Charles Corkery

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2023

Stories (74)

74 Stories

1483 karma pts

?

“THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #248

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS He finds it difficult to tear himself away from the window and, even when something draws his attention, the ringing of the landline in the hall or the sound of his cell phone, back he returns, involuntarily, to the French window that looks out onto the vast lawn and the cluster of trees that border the edge of the grass and the beginning of the embankment that stretches down to the river flowing hurriedly past his garden. It was always the same when she went away. The first two days, he would almost revel in his so...

3 comments 3
Read story

“THE DEVIL YOU KNOW” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #247

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW “There’s a blind spot. I’m sure of it. I’ve checked it out several times. We could be out of here before anybody even realises...” “What’s with you, Cathal? This constant talk of escape? We have everything we need, right here, man”. The two brothers were walking back to their home at the end of another day’s toil in the fields of their commune; another day, similar in every way to all others. No stress, no strain, no angst of any kind. Peaceful labour that exercised the body sufficiently to make their evening meal somet...

2 comments 2
Read story

“A TRUE RUSSIAN HERO” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #246

A TRUE RUSSIAN HERO The weather on this June day is glorious as he arrives for the hastily convened meeting of the Presidium and he, the most powerful man in the country, is in ebullient form as his chauffeur pulls into the courtyard. Those closest to him, the officers that he has personally nurtured and promoted, have never previously seen this smiling, tolerant side of their boss who, for so long, has been feared by so many but has, himself, privately, feared for his own life.But times have changed. Oh, how they have changed. Joesph Vissar...

2 comments 2
Read story

“AT RISK OF LIFE AND LIMB” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #244

AT RISK OF LIFE AND LIMB May 23rd Belzec Durchgangslager Attention: Reich Security Main Office Urgent -stop -camp infiltrated -stop -ukrainian guards responsible -stop - advise action -stop May 23rd Office of Obergruppenfuhrer Heydrich RHSA, Berlin Commandant-interrogate immediately-stop-report direct -stop-highest priority -stop May 23rd Belzec Durchgangslager Attention: Obergruppenfuhrer Heydrich Orders obeyed-stop -guards admit complicity -stop -infiltrator Polish -stop -name Jan Karski -stop -observed conditions -stop -photographs tak...

1 comment 1
Read story

“A VERY ENGLISH GENTLEMAN” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #244

A VERY ENGLISH GENTLEMAN (Excerpts from the wartime diary of Oliver ‘Chips’ Copper, born 4th May 1893 - died 5th January 1917) November 15th 1916 Dined at Arlington Street. The Blue Dining Room looked exquisite in the candlelight. Eight of us, including Diana. Never has she looked more beautiful. Am I in love with her, after all? I do believe I may be. Later, as I was departing, she stole into the hallway and smothered me with kisses. Her feelings towards me, at any rate, are quite clear but, an hour later, as I lay in the arms of a blonde b...

1 comment 1
Read story

“A MATTER OF SURVIVAL” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #243

A MATTER OF SURVIVAL The Shuttle He opened his eyes and knew, immediately, that something was amiss; no headache, no blurred vision, no sluggishness of his central nervous system, no disorientation of any kind. With growing trepidation, he turned to his right and, swallowing his anxiety, gazed at his digital, countdown screen: frozen at 9 years, 5 months, 3 weeks, 6 days and 19 hours. He had been in cryosleep for just 5 hours! What the f**k! Glen Thomas, Commander of Deep Space Shuttle, Commodore V11, noted for his coolness under pressur...

2 comments 2
Read story

“THE DAY THE LIGHT WENT OUT” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #240

THE DAY THE LIGHT WENT OUT The wind; it has always been the wind. His one, true companion throughout his sixty years of life. He knew it as it knew him. Ivan Rokosovic, born on the island of Sakhalin, one year after the Great War that claimed the life of his father, a Russian mariner, cherished the wind for it spoke to him, its natural movement of air and gases warning him of storms to come, caressing him in its gentle breezes, informing him, always, of life far away in the tropics, the subtropics, the distant poles. Its varied directions c...

1 comment 1
Read story

“LA BELLE EPOQUE” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #237

LA BELLE EPOQUE At best, his barista skills could be classed as rudimentary. In fact, the last time he had been forced to actually work a shift at the cliff face of a Wega 4 Group coffee maker, the type his establishments preferred, they had suffered more complaints over quality than actual coffees sold; most regulars, upon seeing that it was him, Jonah, manning the steaming wands, would simply retreat as unobtrusively as possible, preferring to chance a cup of instant from the kitchenette of their various workplaces. He couldn’t cook e...

3 comments 3
Read story

“TITUS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #232

TITUS So, when all is said and done, this is how it’s to end? Is there no hope? None it seems. I am done for anyway but I am determined that Titus Oates will not be blamed for holding back the others. How did I end up in this God forsaken place with these people, these idiots, for whom I have no respect whatsoever? Under the dire leadership of this vain, self-glorious, mis-trusting, neurotic who has, somehow, led us to...what, our doom? Was there ever a chance that our quest, years in the planning, could, in reality, be achieved? Th...

1 comment 1
Read story

“THE PHOENIX ARISES” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #231

THE PHOENIX ARISES This story is true; compiled of facts from personal knowledge and conjecture derived from newspaper reports and there are three main actors.The first was a gangster from Chicago, name o’ Murray Humphreys, an associate of Al Capone and the brains of The Outfit, who, once Capone was imprisoned for tax evasion, left the windy city and settled in Norman, Oklahoma. Humphreys, a main player in Capone’s rise to the top, though he was not Italian, was revered for his money making ability.The second, another gangster, from New York...

3 comments 3
Read story

“SOFT OR HARD” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #231

SOFT OR HARD? The longest stake out I ever did lasted 72 hours but it was partly Donna’s fault. She doesn’t make many errors but she screwed up on the arrival date of my target and had me there a day sooner than necessary. Still, three whole days in one spot, sucks! In fact, this entire way of living sucks. I want out but I’ve been saying that for a while.I’m able to drift off in my mind while remaining on full alert, something I’ve mastered over the years. Sometimes, I’ll imagine I’m a pro fighter scrapping my way through different opponent...

5 comments 5
Read story

“UNHOLY ALLIANCES” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #230

UNHOLY ALLIANCES After a sumptuous meal, all six diners, one by one, made their way into the magnificent library. Small talk, well oiled by unlimited champagne, broke out among the various attendees, scattered around as they were in the comfortable chairs and sofas that abounded. Three of the four walls were lined, floor to ceiling, with impressive tomes. The fourth side of this vast room was taken up by a huge fireplace and, as Horst, the butler, moved discreetly between the gathering, dispensing liberal amounts of bubbly, their host, Si...

2 comments 2
Read story

“SURVIVORS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #230

SURVIVORS Isaac entered the darkness of the store hut, glad to be out of the freezing snow that was falling heavily, casting a white blanket across the entire camp. Isaac stamped the snow from his poorly clad feet, creating a puddle on the wooden floor before pushing the door closed with difficulty against the swirling wind. Pulling down a blanket from one of the many racks that filled this rough hewn, timber shack, each containing a plethora of tools and other stores, he draped the thick, woollen coverlet over his shoulders and huggin...

2 comments 2
Read story

“CONSEQUENCES” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #228

CONSEQUENCES “Sir, I am not a bit hungry. I just want to go home”. “Son, you best eat it now, you hear? It could be a long time afore...” “Before what? I told you everything I know”. The older man ignored the pleadings of his prisoner and continued dishing out the beans from the pot in his hand. The younger occupant of this rough hewn log cabin, his expensive, tailor made, business suit ragged and crumpled from being forced into the rear of the SUV that had abducted him from the basement car park of his business office, earlier t...

3 comments 3
Read story

“A FAMILY AFFAIR” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #225

A FAMILY AFFAIR What the hell are you doing back here, James, old chap? I ask myself this for the umpteenth time. I’d sworn never to set foot in this house again after the debacle of the will but, maybe, just maybe, she is now looking to make things right. I smoke another spliff. At the thought of my mother, my bete- noire, I feel the sudden craving for a real fix possess my body.Surely to God, logic dictates that, as the eldest, I should be named as the rightful heir to Blandford. It’s what father would have wanted, would have ensured, if t...

1 comment 1
Read story

Author bio

Had never previously done any writing but have been a dedicated reader for all of my life. Have no ideas about "rules". Just, now that I'm retired, enjoy writing stories that spring into my mind and which, I think, have a different slant or take on the norm.

Shortlisted 2 stories ⭐️

Contest #209
SUPPER FOR TWO – read story
Contest #205
BREAKING POINT – read story