Chris Holland

“The Passenger” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #249

Police stop ahead, road closed, the sign said. The flashing lights of police vehicles blocked the road ahead. An officer with a paddle sign indicated that he wanted me to pull over onto the verge. My passenger took in a deep breath, I felt his tension as we pulled over. Bent over looking into the car the officer gave a friendly greeting. ‘Good morning sir, I am afraid you will need to find an alternative route. The road ahead and a number of bridges have been washed away in the storms. You can do a U turn here,’ said the young officer. ...

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“Morning Run” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #235

I was up at 6.00am as usual ready for my morning run. Standing at the kitchen sink looking out at the back garden, the lawn covered in a film of dew, I downed a glass of warm lemon water, strapped my water bottle to my waist, did some stretches on the bench outside and set off. The forest track was a short walk down the road, our house one of four in a semicircle at the end of the cul de sac.  The forest was in deep shade, the sun not yet high enough to filter through the canopy, the branches were dripping from the early morning dew and...

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“Homecoming” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #234

I gaze out of the window and see people, some in white coats coming and going through the large double glass doors. A blue uniformed attendant wheels a chair under the shady oaks, pausing next to a flower bed to allow the occupant of the chair to admire the blooms. I see the attendant bending down so as to hear what is being said and then carefully picking a large Chrysanthemum bloom and handing it, like a newly discovered treasure, to the person in the chair. Others stroll to the edge of the small lake, some alone, others with a blue unifor...

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“The Elephant necklace” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #158

John looked up from his work bench, the window to his right giving him a view into his kitchen across the narrow concrete pathway separating his workshop and the house. Jackie was indicating to him that supper was ready by making an eating motion with her hands. He smiled at her, nodding acknowledgement. He switched off his drill press at the wall of plugs and closed the large sliding window above the bench. He had planned his workbench to give him a panoramic vista of the countryside, the rolling verdant hills made way for a green fertile v...

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“The Heist” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #156

 I knew nothing of this. Why are you involving me? I have been set up by Mike. I want nothing to do with all of you, just let me go home.Whether you like or not young lady, you are guilty with everyone else and you will have to keep your trap shut about this or you will find yourself in serious trouble. No! You have no right to hold me just let me go, my Aunt and Uncle will be worried about me. You will have to take care of that, Joe replied, passing her the heavy black phone with the frayed cord and well worn dial. Tell them ...

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“A Flicker of Light” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #149

I woke suddenly, my alarm clock showing 3.30am. In my half awake state I wondered what had awakened me so suddenly. It was a flicker of light I decided as another flash of light briefly lit up the black sky outside. The night was like pitch; there was no moon and the stars were covered by a thick blanket of clouds. I climbed out of bed and peered out the window looking down at the garden below. It was dead quiet, no sounds came up to me through the open window. The soft breeze that brushed my face was cool but was not enough to stir the leav...

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“Cold Case” by Chris Holland

‘I finally got around to developing that old roll of 35mm film we found at the back of Dad’s desk.’ Maurice said as he took the express delivered package into the kitchen. His sister May was kneading the sourdough, her hands covered in flour, Maurice laughed at her when she looked up at him. May, how do you manage to get flour everywhere when you bake? he said. ‘You watch yourself ' she said with a laugh, ‘otherwise Mr Smarty Pants you can make the bread next time.’May had called Maurice ‘smarty pants’ ever since their Mother had called him ...

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“Jason's Helicopter” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #143

Jason finished his chores of clearing the eggs from the chicken run and milking Jessie, holding a pail between his legs the way he had been taught by his Dad. Freshly baked muffins welcomed him into the expansive kitchen where his Mother was busy with her daily routine. ‘Breakfast is ready’ she said, placing a plate of ham and eggs in front of him. ‘Dad has already left for the fields and asked if you could check the beehives in the forest.’ ‘Sure’ replied Jason as he wolfed down his breakfast and slurped his mug of tea. ‘See you later Mum’ ...

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“Phikelela (Perseverance)” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #139

Sifso lived with his mother and young sister in a one room shack in the sprawling township of over 1000 other dwellings built from anything that came to hand. Salvaged wood, iron sheets, plastic and cardboard. The township was one of hundreds that surrounded the major cities in the country.  Sifso and his mother considered themselves lucky to have secured a handkerchief size piece of ground on which to build their small house by paying a levy to the local Usibonda (Headman). There was no title on the land in the informal sections of t...

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“The Postman comes to tea” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #128

Ned used his booted foot to open the screen door leading onto the porch, the door squeaked as he opened it and slammed shut behind him before flies and mosquitoes could sneak into the house, he made a mental note to oil the hinges. He carried the metal tray carefully, trying not to spill anything, placing it onto the weather worn table between two wicker chairs..On the tray a large white chipped enamel tea pot, Ned had scooped four teaspoons of Bushells tea into the pot adding a gum leaf for extra flavour, a tin of condensed milk, a plate of...

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“RETURN” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #119

The narrow unpaved road cut a contour through the ocean shrub-land. Snaking along the side of the headland it gave spectacular views of the turquoise ocean below. The road was barely wide enough to accommodate two vehicles side by side and small lay byes had been cut into the road at intervals to allow them to pass. The rough track the only access to the weekend fishing shacks and a handful of permanent residents with dwellings nestled along the rocky shore. There were no more than a dozen properties along the 20-kilometre eastern shore; loc...

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“Tea with elephants” by Chris Holland

Submitted to Contest #50

We unpacked the wicker basket containing our thermos flasks, one held our hot drink and the other our own homemade ice cold lemonade, we placed the flasks and our mugs onto the tabletop of the small rustic table of uneven planks set against the wall at the end of the hide. Next to it was a long bench, crudely made but adequately serving the purpose for which it was intended. The long bench extended the full length of the hide facing an expansive open window which also ran the full length of the bench. The window was shoulder height so when s...

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