'Situation Vacant – Still' by Rachel Burrows

She lies in the dark, reliving the whole sorry interview, trying to block out when she had s…

shit – she had said,  ‘A seag..’

Oh Lord, so ‘she could steal people’s sandwiche…’

Surely she …, how could she have been so clum…

see – she knew she shouldn’t  have applied for the stupid…

…post-traumatic stress now, thinking about when they asked about her reasons for wanting part-time and she said so she could walk the …

don’t go there, don’t go there, don’t go…

there’s a flashback to her saying she was most proud of the way she could balance a …

why hadn’t she mentioned Times Ed prize for …

disaster, disaster, dis..

after all that work and effort on the application…

for months, for nothing, for absolutely no…

thing is, they put her off with the, ‘we aren’t quite ready for you, there’s been a problem, we don’t seem to have your…’

details they didn’t need, yabber, yabber, always talking without think…

in the morning it will feel better won’t …

it was ex-crut-iat-ing and even the radio being on, and all the voices can’t stop her thinking about the answer to the question the students panel asked, and she can’t block it out because it’s right there frozen infront of her screwed up eye…

‘I would like to be a seagull, because

I like looking down on peop..’

Almighty God in Heaven – that’s what she answered, to that question, in front of the headteacher about what animal she would most like to …

B – o-l-l o-c- 

'Crosswires' by Elisa Rivera

 Suh fam, did you hear–’ 

‘The tea? She really did the thing…’

‘Was she even with?’ 

‘Ah yeah that actor-slash-director. So he’s not?’

‘Ben? No, it must be a freak accident. She couldn’t just’

‘They were flying from LA when…’

‘Hang on are we…?’

‘Sarah Diaz, the girl we met–’

‘Oh! I was talking about Emma. Wait what? Did they both–’

‘Far out.’ 

'DIY Drama' by Jane Jackson

- Have you seen the …?

- It’s in the cupboard, next to …

- It’s not here, I’m looking in …

- No, not that cupboard, the one in the …!

- Why’d ya have to keep moving things around all …?

- I don’t, it’s always been in the cupboard in …

- Well, can you go and …?

- I can’t, I’m in the middle of …

- Can’t you leave that for a minute and give me a …?

- No, no way, you’ll have to fetch it for yourself if you want to eat this …

- Mum! Dad! Are you two arguing ag…?

- We’re not arguing, your father’s just being …

- Oh, so it’s all my fault as usual, is …?

- Just stop, will you, I can’t hear the …!

- Look, I need to get this fixed before …

- What’s happened? The telly’s gone …

- Sorry, wrong plug, the WiFi will reboot in a …

- Oh, Dad, why can’t you leave …?

- You do pick your moments to …

- Well if that’s how you both feel, I’m off to …

The door slammed before his sentence was finished, but they both knew exactly where he’d gone. Another DIY project that wouldn’t be completed any time soon.

'Late Night Snack' by Suzanne Hicks

I should have told you, I mean, I should have asked you first, I just thought you didn’t want them, that they were too old and stale for your liking, and this isn’t an excuse, but it’s just that the apartment was so quiet because you’d gone to your parent’s house to do laundry and decided to stay overnight, and it was just so late and maybe my judgment was off, I just didn’t think it was a big deal at the time, you seemed like you’d had enough, and I saw those cupcakes on the counter, and all of a sudden I had a craving, so I took a bite of one and then another and that’s when he rang our doorbell…

'Interview Question 1: Why did you leave your last post?' by Ruth Allen-Humphreys

Well, that’s a good question isn’t it, why did I leave my last...I suppose, that really, when it

came down to it, that it really wasn’t for me, the company that is, not anymore because it

had been, when I first started, you know, it was full of opportunities that I did take when

they came up and they did and I was keen and progressed through the company so it wasn’t

as if I’d ever had to do another interview with them, not even for my last post which might

surprise you given the nature of it (which is very similar to this role, I can see exactly how I

transfer my skills to support you in your next steps), but I suppose they just knew me, knew

what I was capable of even more than I suppose I did except of course that is the reason I

am here because I was right in the end and they were wrong because really it was too much

for me and we could both see it and perhaps they would have realised that if they had

interviewed me and really this makes my first interview for over eight years, you know, does

it show?

'Ambergris Jones and the Negotiation' by Suzanna Lundale

 

Absently tapping her lips, Ambergris re-read her notes, until a pointed throat-clearing reminded her that they were still waiting for her answer. She looked up. “I really can’t say for certain that you’re dealing with gho–”

“Miss Jones,” interjected the one she had inwardly dubbed Tweedle-Dee – their mysterious client’s representatives did look comically similar, really. He winced as he tried, and failed, to achieve a more dignified posture in the deep chair he’d sunk into. “Our employer is offering good money…” Under the weight of Ambergris’ steady gaze, he trailed off, looking to Tweedle-Dum for support.  The latter shifted awkwardly and tried to look forbidding.

“I believe what my colleague is trying to say, Miss Jones, is that you came highly recommended to our employer as an expert in paranormal phenomena. Why, even Downing Str–” He broke off at a mewl of alarm from his partner. “Quite right. That is to say, our employer expects res–” This time his own shriek of alarm abruptly ended the admonishment he’d meant to deliver as the spectral figure of a boy rose up from the floor in front of him. The figure glared at the silenced man.

“Jasper…” warned Ambergris, not trusting herself to say more, so comical was the image of her apprentice glaring at the terrified man. The specter turned his head to Ambergris, looking aggrieved.

“But he wasn’t being respec’ful, and you said it’s impor’ant to be–” At Ambergris’ look, he retreated and came to hover beside her.

“As I said, I can inspect the site myself to make an assessment, or you can find–” Ambergris stopped, eyebrow raised, as the two men struggled to their feet. Tweedle-Dum spoke, his voice unsteady.

“We need to consult La–”

“– our employer,” corrected Tweedle-Dee hastily.

Pop Quiz on the Non-Linear Social Hierarchies of the Average Urban Australian High School by Sumitra Singam

 CW: classism, coercion and ostracization.

Please complete the following sentences using the completion phrases supplied below. 1 mark for each correct answer, to a total of ten marks. Bonus points for supplying ‘yes’ phrases to indicators of class and privilege.

Questions:

1.       You can tell a cool girl by her __________

2.       The cool boys __________

3.       If you are attempting to enter the cool group, then you should __________

4.       At a party, you should __________

5.       Your look should be __________

6.       If Grady Wong approaches you, his velvet eyes smouldering, you should __________

7.       Because you should have known that Grady is Bella’s __________

8.       If Bella crosses her arms, lifting her right eyebrow, you should __________

9.       If your name and number is scrawled on the boys’ toilet walls, you should __________

10.   And if Grady walks past you in the corridor as if you don’t exist, you should __________

Completion Phrases:

·         …it doesn’t matter, but you should have known

·         try your best to blend into the walls, spread yourself as flat as possible, remove any hopes or wishes from your mind

·         drink only a green smoothie with a half-shot of vodka because of the calorie vs micronutrient profile

·         full blowout with ash-blond extensions and a silver balayage progression

·         hang out at the science block picnic bench

·         walk the fuck away

·         smile and offer to do their homework for a week

·         flick your hair over your right shoulder while also opening your collarbones, to give the impression of larger breasts, though not so much that you’re screaming desperation

·         hold your chin in the quarter-to-four position exactly, tilted down, so no one thinks you’re a stuck-up bitch who’s looking down on everyone. You should also suck in your midriff… a bit more… bit more…that’s it.

·         know that you deserved it

'Voicemail' by Lisa Weber

Your voicemail is full and I can't...Why don't you empty your...I really need to tell you that...Why don't you ever let me finish my...Your voicemail full and my heart is...Why haven't you called me since...Your voicemail is full and...I am standing in front of your house thinking about...I look in the window and see you holding someone else and I can't help but...Help me I can't...I didn't mean to do...Why didn't you listen when I said...Why didn't you erase all the...Why did you erase all the...Why did you...Why did...Why

'No Time To Finish' by Laura Cooney

I'm a poet and I ... what?

Listen to the questions that ... in the shoe cupboard.

The shoe cupboard... Jesu...

I'll get i...

Righrlt, what colour plate do you... just wait a minute plea... hang o...

(The doorbell rings)

Oh hi there, tha... I'll get it just wai... sorry..

Wait I'm talking to the... by... oh.

(The door closes)

And here I am, a poe... just switch it on at the back and get...

You're hungry? I'll just be... you want an ap.. rais... OK...

And here I am a poet and I listen to the questions of the children but there are no wor...

Thanks... yukky banana peel get a...

There are no words to fin...

OK. Hang on...

Nish a sen...

Wait... I'm coming. Just a mi…

NFFD 2023 Prompt #0: Time to Start....

 

Time to Start....

Welcome to The Write-In!  This year, we're celebrating the 2023 National Flash Fiction Day Anthology theme of time.  Throughout National Flash Fiction Day, we'll be posting one time-related prompt on the hour every hour from now until midnight (BST), for a total of 25 prompts in all.  You have until midnight on Sunday (BST) to submit your responses for possible publication here at the Write-In.  We'll start posting responses on Sunday, 25 June 2023....

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Write a story involving a conversation in which no one finishes their sentences.  Or, if you prefer, write a story in which you don't finish any of the sentences. 

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If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 0: Time to Start....

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 25 June 2023 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

You can claim the badge for this prompt until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 2 July 2023 by going to the here (hosted by the NFFD website).