Three by Chris Green 1: Seventies The best things in life are three. Charlie Tooting thinks so. They are sex and drugs and rock-and-roll. Many others of Charlie’s generation agree. After all, we are talking about the nineteen-seventies. Nineteen-seventy-three to be exact. Charlie is twenty-two years old. It would be fair to say though that … Continue reading Three
666 – The Number of the Bus
666 – The Number of the Bus by Chris Green Mr Saxx who taught us Maths in Year 11 was obsessed with probability. In his classes, we were required to calculate the probability of many unlikely scenarios. Based on historical performance and the profile of those players currently available for selection, what was the probability … Continue reading 666 – The Number of the Bus
Famous for Fourteen Minutes
Famous for Fourteen Minutes by Chris Green You will be familiar with Andy Warhol’s aphorism from the nineteen-sixties that in the future, everyone would be world-famous for fifteen minutes. A bold statement for sure, but with the subsequent spread of celebrity culture, quite a prophetic one. But for those of you who are pedantic, his … Continue reading Famous for Fourteen Minutes
Dingly Dell
Dingly Dell by Chris Green She strolls up the path between the floral borders and sits down on the bench next to mine. She says, hello, as if I am expecting her, or at least as if we know each other. She seems to be dressed for an occasion. She is wearing a carnation in … Continue reading Dingly Dell
Deus ex Machina
Deus Ex Machina by Chris Green 1: I’m not sure what sparked my interest in subliminal messages in songs. I was aware of the Paul McCartney is dead scam from the 1960s, but this was about it. The claim was that Paul was killed in a car crash in 1966 and replaced by a lookalike. … Continue reading Deus ex Machina
Wipeout
Wipeout by Chris Green Most people in the UK associate surfing with Newquay, but Widemouth in North Cornwall was its original home. Widemouth is where the Australian pioneers of the sport came when they first arrived in the country to test the waters. Surfers will tell you that the bay has an easy paddle and … Continue reading Wipeout
The 16:06
The 16:06 by Chris Green The 16:06 from Paddington is normally on time. I rely on its punctuality to catch my connecting train from Taunton to Bridgwater. I do not like to work late on a Friday and I don’t want to travel on crowded trains so, although it is not the most direct, this … Continue reading The 16:06
Beware of the God
Beware of the God! by Chris Green ‘They’re basically killing each other over who has the better imaginary friend,’ the man in the L’Estrange Mac says. ‘Just let that sink in if you will.’ It is a powerful statement. Those thirteen words carry a lot of weight. It’s not what you expect to come out … Continue reading Beware of the God
One-Eyed Jack
One-Eyed Jack by Chris Green Most people associate the name, Jack Dempsey with Boxing. He was the undisputed World Heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. He was a legendary puncher and won most of his fights by a knockout. Few fighters in history have been so feared. But I will always think of Jack … Continue reading One-Eyed Jack
Me and My Shadow
Me and My Shadow by Chris Green The onset of Autumn means the beach is deserted. The beach-hut owners have shut up shop for the winter. Row upon row of these bijou coastal retreats stand empty. Many have security shutters down or are boarded up and padlocked. Perhaps it is too early, but not even … Continue reading Me and My Shadow
Friday
Friday by Chris Green I am walking through a churchyard in rural Devon recently when I come across a plain gravestone which simply reads, Mark Friday, 1952- 2020. While you do not often get a lot of detail on headstones, it strikes me that although Mark Friday seems an interesting name, here we are told … Continue reading Friday
THE END
The End by Chris Green At first, the sound is little more than an intermittent background hum. I put this down to tinnitus. But the hum does not go away. Over a period of days, it becomes more pervasive. Eventually, it is a permanent drone. On her return from her counselling conference up country, my … Continue reading THE END
The Crooning
The Crooning by Chris Green It first occurs to Merv McCann that he might be getting old when he hears a mournful ballad by Leo Sayer on the radio, the one about his love leaving in the morning on the early train, and turns it up to listen. Had this happened in isolation, he might … Continue reading The Crooning
Hunky Dory
Hunky Dory by Chris Green Writers of self-help books are fond of telling you that life always offers you a second chance, it is called tomorrow. This is all very well. It’s something you can look forward to. But what if you could have your second chance yesterday? This would mean that you still had … Continue reading Hunky Dory
Through a Glass Darkly
Through a Glass Darkly by Chris Green I find it odd that no one is in the library. It is Monday. The middle of the morning. You would expect it to be busy. It is the main library in Middleton, not just a branch. Here are no notices. The shelves are organised in an orderly … Continue reading Through a Glass Darkly
Tomorrow Never Knows
Tomorrow Never Knows by Chris Green Vicky was finding it difficult to remember things. Friends of hers, in their fifties and sixties, suggested that her memory was unlikely to get any better. As you grew older, those peripheral places where the past was stored became harder to find. They constantly forgot important dates and … Continue reading Tomorrow Never Knows
Snow
Snow by Chris Green ‘I wonder if it’s going to snow,’ the text message reads. It’s an odd message and I do not recognise the number. But to get into the spirit of things I reply, ‘It’s only August.’ This appears to strike a chord because immediately I get a reply which reads, ‘Meet me … Continue reading Snow
Passenger
Passenger by Chris Green The bus isn’t supposed to go this way. What is happening? Where is it taking me? ‘You’re going the wrong way,’ I call out to the driver. She takes no notice. Perhaps she cannot hear me over the noise of the engine. I try again. ‘I have an appointment and I’m … Continue reading Passenger
A Saucerful of Secrets
A Saucerful of Secrets by Chris Green Having missed the campus coach to the free concert in Hyde Park, Mojo, Lenny and I were in Spike’s flat listening to the new Pink Floyd album, A Saucerful of Secrets. Spike had gone off to buy hash. Supplies had been getting low. Afghani Black, he said he … Continue reading A Saucerful of Secrets
Odyssey
Odyssey by Chris Green The huge red and green trucks thunder along the carriageways in both directions. There is something both hostile and haphazard about the way they cross from lane to lane, throwing up dense clouds of dust from the parched road surface. The trucks are military in design with names like KRAZ and … Continue reading Odyssey
By the Time I Get to Peterborough
By the Time I Get to Peterborough by Chris Green It would be fair to say that By the Time I Get to Peterborough isn’t as well known as By the Time I Get to Phoenix, the nineteen-sixties classic which inspired it, and its writer Merv Trimble is not as acclaimed as Jimmy Webb, who … Continue reading By the Time I Get to Peterborough
The Sound of the Sea
The Sound of the Sea by Chris Green Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny, the man in the seat opposite me says. I find myself unable to explain why, but I feel ill at ease in his presence. He has an unusual accent that I cannot place, and his eyes seem to hit … Continue reading The Sound of the Sea
A Day in the Life 999
A Day in the Life 999 by Chris Green Like Tara Browne, the subject of the classic Beatles song, Dale Charmer might be described as a lucky man who made the grade. Dale, too, may not notice that the lights have changed. But unlike Tara, no crowds of people will stand and stare, and Dale’s … Continue reading A Day in the Life 999
Madeleine
Madeleine by Chris Green The past filters into your consciousness when your defences are down. It arrives surreptitiously at night. On waking, you find an episode from long ago waiting for your attention. Sometimes it is a fully formed memory, something you can easily relate to. Other times it comes shrouded in mystery, but like … Continue reading Madeleine
Lorelei
Lorelei by Chris Green It is nearly three, but Lorelei can’t sleep. She is being kept awake by a piano tinkling in the next apartment. Now and again, a voice joins in with a melody. A tuneful tenor. He sounds a little like David Crosby, but of course, it can’t be. David is dead. … Continue reading Lorelei
Cover Story
Cover Story by Chris Green A vermilion memo is circulating at the research establishment, one down from red. Red means evacuate. Tension levels are rising. I am glad it is time for my shift to end. I keep my head down at work, but I have suspected for a long time something weird is going … Continue reading Cover Story
Chance
Chance by Chris Green Travis Fly is looking for a car when he sees the Chrysler Vamp advertised on the Autoz website. He had not realised that Chrysler made such a model. Good name but it sounds unlikely. Honest John doesn’t mention it, and Travis has not seen one like it before. He is intrigued. … Continue reading Chance
The Two of Us
The Two of Us by Chris Green ‘There are no stars out tonight,’ Cindy says. ‘Why are there no stars, Matt?’ ‘You don't get stars every night,’ I say. ‘Perhaps there will be some tomorrow.’ ‘But, it has been a clear day,’ Cindy says. ‘There should be stars after a clear day.’ ‘That’s true,’ I … Continue reading The Two of Us
Brief Encounter
Brief Encounter by Chris Green The Beginning: It is 7th June 1977, the day of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. It is a public holiday, to all intents and purposes, a Sunday. Everything is closed. Although it means a day off work, I feel downbeat. It has been a stressful few months. I am only twenty-five, … Continue reading Brief Encounter
Chatter
Chatter by Chris Green You would not think to look at him now, but when he was older, Dylan Song was a trailblazer. A dark horse who diced with danger, he flew the rebel flag. Song was a provocateur, an agent for change. He championed the cause of the underdog. He became a hero to … Continue reading Chatter
On the Origin of The Origin of Species
On the Origin of On The Origin of Species by Chris Green The port of Falmouth boasts a rich maritime history. It has all the right features for seafaring. The River Fal has a wide estuary and Falmouth has the deepest natural harbour in Europe. It was turned from a sleepy village where Cornish fishermen … Continue reading On the Origin of The Origin of Species
Avaritia Doctrina
Avaritia Doctrina by Chris Green Despite my First in Unreliable History, I am finding it difficult to get a job. Although my dissertation on The Eight Wives of Henry the Sixth earned a distinction, employers, don’t seem to be interested in taking me on. Or even have the decency to reply to my application letters. … Continue reading Avaritia Doctrina
Branch Office
Branch Office by Chris Green Cathy and Sharon started work in the same branch office of a building society in a small provincial town in the south of England the same month, March 1973. Both were twenty-three years old, had grown up locally and gone to the same schools. Yet they were like chalk and … Continue reading Branch Office
How the Light Gets In
How the Light Gets In by Chris Green The sign ought to have been enough to trigger alarm bells. Zitt – Twinned with Area 51, it said. But at the time, it didn’t make an impression. Area 51 was just a remote place in the US that I had heard referenced in random conversations. I … Continue reading How the Light Gets In
Listening Centre
Listening Centre by Chris Green Sandwich Man walks past our house at five to six every evening, just before the end of Pointless on television. He passes on his way home from the listening centre where he works. From the back entrance of the base, Cheltenham Close offers a short cut to Connery Way and … Continue reading Listening Centre
Los Gatos de Ronda
Los Gatos de Ronda by Chris Green If you visit the historic city of Ronda in southern Spain, you are likely to notice the slender cats scurrying around under the tables at alfresco restaurants. While you are wondering whether to toss them the skin from your monkfish, what you may not be aware of is … Continue reading Los Gatos de Ronda
The Shipping Forecast
The Shipping Forecast by Chris Green I am listening to the Shipping Forecast on the laptop when the phone rings. Much of the nautical detail of the forecast goes over my head, but I find the poetry of the teatime bulletin entrancing. I hardly use the landline so I let the phone ring. I am … Continue reading The Shipping Forecast
Bad Karma
Bad Karma by Chris Green Nine million pounds give or take, Charlie Smoker’s Lotto win set him up with a life of leisure. Being single with no family or close friends to speak of, Charlie did not have to share his winnings. His new found wealth enabled him to give up his position as a … Continue reading Bad Karma
Time Out
Time Out by Chris Green The train has never been this late. It is nearly 10 o’clock. Max has been waiting over an hour. He has been through most of the Thelonious Monk selections on his iPhone. He may have missed something, but so far as he can tell, there have been no announcements giving … Continue reading Time Out
Genesis
Genesis by Chris Green GENESIS. That’s all it says. Genesis in large clear capitals. Informal font. Plain white envelope. It arrived overnight. Probably promotional literature for stuff I could not possibly want. Some fly-by-night scammer trying to make something worthless seem valuable or something pointless seem essential. The single sheet of A4 is short on … Continue reading Genesis
Sophie’s Choice
Sophie’s Choice by Chris Green I haven’t seen Sophie for years. Not since she moved up north. So, I am surprised to find her in the wines and spirits aisle in my local Tesco. She is looking at the Sauvignon Blanc range. This was always her favourite tipple. I would always go for Italian red. … Continue reading Sophie’s Choice
Abracadabra
Abracadabra by Chris Green I have just pulled into the DIY superstore car park when I catch a snatch of Abracadabra on the new radio station I have found. Blitz plays nothing but rock, which is fine, as none of the other stations will touch it. I have not heard the Steve Miller Band recently … Continue reading Abracadabra
GO
Go by Chris Green I open the front door to discover a large package on the doorstep. I did not hear anyone deliver it while I was getting ready for work, or see anyone from the window. It’s huge. I try to think what I might have ordered. Something three feet by two that might … Continue reading GO
Stranger on the Shore
Stranger on the Shore by Chris Green Each time I go to Carwydden Cove, the ragamuffin stranger is there, lurking in the shadow. Major Tom, my salt and pepper schnauzer barks excitedly as we approach. He has a habit of running up to strangers to introduce himself, so I throw a stick to distract … Continue reading Stranger on the Shore
Another Time and Place
Another Time and Place by Chris Green I’ve woken up wondering just how far is it from Phoenix to Albuquerque and where did Glen Campbell set out from in the first place? Las Vegas? Los Angeles? San Diego? It’s 3 am. Where has this rogue train of thought come from? I’m not even particularly fond … Continue reading Another Time and Place
Silent Trumpet
Silent Trumpet by Chris Green 1: Nathan Saxx introduces himself at a Free Eva Morales rally. I have not met him before, so I am puzzled that he appears to know me. He laughs and says that everybody knows Cliff Rhodes. The thing is, I am not Cliff Rhodes, nor am I Ben Soto who … Continue reading Silent Trumpet
A Month in the Life
A Month in the Life by Chris Green Seven Card, Low in the Hole, Sixes Wild, what did that even mean? Whatever, we were playing Dealer’s Choice, in this case, Jason Swerve’s choice, and it was agreed around the table that Paddy’s hand, I can’t even remember what it was now, beat my Full House. … Continue reading A Month in the Life
Weatherman
Weatherman by Chris Green I shouldn’t be writing this. The organisation I work for is very conscious about security. And rightly so, when you consider that we control the weather. Security is so tight that I don't know who runs WeatherCorp. I was head-hunted online by them through an anonymous encrypted email. They had heard … Continue reading Weatherman
Summer Sisters
Summer Sisters by Chris Green Sisters Rose and Clara were born on the Summer Solstice, two years apart. They shared the same genes, the same upbringing and went to the same schools. Yet they were like chalk and cheese. Rose liked pressing flowers and playing with dolls. Clara trashed Tonka toys and read Viz magazine. … Continue reading Summer Sisters
Rain Check
Rain Check by Chris Green It was clear from the start that Rain was a little strange. Certainly, her name was unusual, but even before she introduced herself, something about her struck me as kooky. In the nicest possible way. Perhaps she thought the same about me. Perhaps I struck her as odd. Who knows … Continue reading Rain Check
Heart
Heart by Chris Green There is a brisk north-westerly and the clouds in the distance are building. I am trying to finish a painting for my upcoming exhibition at 137 Gallery before the rain sets in. I was surprised to be invited to exhibit as 137 usually features installations and video art. Weird stuff, most … Continue reading Heart
Lost
Lost by Chris Green I’ve no idea where we are or how we come to be here. Given the extraordinary aggregation of sophisticated satellite technology at our disposal these days, it ought to be impossible to get lost on the roads. GPS is supposedly millimetre accurate over the entire country. When Sophie and I have … Continue reading Lost
Extra
Extra by Chris Green How do they know there are only thirteen days left? How can anyone be so precise? And what exactly is the nature of the emergency? Why does no one appear to know? Or if they do know, why are they reluctant to tell us? Not that I can do much about … Continue reading Extra
Sierra
Sierra by Chris Green Treet might be a nice-sounding name, but trust me, you wouldn’t want to spend time there. It might be situated in what you think of as a nice part of the country, but don’t be fooled, Treet has little to recommend it. Crime figures of a city ten times its size … Continue reading Sierra
Dog Gone
Dog Gone by Chris Green It is Friday evening. Zoot has gone out with his friends and Stacey and I have the house to ourselves. Outside there is the persistent drizzle you often get at the end of a working week when you’d like to go for a walk on the hill. Not that we … Continue reading Dog Gone
Doctor Jive Goes to Mundesley
Dr Jive Goes to Mundesley by Chris Green 1: ‘I recommend you listen to two hours of Einaudi each evening,’ Dr Jive says. ‘Soft piano music is perfect for quiet contemplation. You will notice a significant improvement in just a few days.’ ‘Two hours of Einaudi?’ I say. ‘That’s not really my thing, doctor. I … Continue reading Doctor Jive Goes to Mundesley
Little by Little
Little by Little by Chris Green It is said that everyone who looks into their family history will sooner or later discover a dark secret. Something they don’t wish to be aware of. There are inherent dangers in unearthing the past. You never know what you might find. Perhaps the past should be left … Continue reading Little by Little
Suspicious Minds
Suspicious Minds by Chris Green The underlying premise behind conspiracy theories is that they are hiding the truth for dark, nefarious purposes. They might refer to the government, mainstream media, Russia, China, aliens, the CIA, the FBI, the BBC, Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big Tech, and/or more often than not, the Jews. But because you … Continue reading Suspicious Minds
ICKE
ICKE by Chris Green It was the summer I worked for the Parks Department. Tony and I had parked up our mowers in Cortina Drive, a quiet cul-de-sac in a residential area, a place where I reasoned, Nick Ford would not find us if he came to check. It had been a hot dry summer, … Continue reading ICKE
Basic Attraction
Basic Attraction by Chris Green When Eve pushes the cloakroom door shut, and with a rippling of her flame coloured dress, turns towards him, Dean knows he is in trouble. ‘I feel naughty today, Mr Jones,’ Eve says, rubbing her hand up her stockinged leg. ‘Don’t you think it’s time we got to know one … Continue reading Basic Attraction
RED
RED by Chris Green As soon as she walks in, Lucy can feel the tension. Fists clenched and a face like thunder, Ben’s demeanour is decidedly hostile. This does not bode well. He must have found out. She has been lucky so far, but it was probably only a question of when he would find … Continue reading RED
137- an odd space essay
137 – an odd space essay by Chris Green Victor Malpas and his associate Leon Dusk made a killing in the initial dot-com boom. While many others had been working on it, they were the ones who came up with the encryption required to make secure financial transactions on the internet a reality. At least … Continue reading 137- an odd space essay
Giselle
Giselle by Chris Green I am stuck at the Scott McKenzie lights when I notice the car in front of me is the same model and colour, a blue Mazda 3. Not too unusual, perhaps. It is a popular model. But this one looks too familiar. Before I can put my finger on what it … Continue reading Giselle
Office 87
Office 87 by Chris Green Charlie and the Chancers may not be the worst band Guy Chapman has ever seen. That honour would surely go to The Sluggs, whose bid for the title was at Riot years ago. Not only could The Sluggs hardly play a note, they could hardly stand up. They were booed … Continue reading Office 87
Cars
Cars by Chris Green I haven’t seen one before and I certainly wouldn’t expect to see a motor like this parked around here. I do not recognise the badge and have to look it up on my phone, and even then it takes me a while to match the model. I discover it is a … Continue reading Cars
Can’t Write, Won’t Write
Can’t Write, Won’t Write by Chris Green The Conference Room is the largest space in the Resource Centre. Seated, it holds about forty, depending on how the tables are arranged. Around twenty attend our monthly Neighbourhood Coordination meetings. Susie Kew is the Community Liaison Officer for Camelot Housing, the largest housing association operating in Barbridge. … Continue reading Can’t Write, Won’t Write
Waiting for Doggo
Waiting for Doggo by Chris Green Marc Gospell was trying to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative, as his therapist, Lily Woke, had told him. Latch on to the affirmative and not mess with Mister in Between, she had said. It was not going well. He was struggling. On the occasions he managed to … Continue reading Waiting for Doggo
Bougainvillea Heights
Bougainvillea Heights by Chris Green As she opens the front door, Angel hears the shower running in the upstairs bathroom. That’s odd, she thinks as she unzips her boots. Jason is never home at this time of day. Still, it is a pleasant surprise. Since he took up his post as CEO of Dozier and … Continue reading Bougainvillea Heights
Curiosity KIlled the Cat
Curiosity Killed the Cat by Chris Green 1: We don’t get many calls on the landline. It could be Rachel. She hasn’t called today. I pause the episode of Curiosity Killed the Cat I am watching on Netflix to answer it, hoping it’s her. I can tell her about my progress on my new story … Continue reading Curiosity KIlled the Cat
No Windows
No Windows by Chris Green Pablo Picasso said, if I don’t have red paint, I use blue. You have to be able to adapt to changes of fortune. I did not plan my early retirement, but here I am on a Tuesday morning sitting in my recliner with a toasted teacake and a cup of … Continue reading No Windows
Nobody Home
Nobody Home by Chris Green I first met Floyd Singer when we moved to Darkbridge and I started at St Dominic's Junior School. This was a big move for my family and I did not know anyone there. Naturally, I was worried about how I was going to fit in at a strange new school … Continue reading Nobody Home
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes by Chris Green ‘What happened to the old bus station, Geoff?’ I say. ‘While I was driving here, I couldn’t help noticing it had gone. I know it was a bit of a monstrosity, but it was a landmark. I grew up around there.’ ‘God’s teeth, Vince!’ he says. ‘They knocked that old thing … Continue reading Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
A Day at the Camel Races with Queen Cleopatra
A Day at the Camel Races with Queen Cleopatra by Chris Green They no longer race camels at Blue Anchor Bay. There are not even donkeys on the beach these days, and to be fair, not very much sand left. But back in the day, you would have been able to enjoy a day out … Continue reading A Day at the Camel Races with Queen Cleopatra
Out of the Bag
Out of the Bag by Chris Green ‘It didn’t occur to you that a two-year-old Mercedes Sprinter on sale in Toker’s End for less than two grand might be hot,’ Jonny Geezer says. ‘To be fair, we were strapped for cash, guv, and there wasn’t much around,’ Gandy says. ‘And time was of the essence.’ … Continue reading Out of the Bag
Chinese Boxes
Chinese Boxes by Chris Green The fire engine hurtles towards me. It has no driver. It is out of control. Conan Doyle Street is narrow and on a steep incline. As it heads down the slope, the precipitate leviathan gathers momentum. I dive for safety into the doorway of the antiquarian bookshop. The fire engine … Continue reading Chinese Boxes
Domino Logic
Domino Logic by Chris Green ‘I am not Dirk Vandenberg,’ I say. ‘No one called Dirk Vandenberg lives here. There has never been anyone going by that name on this number.’ This is the eighth or ninth phone call for Dirk Vandenberg I have had on the landline this week. At first, I put the … Continue reading Domino Logic
Gone Fishing
Gone Fishing by Chris Green I have no recollection of how I arrived at this remote place or where it might be. I have lost my phone, and have no means of checking my location. I have trudged several miles through dense wild scrub. The only feature I have come across was an old pickup … Continue reading Gone Fishing
Colour
Colour – an unreliable memoir by Chris Green 1: When I was growing up, life was grey. It was not just that the suburban landscape was dull, or that life on the Bleak View estate was grim. These were minor details. Back then, everything was black and white. The sky was grey, clouds were grey, … Continue reading Colour
Escape to the Country
Escape to the Country by Chris Green Uncle Enzo is planning to buy a house in the south-west of England. He is tired of urban living and wants to retire to the country. Enzo is in his seventies and his mobility is not what it was, so I am down here to see what is … Continue reading Escape to the Country
The Rhubarb of Doubt
The Rhubarb of Doubt by Chris Green I have nothing scheduled for the day and am just catching up on my Minecraft when Tara Vain pushes open the door to my office. I have my feet up on the desk and a blunt burning down in the ashtray. I was not expecting anyone. Since the … Continue reading The Rhubarb of Doubt
Dog Day Discs
Dog Day Discs by Chris Green I don’t know whose idea it was to come up with the ill-fated Dog Day Discs. I could have predicted the idea of someone picking their selection of the worst eight tunes of all time was never destined to be a winner. But G.O.O.D Radio went ahead with … Continue reading Dog Day Discs
Brown Sauce
Brown Sauce by Chris Green I offer no excuses. It was the third time in a month that I had crossed the border. There is no-one else I can blame for my arrest and subsequent detention. As I await my trial, I would like to be able to say I am remorseful or that she … Continue reading Brown Sauce
The Last Word
The Last Word by Chris Green As I walk along the coastal path early on a sunny Sunday morning, a light breeze blows from the south-west and the tide rolls gently in. There is no-one about at this hour. I take in the tranquillity. Having recently completed a story, I am hoping to draw inspiration … Continue reading The Last Word
Nutmeg and Steven
Nutmeg and Steven by Chris Green Before he accidentally became famous as a rock and roll singer, Buddy Holly was a gentle soul who pressed wildflowers and practised yoga. He was the shy and retiring sort. Everyone said so. Not a hateful bone in his body, they said. But Buddy killed my bunny. Not intentionally, … Continue reading Nutmeg and Steven
Bird
Bird by Chris Green ‘You’re telling me you found it in the car park and you thought you’d just plug it into your workstation,’ says Frank Flint. ‘It’s a fucking data stick. What did you suppose it might be doing lying there in the car park of a high-security organisation like this?’ I had an … Continue reading Bird
Just My Imagination
Just My Imagination by Chris Green There is a knock at the door. I am not expecting anyone. I do not get visitors these days. Since the misunderstanding, people tend to stay away. Even Donna has stopped calling. While I try to think who might be at the door, they knock again. Harder this time. … Continue reading Just My Imagination
3:13 a.m.
3: 13 a.m. by Chris GreenNot so long ago, it was recognised that at 3:13 a.m. each morning, everyone heard something disturbing caused the heart to skip a beat. For some, the rogue sound was the tolling of a distant bell, for others a mournful foghorn, while yet others might hear an air-raid siren or … Continue reading 3:13 a.m.
Ideas
IDEAS by Chris Green ‘The guy was a complete stranger,’ says Laura. ‘He just walked up to me and handed me the bag.’ ‘And you didn’t think to say what are you doing or who are you?’ says Matt. ‘There wasn’t time. It all happened so quickly. I was taken completely off guard.’ ‘And he … Continue reading Ideas
Dress
Dress by Chris Green I saw Doug Morales as someone you could rely on. He was a man of his word. He was a born organiser. His was a world of order. If Doug said he was going to do something, he would do it. If he said he was going to be somewhere, he … Continue reading Dress
Cor Anglais
Cor Anglais by Chris Green Sea mists have been building in strength over the last few weeks, and this is the worst one we’ve had. It’s a solid sheet of dense grey. Visibility is down a matter of feet. It is foolhardy to be walking along the narrow path. But the dogs next door were … Continue reading Cor Anglais
Jazz
JAZZ by Chris Green 1: She came into Birth of Cool and asked if we had an original New York Prestige yellow label vinyl pressing of Webster Young’s For Lady. The precision of her request startled me. ‘Featuring Mal Waldron on piano and Paul Quinichette on tenor sax,’ I said. ‘Mellow album. We have a … Continue reading Jazz
The Feelgood Calendar
The Feelgood Calendar by Chris Green Charlie Feelgood awoke from a dream. He had been lost in a dark place on the outskirts of an unfamiliar town with tall shadowy buildings. He was driving a stolen car that he could not control properly. The brake and accelerator pedals had been switched and the steering wheel … Continue reading The Feelgood Calendar
Department Ж – ‘a man’s story’
Department Ж – ‘a man’s story’ by Chris Green Officially, my job doesn’t exist. Nor do the jobs of the other operators in Department Ж. Department Ж is a clandestine organisation, with no mailing address, phone number, or website. It appears on no records. Its headquarters are to be found only by the very determined, … Continue reading Department Ж – ‘a man’s story’
Now You See It, Now You Don’t
Now You See It, Now You Don’t by Chris Green The arbiters of taste are notoriously fickle. While The Moody Blues were cool in 1968, if you listened to their music a few years later, you would be considered a bit sad. But if anything their musical powers had grown. Their tunes became even better. … Continue reading Now You See It, Now You Don’t
Bunny Boiler
Bunny Boiler by Chris Green I hadn’t seen Guy Manson for nearly twenty years, so to find him in front of me at the checkout at Sainsbury’s was a bolt out of the blue. When I had last seen him, he and Sadie were moving to the Medoc in France. They had inherited some land. … Continue reading Bunny Boiler
The Importance of Being Nearest
The Importance Of Being Nearest by Chris Green ‘Milk,’ I say. ‘Malted Milk.’ ‘In the cold compartment behind you,’ says Karim. ‘My mate Marmite,’ ‘On the shelf over there,’ ‘Maybe Mimi might make more marmalade,’ ‘What?’ says Karim. ‘Come on! I’ve got customers waiting.’ ‘Maureen may marry Marvin Monday morning,’ I say. ‘Mild mann … Continue reading The Importance of Being Nearest
Bob Marley’s Surfboard
Bob Marley’s Surfboard by Chris Green I don't have Bob Marley down as a surfer. To me, surfing conjures up images of blond hair, VW campers, and The Beach Boys. Although I have never been to Jamaica, it is hard to imagine the tough Trenchtown environment Bob grew up in would have offered many opportunities … Continue reading Bob Marley’s Surfboard
Lost in Space
Lost in Space by Chris Green When it was just keeping up with social media and a bit of casual surfing, it was manageable. But since the gambling and online dating kicked in, it has become uncontrollable. I’m spending too much time on the internet. Every time I find myself with a spare moment, I’m … Continue reading Lost in Space
Could Have Tripped Out Easy
Could Have Tripped Out Easy by Chris Green July 1966: Sunny Afternoon We are in the midst of a heatwave, there are smiles on people’s faces and Sunny Afternoon is Number One. It seems that the gloom and austerity of the post-war years, which in my nineteen years is all I have known, have finally … Continue reading Could Have Tripped Out Easy
Mojo
Mojo by Chris Green 1: Dan Lomax has lost his mojo. He woke up one morning, and it was gone. A mojo, of course, is a magical or supernatural quality that attracts people to you and makes you successful and full of energy, sometimes represented by a good luck charm. But to see it in … Continue reading Mojo
Tail
Tail by Chris Green It can be difficult to know if you are being tailed, especially if the car behind you is grey. So many cars these days are grey, and designs are all very similar. Perhaps none of them blends in as easily as a VW Tiguan. This model is so inconspicuous, it has … Continue reading Tail
Out of Time
Out Of Time by Chris Green The moment Kimberley steps into the refreshment room, she knows something is wrong. Railway station cafés should be a hub of activity in the morning. This one is deathly quiet. It is almost empty. There are five people and each is seated at a separate table, staring blankly into … Continue reading Out of Time
Mood Indigo
Mood Indigo by Chris Green I am out in the back, struggling over a spreadsheet, when I hear the bell ring. I cannot see the woman who has come into the shop, but it appears she can see me. ‘Have you got Soul Junction by Red Garland?’ she calls out. ‘If I have, it’ll be … Continue reading Mood Indigo
Odds
Odds by Chris Green Having worked at BiggerBet, Eddie Lovett knows his way around odds. Eddie knows, for instance, the bookmakers’ odds of Bournemouth winning the Premier League are 1,000 to 1. The mathematical odds of being dealt a Straight Flush at five-card Draw Poker are 72,192 to 1. The odds of winning the jackpot … Continue reading Odds
Ghost
GHOST by Chris Green ‘You remember that creepy old man I told you about?’ I said. ‘The one I saw outside the kite museum. Well, Dad! He’s back.’ ‘I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, son,’ Dad said, looking up briefly from his Melody Maker. On a Thursday, his day off, Dad liked to read … Continue reading Ghost
A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life by Chris Green As he drives along Great Western Avenue to work at Trask and Wherry, Lenny Fusco is a worried man. So, he thinks, should everyone else be. He cannot understand why so many people are still going about their lives as normal. The people he passes seem not … Continue reading A Day in the Life
South
SOUTH by Chris Green On occasions, just for a moment, everything seems in place. For this brief spell of time, a supernatural force seems to be at work. There is equilibrium in the universe. It might be referred to by some as an epiphany, an insight through the divine. Here at the top of the … Continue reading South
Balaclava
Balaclava by Chris Green The coach has just left the bus station. We are waiting at the lights when, through the back window, I catch a glimpse of a man in a balaclava, running through the crowd. He is waving a handgun around. He shouts out something. He fires shots indiscriminately at the passengers … Continue reading Balaclava
It Takes a Train to Cry
It Takes a Train to Cry by Chris Green It is pitch black, and I can make out no shapes at all. The bruising I can feel pretty much all over and the throbbing lump on the back of my head suggest I may have taken a savage beating. I am dressed in ripped jeans … Continue reading It Takes a Train to Cry
Missing You
Missing You by Chris Green Helen often comes this way. A short ride on the light railway and she can walk the whole length of Harmonica Way, along Mandolin Avenue and into Dulcimer Street. It’s not the most direct route to the office, but this way, she feels there’s a chance she might see Youssou. … Continue reading Missing You
Blonde on Blonde
Blonde on Blonde by Chris Green How many roads must a man walk down, Dylan Song wonders? He has been trudging around the streets of Dalmouth for ages, yet he still can’t find the café where he is due to meet Frankie Lee. This is his fourth time around the shopping centre. His going round … Continue reading Blonde on Blonde
Philanderer
Philanderer by Chris Green I have lived in the same town most of my life, yet I almost never bump into anyone from my past. This is surely beyond the realms of coincidence. I remarked on this to Suzi only this morning. She maintained we often come across people I know, but could not come … Continue reading Philanderer
James Brown – The Godfather of Soil
James Brown – The Godfather of Soil by Chris Green Susanna and I were having a lunchtime glass of Chardonnay at Café Rouge. She had called me earlier at work. She had sounded a little distraught, so I had rearranged my diary for us to meet up. She suspected Charlie was seeing a younger woman. … Continue reading James Brown – The Godfather of Soil
Andromeda Dreaming
Andromeda Dreaming by Chris Green It was a warm Wednesday in September. I was walking the dog in St Peter’s Park. I spotted Tristan Dev on a seat eating his lunch. Tristan could tell straight away from my demeanour that I was feeling a little below par, and he asked me what was wrong. I … Continue reading Andromeda Dreaming
Trust
Trust by Chris Green Following the split with his long-term partner, Darci, Nick Parks feels at a loose end. He cannot face the idea of singles nights and has heard nothing but horror stories about dating agencies. He does not want to go down to The Gordon Bennett to be asked where’s Darci, or be … Continue reading Trust
Google Knows
Google Knows by Chris Green ‘You may have a point with what you were saying last week,’ Max says. ‘Every time I search for something online, I get adverts for products vaguely related to it for days. Nine times out of ten, I didn’t even want whatever it was in the first place.’ ‘Frightening, isn’t … Continue reading Google Knows
Curiosity
Curiosity by Chris Green I am reading Curiosity Killed the Cat by Phillip C Dark which I bought at the PDSA charity shop. In the novel, people become human mood rings. They have implants that make them change colour according to their mood. Advertisements appear randomly in the air in front of them. Getting media … Continue reading Curiosity
The Real History of the Internet
The Real History Of The Internet by Chris Green The Internet was invented by Pablo Gonzales in 1492. There are competing claims to the technology behind it, but Pablo was the one who established the Internet protocol suite (IPS). You may have seen pictures of the early personal computers but in case you have not, … Continue reading The Real History of the Internet
Fugue
Fugue by Chris Green 1: Someone is standing over me and staring, a weird sensation when you are dead. Perhaps it’s a big leap, but does it suggest I may have survived the accident after all? Given that as far as I can recall, a vehicle travelling at considerable speed hit me head-on, this seems … Continue reading Fugue
Invisible Men
Invisible Men by Chris Green ‘You can call me Fritz,’ he says. Why Fritz? I wonder. He does not look German. He is skinny, dark-skinned and has crusty dreadlocks. He has a scar running the length of his cheek. He clearly has no intention of engaging in unnecessary conversation. I had become accustomed to Zoot. … Continue reading Invisible Men
Travel by Train
Travel by Train by Chris Green I have never taken much notice of the station at Nevermore. In my experience, the train always passes through it without stopping. Nevermore appears to be a place of little significance. It has no Wikipedia page and is difficult to find on the map. All I have ever registered … Continue reading Travel by Train
Ki
Ki by Chris Green I have just taken a photo of the blue sea with the bank of cloud over the dark headland, when the stranger with the mirror sunglasses appears out of nowhere. He asks me if I am a professional photographer. ‘Not at all,’ I say. ‘It’s only a Canon PowerShot. But there … Continue reading Ki
GUN
GUN by Chris Green Gary Bilk works as a tyre technician in Camborne, an old mining town in Cornwall. Most evenings after work, he picks up his girlfriend, Suzi Foxx from outside HairCraft salon and takes her to The Cock Inn. They have a bite to eat, play pool, darts or dominoes and chat with … Continue reading GUN
Strike While the Iron is Hot
Strike While The Iron Is Hot by Chris Green She has fought against it for too long. If she doesn’t do it now, she never will. What is so difficult about telling Dirk he has to leave? Each time that her friend Marie has said; you’ve got to do it, Donna, she has said; it’s … Continue reading Strike While the Iron is Hot
Harmonica
Harmonica by Chris Green ‘I am going to write a story that ends with the word harmonica,’ she says. ‘And I am not going to mention harmonica until that point.’ We are in Chance Encounter Café. We are the only two customers. She is sitting at the next table. She is drinking one of those … Continue reading Harmonica
Zenn
Zenn by Chris Green As an only child growing up in rural Somerset, Kate Dulverton had a sheltered upbringing. Like many young people, she eventually became bored with her sleepy surroundings and moved away to broaden her horizons. She had not been in the city long when Charlotte Anne, in the office where she was … Continue reading Zenn
Altavista
Altavista by Chris Green Magenta does not enjoy riding the elevator to Red’s nineteenth-floor apartment in Altavista. It moves so slowly that it doesn’t seem to be moving at all. But security is tight. The chance of encountering an assailant in Altavista is small. The building has a uniformed concierge to vet unwanted visitors. The … Continue reading Altavista
Noir
NOIR by Chris Green It's early evening. It is getting dark and the street lights are coming on. Apart from a solemn, middle-aged man dressed in black sitting near the door, Stacey is the only customer in Café Noir. She is uncomfortable because the man keeps staring at her. She cannot put her finger on … Continue reading Noir
April’s Shower
April's Shower by Chris Green Hotel California strikes me as an odd little café. Apart from the curious choice of name, it is situated underground and has no windows. Despite its claustrophobic feel, the acoustics seem to belong to a much larger space. The sound fades in and out and bounces off the walls in … Continue reading April’s Shower
Chocolate is at Six
Chocolate is at Six by Chris Green The brightly coloured bus was there every morning. Parked in the bus bay by the side of the road, in Bridge Street, Paloma passed it on her way to school. There was nothing to show where the bus might be going, and no one ever seemed to get … Continue reading Chocolate is at Six
The Start of Something Big
The Start of Something Big by Chris Green ‘There was no before the beginning of the universe, because once upon a time, there was no time. Big bang or no big bang, it makes no difference. Even if God created everything, the argument still stands. There, that solves that one, Vincent. That will save years … Continue reading The Start of Something Big
The Devil’s Interval
The Devil’s Interval by Chris Green I have not always been a killer. I blame my descent into malevolence and murder on Holst and Wagner. Oh! And Black Sabbath. Mostly Black Sabbath, in fact. Perhaps I had better explain. It all began when in February 1970, I was listening to a Dutch radio station late … Continue reading The Devil’s Interval
PROG
PROG by Chris Green I hadn’t seen Nick for many years when he got in touch with me on Facebook. My name, Chance DeVille, is of course so unusual that if someone were trying to look me up, I would not be hard to find. Few people had taken the trouble to look me up, … Continue reading PROG
Behind the Times
Behind the Times by Chris Green It is a hundred miles to the holiday cottage in Myst, a small hamlet in the west country. Because of some last-minute things I have to attend to at the studio, I am late setting out. And for the last stretch of the journey, the satnav takes me on … Continue reading Behind the Times
Call Wyatt on the Western Front
Call Wyatt On The Western Front by Chris Green Penny hits the button on the bedside clock. 4:33 AM. We’re hardly going to get up and answer the door at this unearthly hour, she thinks. No matter what is going on. She tries to drift back off, but again the doorbell rings. She turns over to … Continue reading Call Wyatt on the Western Front
The Book
The Book by Chris Green When I was growing up in the nineteen-sixties, I was surrounded by books. The bookshelves in Grey Gables, the big old Gothic revival house in Gloucestershire where we lived, were full. Fiction and non-fiction, there were books from all around the globe. There were books of every classification. but there … Continue reading The Book
Light
Light by Chris Green ‘Purple Haze was never Number 1,’ the girl at the bar says. ‘Nor was Strawberry Fields Forever. Odd for two such famous tunes, don’t you think?’ Matt is taken aback. It’s a strange way to open a conversation. Is she talking to him? He does not know her. He looks around … Continue reading Light
Strangers When We Meet
Strangers When We Meet by Chris Green How many miles do you need to have the same car in your mirrors before you become suspicious? How many turnings before alarm bells ring? Emma Fox has no idea, but the black SsangYong appears to be tailing her. At times right up her rear bumper. SsangYongs are … Continue reading Strangers When We Meet
All About Jazz
All About Jazz by Chris Green All About Jazz tends to be quiet in the afternoon. After the lunchtime rush, things do not pick up again until the evening. We are a small establishment down a side street on the edge of town. If you were driving along the main road out of town, you … Continue reading All About Jazz
Back in Time for Tea
Back in Time for Tea by Chris Green It was Monday morning, but I was not pressed for time. I was off work. An old Tai Chi injury had flared up, and I had been told to rest. I was sorting out things that in my busy schedule at the kite repair workshop, I never … Continue reading Back in Time for Tea
The Cat’s Tale
The Cat’s Tale by Chris Green Where’s the cat, Zack wonders? And what is that enormous snake doing in here? The snake curled up in the corner of the room appears completely out of context and instantly intimidating. Zack is terrified. Keeping a safe distance from the beast, he googles big fat yellow snake on … Continue reading The Cat’s Tale
Summer Time
Summer Time by Chris Green It was already the middle of July. Only a few moments ago it seemed it was June, or May even. The Bank Holiday Mondays, the Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Ascot, Summer Solstice, Glastonbury, Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix had come and gone like thieves in the night. In quick … Continue reading Summer Time
Travelling Light
Travelling Light by Chris Green It didn’t work out at first. Things often don’t the first time you try them. Suzi and I only got into it because Milo and Clover gave it the hard sell. It was simple, they told us. ‘You just lay down, close your eyes, relax your muscles, channel your thoughts, … Continue reading Travelling Light
Small Island
Small Island by Chris Green I am walking our cocker spaniel, Trevor on Gold Dust Hill when we come across the stranger. Trevor spots him first. He is very sensitive to changes in his surroundings. We get a few hill walkers around these parts, so at first I imagine the shadowy figure in the distance … Continue reading Small Island
Bus
Bus by Chris Green The bus isn’t supposed to go this way. What is happening? Where is it taking me? ‘You’re going the wrong way,’ I call out to the driver. She takes no notice. Perhaps she cannot hear me over the noise of the engine. I try again. ‘I have an appointment and I’m … Continue reading Bus
Blues Harp
Blues Harp by Chris Green Man Eats Goldfish at County Fair, the headline poster outside the newsagents says. At first, I assume this must refer to a report in the local paper. A light-hearted line to draw you in and get you to buy the paper. Lord knows The West Country Gazette needs all the … Continue reading Blues Harp
A Sword in Every Pond
A Sword In Every Pond by Chris Green You have never in your life been to Stockport. You weren’t even aware that it was a town in Greater Manchester. So where are these phantom thoughts coming from? Conversations about black puddings with Ruby Leighton in the Asian convenience store off Warren Street. Supping stout in … Continue reading A Sword in Every Pond
Apocalypse No
Apocalypse No by Chris Green 1: At first, Ingrid and I think the explosion may have come from Dmitri’s place further down the lane. We live out in the sticks and Dmitri is our nearest neighbour. He is always tinkering with something questionable in his makeshift workshop at the bottom of his garden. With his … Continue reading Apocalypse No
Such Stuff
Such Stuff by Chris Green When I read the news about traces of cannabis being found in clay pipes from William Shakespeare’s garden, I was surprised, but then again, not too surprised. After all, many literary figures have been known to use drugs, Wordsworth and Coleridge for instance. Shelley and Byron too had famously indulged, … Continue reading Such Stuff
The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron – Part 8
The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron - Part Eight by Chris Green 1: When Picasso said everything you can imagine is real, he was presumably referring to his art. But could this also be the starting point for fiction? How else can we build a believable world out of something that doesn’t exist? How … Continue reading The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron – Part 8
Chris Green Stories 