Colin Devonshire

“Silent Shadows” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #92

“Come on, don’t be a scaredy-cat,” said Bobby. “You think it’s a good idea to break the law?” said Gemma. “It’s not breaking the law, I’ve got the keys,” he answered. “Yeah, right, and that makes it okay?” “I want to buy this house.” “You are fourteen.” “I know, my Dad is selling this place, and I want to have it.” “Your Dad is a sales agent, that doesn’t give you a divine right to own. Not now, nor in the future,” she said. “Come in and you’ll understand.” Bobby unlocked the front door and pushed it back. “Look at that,” he said. “It is nic...

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“So Many Books, So Little Time!” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #91

“Get out of my library,” screamed the librarian from the doorway. She would never raise her voice inside. The two young lovers had tested her ability to keep her blood pressure from bursting veins. Their crime? They were fiddling with each other under a desk. “Whatever next, this is a place of learning - from books!” she yelled after the giggling teenagers. The young couple ignorant of other footpath users forced a lady and her two children onto a grassy verge. “To think I was like them a few years ago, now look at me,” talking to herself wa...

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“A Darker Forest” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #90

“Here we are, kids. I used to play hide and seek with your auntie when I was your age. Lovely old tree, isn’t it?” His memory, like Movietone, pictured his black and white sister grabbing the biggest and best conkers from the ancient horse chestnut, branches bowed with the weight of prickly inedible fruit. The family Alsatian, Bruno, tail wagging, ran around in circles, begging for a ball to be lobbed into the trees. Bounded to and from child to trunk. “When are we going home?” asked Sadie. “Yeah come on Dad, there is no connection out here,...

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“Oh, September!” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #89

“Babe, only a month to go. Thirty short days, and then you’ll be Mrs Pippa Peters!” said Mike Peters as he stroked her bare muscled back. “Are you trying to sing?” asked Pippa. “I can’t sing, but if I could, I’d sing for you.” “You are sweet, are you murdering my favourite Johnny Winter song? ‘Gonna give you thirty days to get back home. Gonna talk to the gypsy woman gonna tell her so, She gonna put out a worldwide voodoo, That'll be the very thing that'll suit you, Gonna see that you be back home in th...

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“The Colour of Lies” by Colin Devonshire

The author’s note: “This story is written in good faith, only meant to be read by 'little people' under the age of fourteen. And under no circumstance admit to reading it. If you do by chance, lie about it.” In a cramped and ugly room, the brickwork, sloppily painted and crumbling, dust littered the bare concrete floor. “Do you know why you are here?” “I know nothing.” The lie detector continued with its job. The black line jerked up and down. Scrawling its route to the truth. Aoife, young and beautiful studied Ciara the frumpy policewoman w...

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“All At Sea!” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #87

“Not now, Samantha, thank you, can’t you see I’m thinking.” “Yes, sir.” Chief Jones flapped his fingers at the door behind her, Samantha ducked her head and backed out to her desk in the adjoining room. Chief Jones was not the chief of anything, but he was managing director of Westwing Lines and had more than his fair share of problems. “How can I see if he’s thinking?” she muttered to herself. She returned the bank manager’s call, “Sorry, Mr Arbib, he’s tied up, I’ll get him to call you.” “Don’t worry, I’ll call him, maybe I’ll ...

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“Who Are You? Who Am I?” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #86

A gentle click and a kittenish hum accompanied Amy’s unladylike yawn. She looked around and apologised to no one, at least no one awake. “It’s six o’clock, you asked me to call you,” as a lively nurse popped her head around the door. Amy checked her watch. “Thank you, I’d better go,” Amy dabbed her eyes as she did every day. She twirled her engagement ring as she did on the hour. As she did every hour. “Miss Amy, can you hold on for a moment, the doctor wants to talk to you?” “Is there any change?” Amy asked hopefully. The nur...

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“Only In Bangkok!” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, you can do anything here,” said Pope. “Why do they call you Pope?” “The simple answer, it’s my name.” “Yeah? I don’t believe you.” “And I’m supposed to believe Gratis is your name?” The two men laughed and drained their beers. “You were saying about the city?” asked Gratis. “You can get away with a lot more here. We have a similar problem.” “You don’t know me, how can you know about my problems, if I have any?” “Because I can read,” said Pope. “What do you mean?” “You are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, ...

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“Tasks For Big Al” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #84

“I need to see you, now!” whispered Big Al. A whisper that melts phones. “On my way,” JD knew better than to argue with the man who paid his wages. He also knew that when Big Al whispered you had better move… fast. JD badly needed a shower, there was no time for a shave. There was no dress code for this meeting. He slung on last night’s jeans and t-shirt. Sniffing the Levis, he changed his mind and quickly found some clean light brown canvas strides and a denim shirt. Satisfied that his body odour would not insult Big Al’s nostrils, he grabb...

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“Jed Pee Nong Hotel” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #83

“Jet Pee Nong, what the hell is that?” asked the walk-in customer. “That, my friend, is the name of a magnificent hotel in a brilliant resort, on the holiday you’ve been dreaming of,” answered the overly keen sales agent at Rickets Travel Bureau. “I noticed the ‘deal of a century’, you’ve been plugging on social media recently. Tell me more.” “You are in luck. We only had one spot available, and it had been booked,” said the young man with the bright yellow blazer with the over-sized letters, RTB, plastered over the breast pocket. B...

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“Courting” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #81

“It is great to see you smiling,” said Garth, beaming, his straight white teeth flashing in the glare of spotlights. “Yes, I was not sure I could ever be happy again. You can't believe the relief I feel,” Alice said. Cameras clicked, journalists called out questions as the police allowed the happy pair through the throng of eager news reporters looking for an unexpected scoop. “Please, may I buy you lunch?” asked Garth. “Now you’ve finished your job, don’t you have to go back to the office?”  “As a new partner in BA Scots...

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“Don't Go Out In The Rain!” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #80

“To end today’s ‘World News Report’, we have some sad news of our own. Experienced journalist Robert Perkins has died at his home tonight, after reporting on the storms in the Lake District. His wife informed us of the devastating news an hour ago, we have nothing extra to add at this time. We are all sorry to announce the passing of a well-respected reporter and a good friend to many.” The news-desk broadcaster was at a loss of words. They signalled her to carry on with the report, “Please bear with me, there are more shocking reports co...

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“Mother's Day? Father's Day? Why Not Brother's Day?” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #79

“Why the evil eyes, what’s the matter with you two?” a cheerful Mum asked her two sons. “Keep smiling Mum, at least there is one lucky person, unbowed by grief. I haven’t seen Andy’s cheerful mug for weeks,” smirked Mart. “I’m sick of the sight of you if you must know, Mr Perfect, ha, nothing goes wrong with your life?” said Andy. “Big brother is not happy. I do not know what I’ve done to upset him?” said Mart, looking at his mother. “You two, please settle down, let’s have dinner with no more arguments. It’s so nice to have you ...

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“Stuff It!” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #78

“I’ve known you for months now, you’ve taken me out to gorgeous restaurants, we’ve seen wonderful shows together, and you have even met my parents, so why have you never invited me to your place?” asked Annie. Annie pushed down with her chubby fists into the small pockets of her baggy cardigan. Chris wondered how the knitting didn’t fall apart. Her habit was one of the many quirks she fascinated him with.  “My house is a mess, you wouldn’t like it,” Chris answered. He aimed to take her, but only when he was ready, not before. “...

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“When Cold Sets In” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #77

“Did you shut the door?” asked Joe.“Of course I did, do you think I’m stupid?” answered Greg.“It’s bad enough having to work on a night like this.”“Did you drive in?” asked Greg.“Yeah, I would not walk,” said Joe.“You live near enough, I didn’t have a choice,” mumbled Greg.“Aargh, look, the light is on in the accounts department.”“That’s Polly, she’s new,” Greg’s eyes lit up.“How can they force a girl to work on a night like this? Especially a new member of staff. A brilliant manager she has,” said Joe.“She messed up an order from a new adve...

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