Paul Simpkin

“Down memory lane” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #244

I couldn’t remember taking this particular photo but I must have done. I suppose it was about 50 years old. This all came about when I was clearing out a cardboard box of old school stuff under my bed. I had been meaning to do this for ages but had kept putting it off. The dusty old box was full of school reports, exercise books, programmes from school plays and a few photos.The photo was black and white. I suppose you could say that it was a sort of selfie. Nowadays we have mobile phones and you can easily take a proper selfie but then you ...

8 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“The Perfect Image” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #244

She was hoping that the photo would go viral.She had never taken a selfie as brilliant as the one she had just posted on Instagram. It was the first time that she was completely and totally happy with an image that showed off her long golden tresses in all their full golden beauty. Now all she had to do was sit back and wait for the reaction. Maybe one day somebody would see one of her selfies and help her to escape from the dull boring life that she was stuck in.Before posting the image she had taken time to edit the photo on her phone and ...

9 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Almost the chosen one” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #243

There was a rumour going round that somebody needed a donkey for a very important job. I found that really quite hard to believe. Why would anybody use a donkey for an important job? Donkeys are never ever used for important jobs. Donkeys are stupid creatures. They are only used for the most boring jobs because they are so stupid. I should know – I am a donkey.One of the advantages of being a donkey is that we have big ears so we hear a lot of rumours. People think that we are a bit slow on the uptake but we hear everything so we always know...

7 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Midnight in the Gallery 2” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #242

Following the miraculous events described in my previous story Midnight in the Gallery (which you can read on my Reedsy page under the prompt about somebody being locked in a museum overnight) I continued to volunteer at the gallery. To be completely honest, it was quite dull but dullness was something that I wanted at that stage in my life. I didn’t want too much excitement. I wanted a level of stability that wasn’t too stressful or difficult. I wanted calm and security.We approached the one year anniversary of the weird events of that magi...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Midnight in the gallery” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #242

It was the second time that I volunteered at the gallery that I managed to get myself locked in overnight. This was a night that I was never to forget. I am ashamed to admit that I fell asleep sitting in one of the cubicles in the Men’s public toilets. It was an exhausting day. The whole time was spent walking round, answering questions from the customers and directing them to the café and the toilets. By the time the gallery closed to the public at 6.30pm I was exhausted and decided to have a quick nap in the end cubicle of the toilets down...

13 likes 6 comments 6

Read story

“Unfriended” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #241

“Hi, I just wanted to message to say I’m really upset you have unfriended me on Facebook.” There was no answer at first. Two hours later. “I just don’t think we have much in common.” “How can you say that? We both liked that post about growing up in Manchester in the 70s.” Three hours later. “Which post was that?” “The post with the buses on. The old buses that we used to have in the 70s. You must remember them. The old buses. You liked that post.” “Did I?” “Yes you did. And you liked that post about Kate Bush. I used to love Kate Bush.” “I ...

6 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“Letter to Santa” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #240

I will always remember Christmas Day a few years ago. I thought it was going to be a normal Christmas.The story really starts on Christmas Eve just before lunchtime. I did always hope it would be a white Christmas but today was just a typical December day, cold, wet and windy but no sign of snow. I stopped by the post box and dropped three late Christmas cards through the slot. I knew they would arrive late. But I would have felt guilty if I hadn’t sent them. As I turned round to head home a sudden gust of wind blew a piece of paper into my ...

8 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“The Lighthouse Murders” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #240

“You mean we are trapped here?” “I’m sorry inspector. I have tried. I just haven’t been able to get through to the mainland. I can’t get a signal.” “Aye, sergeant, I feared as much. So that means we are trapped in this lighthouse, miles from the mainland in the middle of Storm Florence with six scout leaders, one of whom is almost certainly a murderer.” “Almost certainly, inspector?” “Aye, I think we can rule out suicide as the dead lighthouse-keeper was shot through the back and then had his head chopped off with a ceremonial sword before b...

18 likes 10 comments 10

Read story

“Going to pieces?” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #239

I woke early and came downstairs. The house was cold as the central heating had only just come on but I couldn’t be bothered to go back upstairs to get my new dressing gown. I looked for my old dressing gown. It was under the hoover in the utility room. I put it on but realised there was a half-eaten mince pie in one pocket. In the kitchen I made myself a cup of tea and then half-asleep I shuffled into the lounge and started to look at the half-finished jigsaw again. We always did a big jigsaw over Christmas. It was a tradition, like havi...

8 likes 3 comments 3

Read story

“Across the generations” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #239

“Grandfather, what was it actually like to be an ordinary soldier in the First World War?” It was the question that I had always wanted to ask him. Finally I had the opportunity. I’d seen some photos and letters from that time and they had increased my desire to find out more. But I wasn’t sure if I would ever meet him. I had never had the opportunity to spend any time with him before today. But now I had the chance to ask the question, the question that had always fascinated me. “I don’t like to talk about it, lad,” he replied. “I was r...

9 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Auf wiedersehen…” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #238

“Goodbye darling, I’m sorry but…” She seemed to be getting upset. She was almost in tears. Then she walked out of the house. She was leaving me. I felt like weeping but I couldn’t. Why had she gone? Why had she abandoned me? What had I done wrong? I had so many questions but she didn’t explain why she was going. I always tried so hard to communicate with her but usually I felt she wasn’t even trying to communicate with me. Perhaps I knew in my heart that one day this would happen. My happiness couldn’t last for ever, could it? Mmmm. Yes, I...

10 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“Taboo” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #238

I can’t say it. I just can’t say it. I want to say it but I can’t. I can’t say anything that might be comic or funny or even something that somebody else might think is comic or funny. There is too much at stake. Too much to lose. This is our culture now. People are not allowed to make jokes or say anything that is funny. It has been almost exactly 3 years since humour was banned. After the Election in 2024 the new British Government wanted to make an immediate impact but they had no money to spend so their options were limited. Very limite...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Seventeen kisses” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #237

Our first kiss? Yes, our first kiss was in the rehearsal room. It was a beautiful, magical moment. Never to be forgotten. What a kiss! She had wonderful red hair. Her skin was perfect. She was an angel. Every time I was close to her there was electricity between us. We kissed exactly 17 times. It must be almost 50 years ago but I can remember that first kiss so clearly. My first term at university. My second play after a brief cameo in a brilliant production of Twelfth Night. The director had set the play in 1930s Chicago. It was sold out ...

7 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“Everything in common, nothing to lose” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #237

We started to communicate by email just a few weeks after I joined the Facebook group. We just hit it off. We seemed to have so much in common. I knew she was a bit nervous about giving me her email address but I explained that it would be safer and more secure than using the messenger function on Facebook. For me it felt that we were moving to a new stage in our relationship. Friends? More than friends? Friday 6.23pm I had to change a lightbulb this morning. It is the first time since John died. He always used to change the lightbulbs. H...

12 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Step Back in Time” by Paul Simpkin

“Hi Kylie, you don’t know me but I’m your biggest fan. I’ve got all your CDs. I’ve been to see you in concert loads of times. I love to stream your songs. Really I’m your biggest number one fan.” “If you don’t leave the set now, I’m going to call security.” “But you don’t understand. I’ve got a proposition for you. I’ve travelled here from the future and…” “Security!” How had I found myself in Australia in the mid-80s on the set of Neighbours talking to pop megastar Kylie Minogue as she was about to film a scene in the popular much-loved ...

1 like 0 comments 0

Read story