Story snacks

The cow was reluctant to enter the darkness. The trees looked wrong and stretched so far into the sky that they disappeared into the clouds. No sunlight reached the forest floor. The man didn’t hesitate. He seemed to be in a hurry and almost skipped along the single narrow path. ‘Wife. Wife,’ he shouted. ‘Come […]

The sculpture tumbled to the wooden floor. One leg snapped at the knee and pinged against the skirting board. The neck severed and the horse’s head flew across the hallway to land at his mother’s feet. He heard her tut and saw the slight shake of her head, reminiscent of every time she caught him […]

“It’ll all end in tears.” That’s what my mother said. She didn’t like me flirting with older men. You and me have had more than our fair share. We’ve had fifteen years of fighting – all because you don’t know when to stop. You ignore me – I shout – you carry on – it […]

The teenagers run up the slope, overtaking the Four-Legged-Woman and the Man-with-a-Hump. They are both excited. The holiday caravan is just down the path at Seatown. The caravan has belonged to the family for years so they can holiday any weekend the weather looks good. Fred would come every weekend if he could, sun, rain […]

“Come see.” I’m not awake and already I’m dragged from my bed to look at something only a four year-old will find interesting. “What?” “The window,” she says. “On the window.” She’s built a tower with her table and chair, climbed up and opened the blind while I’ve been peacefully sleeping. I wish she wouldn’t […]

Stories inspired by photographs. All photographs © Neil Richardson If only the remote control had a button to switch off insomnia. Then I wouldn’t have to watch such rubbish. She wanted to lose pounds – he wanted to gain them. Fortunately she was the banker and he was the gambler. Loneliness forced him to conform […]