

As children we can’t help but dream of all of the amazing things that we will accomplish.

What we will do, the places we will see and the people we will meet.

Then life happens.

We get a job, we get a house, and we get into debt. We get used to the level of luxury that we can afford, and then define ourselves by our incomes, positions and possessions.

We settle.

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Appropriate Workplace Conversation and Etiquette - Report Excerpts

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Appropriate Workplace Conversation and Etiquette - Report Excerpts

“… primarily, all employees should aim to converse only in a manner that is topical to their particular fields of work, as well as its related tasks and topics. This will ensure that all conversation remains politically correct, non-discriminatory and *victimless …”

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Human Resources #3

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Human Resources #3

“Really Billson? Cannibalism? You are clearly a hungry man, but don’t you think this is a bit much?” Jones said, raising his eyes to meet Billson’s.

Billson quickly looked away and bit down harder on his lip. This time drawing some blood. Instinctively he attempted to swallow it, but was once again denied this basic reflex.

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Human Resources #2

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Human Resources #2

Taking another quick glance at the man taking up two of his waiting room chairs, Jones had the sudden realisation that Billson must be a terribly anxious man.

“This isn’t the first time you have had to have one of these talks, right?” said Jones as he was opening Billson’s file.

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Human Resources #1

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Human Resources #1

It was time. Billson had been dreading this moment all week. Jones from Human Resources had demanded a meeting to discuss ‘a matter of great importance’. No elaboration given, just a date, a time and a room number.

Billson knew what it related to, but couldn’t quite grasp what the big deal was. He always spoke this way, always joked this way, and the people laughed. True, he wasn’t always sure if it was with him or at him, but that didn’t matter, it was getting the laughs that counted.

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This Story Is About You (short fiction)

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This Story Is About You (short fiction)

Believe it or not, I wrote this story about you. Yes, you. The person reading this right now. True, I don’t know your name, where you were born or what you do for work, but that doesn’t really matter.

I am going to be honest. I like you, the real you that is. The you that exists beyond those small details.

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The Priest

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The Priest

The Priest winced as he got down on to his knees and began to pray. The years of prostration had taken its toll on his old joints, yet he never complained. He recounted the stories, lit the candles and performed the rituals, as was dictated by his tradition.

Battered and torn robes adorned his shoulders, off white in colour. Around his neck sat a golden cross held in place by a thin leather cord that he kept tucked away under his shirt. Soft blue eyes, gentle wrinkle lines and a prominent nose further gave his aging body away.

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Rebirth

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Rebirth

It turns out that birth and decay are not so different after all.

“So I shat myself again for the fourth time this week. I couldn’t help it. I don’t have the coordination or strength necessary to get myself to the toilet. Not that I could sit on it even if I did, I would likely fall in and drown! This is a world made for giants and I am now so small …“

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Saying Goodbye

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Saying Goodbye

How can you say goodbye to a child?

"It wasn’t her death that was upsetting to me. It was the dying. I was glad when it was over. For her sake, and my own.

I know it sounds harsh, but that was five years. Five long years of cleaning up vomit, of late nights and close calls. Five years of broken commitments, false hopes, and missed opportunities..."

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12 Word Stories - Part 2

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12 Word Stories - Part 2

A collection of 12 word stories:
"Shamefully, he continued gorging. Attempting to fill the hole in his heart"
"Brief respite, an escape from reality, a new habit begins to form"
"Poop stuck on Rover’s fur! Seriously regretting my decision to adopt him"

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12 Word Stories - Part 1

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12 Word Stories - Part 1

A collection of 12 word stories:
"He waved. I smiled. Jessica also smiled. I am invisible to him"
"Never satisfied, he looks for approval in the mirror, lifting weights endlessly"
"My boyfriend broke up with me. Now I'm sad ugly and single"

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Finish The Job (short fiction)

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Finish The Job (short fiction)

You need to finish it ...

"You surveyed the scene looking for him. Doubt crept back in. Had you done enough? Was he left in a similar state to you? With knife wounds you can never be certain. Despite the comfort you derived from the old knife fighting adage that, ‘The loser of a knife fight dies on the scene and the winner dies in hospital’. Past experience had taught you otherwise..."

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