Peter Richardson

Splitting Axe: Has a sharp, tapered head that is easily able to cut into logs. Splits along the grain. Good for making kindling. Austin tensed as Michael got into bed. He hoped that Michael would keep to his half. He wasn’t in the mood to be touched. He didn’t really want to be in the […]

I didn’t know he was dead when I agreed to do it. Timothy wasn’t answering Sally’s calls and she needed a stand in. It was an easy job. I joined the bus queue and when the bus arrived I shouted that the bus was going to crash and no one should get on. Sally was […]

I drop a circle on a map that centres on Bagby fields. I’ve never heard of it – despite living within two miles for over thirty years. A quick internet search tells me nothing except its name and location – the two things I’d already discovered from my Leeds map. Bagby Fields will remain a […]

About forty years ago. I had a holiday hitch-hiking around Ireland. It took me hours to get a lift out of Dublin – but that was the exception. For the rest of the trip I got a lift within an hour and sometimes I’d get out of one car and the very next one would […]

‘I got the gig. At Comedy Queens.’ ‘That’s fantastic Ryan. So why the worried look?’ ‘It’s on Friday. I’m not sure I’m ready.’ ‘Honestly darling. You’ll smash it.’ ‘Hrmm.’ ‘Come on. You’ve already done what? Ten gigs? More?’ ‘Yeah, but this is the first real one. Open mic gigs don’t count. Anybody can stand up […]

The storm started at sea. A little wind, lifting a little wave. Unnoticed. Unremarkable. Dave couldn’t find his other sock. Couldn’t find any of his other socks. He held at least ten socks in his hand and not a single one was part of a pair. Yesterday’s socks lay on the floor. He couldn’t decide […]

Martin couldn’t believe he’d found it. Here in his own town, squashed between a baker and a bank. He watched from across the street as the man behind the counter returned a pair of shoes with new soles to a customer. The man looked quite ordinary. Well dressed in a colourful striped shirt with a […]

Connor instinctively flinched as the first rays of sunshine struck. He didn’t need to worry. The Isle of Hull was fully shielded behind the massive glass filter-wall. He watched as the sun rose into the sky, perfectly reflected in the sheltered sea. Some serious early morning swimmers were ploughing up and down in the calm […]