Worthing Flash

Back Home by Ron James I woke with a start. You know that feeling when a noise has woken you but you are not sure what it was. What was it? I can hear the TV downstairs. Our bedroom is above the lounge, so if you are in bed when the TV is on, the sound sort of vibrates up through the pillow. Pam stayed up after I came to bed, she must be still watching it. What’s the time? 1.15! She’s fallen asleep down there. I run my hand across the bed, she is next to me. Surely she hasn’t come to bed and left it on! I put my dressing gown on. If we have burglars I don’t want them to see me in a state of undress, although I have to admit burglars don’t normally watch your telly. I walk down the stairs to switch it off. As I go into the lounge I glance to the left. Oh, bloody hell! there is someone sitting there, but he certainly doesn’t look like a burglar. He is just sitting there watching T.V. and doesn’t move as I walk in. He’s elderly, probably early 80’s, short, thin, al...

The link to the #worthingflash youtube channel is here This means that you can send videos in as well as short stories and illustrations for them. Reminder - I am still looking for volunteers to come along and share their short stories on 4th July at a venue in Worthing - probably St Paul's in Chapel Street. Without volunteers, the event cannot go ahead. The Page and Spine Derek McMillan page is at  https://www.pagespineficshowcase.com/derek-mcmillan.html   I appreciate the illustration looks like a Mosleyite but a Mosleyite on fire perhaps. (It has been pointed out to me that it is a Lego colourblind Mosleyite- the fascist uniform was black)

Some people say I'm a bit of an ass. I'm not. I'm a whole ass. Not an arse. I've got one of those like you have but there's more to me than that. I haven't an as. I'm totally skint. The inn this stable belongs to is not one of those posh new post inns with a stable full of horses. There's just me, an ass. I'm used for shopping. Anyway one day a couple came into this stable. The woman was crying with pain. She was about to have a baby. The Baby was born. He didn't cry as human babies usually do. I swear He brayed. “In the future, I will ride one of your descendants into Jerusalem”. Peter Redfarn

Caroline Osella is one of the contributors to the Worthing Flash event last year. Her website is here Ethnographic flash shorts about Worthing, West Sussex, UK

http://sixquestionsfor.blogspot.com/ is a blog with questions and answers about flash fiction. It will feature http://worthingflash,blogspot.com and it is a mine of information about the market for flash fiction.

“ Woah, Dasher, It's no good. We'll have to go down. I can't carry on.” Santa Claus stifled a cough as he guided his sleigh down onto the pebbled beach. The tide was well out and the distant waves twinkled in the moonlight. “Cough, cough, cough,” went Santa, taking a large white handkerchief out of the pocket of his bright red suit. He sneezed violently into the handkerchief and wiped his streaming eyes with the edge of his hood, not caring if the fur tickled his cheeks. He was shivering and his breath was coming in rasping gasps. Two of the elves jumped down from where they were sitting on the remaining parcels. “ What can we do?” asked one. “ You need to get home and drink something warm.” “ There's only this land to do,” said the other elf. “Could we do it ourselves?” “No,” said Santa sternly, “It has to be a Father Christmas. Drop me back home and search for a substitute – there's plenty to choose from.” “ But will he be able to dri...