'Last Chance Afternoon' by Grace Palmer

Ingredients:

Two lovers in their 90’s, a park,
any kind of weather,
the miracle of hands,
a taxi.

A basketful of gin and petals
Soft and ancient hips,
the press of cracked lips
A bench.

Prep Time: Five minutes
Cooking Time: Two lifetimes.

Method:
Remove from a care home
with the promise of champagne
a trail of biscuits, and Sudoku.

Settle on the bench and wrap in silk rugs.
Sprinkle with hope, heat with sunshine
Stir with lemon balm and diesel oil

Add bunting, dancers, hummingbirds, Carmina Burana
Watch, until hands clasp and heads settle on shoulders
Wait for the first, slow, kiss.

'Escape Room: Fairytale' by Meagan Johanson

10. Wear the green dress he likes that covers you, long and tight like a fin. Line your eyes black so you cry in ash later. Because he likes that too.

9. Check-in at the counter. A familiar face: David. You went to school together, remember? You don’t, but smile back. Not too much.

8. Take complimentary pen to bathroom, “Escape Oldholme” down its side. Dig out receipt. Stand up straight in the hall, as he spits pet names into your ear like broken glass.

7. Close the door to a room painted castle—outlined bricks, windows to black Neverland. In a small room attached, see a mannequin under glass, sleeping and porcelain.

     a. You must wake her to win. She has hair like yours.

6. Decode the seven rings. Not real gold, of course, but plastic and as light as straw. Inside them, all the right words. He is good with these, but slow. One down, and his teeth still grin handsome and wide. The lights dim; this time you are sure.

5. Help him solve, but not too much. Let him find the apple—although you saw it first—red shellac flaking away as he twists it open, the next clue in its core.

4. Watch the camera, the clock, as time siphons away—faster than he’d like, while you will its haste. Scream in blinks to the lens. David seems nice.

3. Try to breathe through tightened ribs when: He can’t find the right key. When the countdown chimes. When he grabs your arm, plum-tender still. Don’t cry. Not yet.

2. Leave receipt on the counter, while his back is turned. Say please with your eyes, thank you with your mouth.

1. At home, take off the tail, both slippers. Stay awake. Just in case.

'Solitaire' by R.J. Kinnarney

1. Spend at least 3 evenings a week with your friends.

2. Fill your days off with individual chores.

3. Go out to dinner with your partner.

4. Argue over your partner’s choice of restaurant.

5. Return home in silence.

6. Sleep in spare bedroom.

7. Continue silence for days/weeks.

8. Move into spare bedroom.

9. Search internet for studio flats.

10. Book short break for yourself and your partner.

11. Argue over your choice of destination.

12. Return early from short break.

13. View studio flats.

14. Sign contract.

15. Hire storage facility.

16. Pack belongings.

17. Ignore any/all attempts to change your mind.

18. Leave house.

19. Post key through letterbox.

20. Leave your baggage behind.

 https://www.rjkinnarney.com/flash-fiction

'Baking Enough' by Linda Irish

1.       Take your time, folding the layers. Create air and light by sifting, gentling a wooden spoon through the mixture. The way your mother taught you. Nowadays it’s throw everything in and stir like crazy. Don’t do that.

2.       Ensure your prepared tin is to hand, the oven not too hot. You don’t want to burn the cake, like last time. This new recipe needs careful attention.

3.       Beyond the bowl’s rim there’s a pattern you don’t recognise, carelessly draped. A sugared surface to charm the bees.
Ignore it.

4.       Draw a line and lick your finger. Sink it between the viscous strings of a dried date and ease apart. The dress gapes, loose-necked.
Ignore it.

5.       She will wake soon, your daughter, sticky with slumber from the latest scrawny confection. She will pad barefoot, poking her fingers in everywhere. You must tell-ask-beg her to slow down, take more care. Sweeten your words with date and walnut. When she goes to cut another slice for the dress, rest your hand on her arm and say, “No food upstairs.”

6.       Close the oven and wait for the rise.