Travelling Light by Chris Green It didn’t work out at first. Things often when you first you try them. Lucy and I only got into the idea because Max and Maya gave it the hard sell. It was simple, they told us. ‘You just lie down, close your eyes, relax your muscles, channel your thoughts, … Continue reading Travelling Light
Category: Short Story
Time and Time Again
Time and Time Again by Chris GreenTime is a bitch. You never know quite where you are with it. Einstein argues that the distinction between past, present and future is an illusion, albeit a stubbornly persistent one. This morning as I go through the mail, I appreciate the great man’s uncertainty. These bills are the … Continue reading Time and Time Again
Chasing Waterfalls
Chasing Waterfalls by Chris Green 1: Through thick and thin, Eddie Dolman has followed Bristol City’s fortunes, travelling up and down the country in all winds and weathers to watch his team play. He has financed his fanatical support through a stall selling cheap foreign mattresses at inflated prices at Compton Regis market. While Bristol … Continue reading Chasing Waterfalls
Cats and Dogs
Cats and Dogs by Chris Green It hasn't been a good Spring. I have been listening to birdsong on Birdsong FM because there hasn't been any birdsong in the garden. Every week when Sophie and I tune in to CountryWatch, they go on about global warming. March was the hottest on record, April was the … Continue reading Cats and Dogs
CHEKHOV’S GUN
Chekhov’s Gun by Chris Green Having signed off my latest story, I am on the lookout for characters for a new one. A writer’s mind is never idle. Even though Cathy and I are taking a break in a small seaside town in Norfolk to catch up with her family, the search is on. In … Continue reading CHEKHOV’S GUN
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
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 seems beyond the realm of coincidence. I remarked on this to Suzi only this morning. She maintained we often come across people I know but could not come up … Continue reading Philanderer
Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk
Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk? by Chris Green The tall stranger in the Duster overcoat appears out of nowhere. He is wearing a broad-rimmed sheriff’s hat complete with campaign cord and silver star. A strange getup. This is a sleepy West Somerset coastal resort, not Washington County. Perhaps he feels the hat … Continue reading Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk
Trout Fishing
Trout Fishing by Chris Green FRIDAY‘Sunsets on Mars are blue,’ says the man’s voice coming from behind her. It is too loud for her to ignore. Suzy turns around to see a stranger in a badly creased seersucker suit has sat down at the next table. He is alone. Is he talking to her or … Continue reading Trout Fishing
The Aardvark of Uncertainty
The Aardvark of Uncertainty by Chris Green I appear to have swapped the cow for a handful of beans. My memory of the transaction is hazy, but here are the beans. It's an odd kind of bargain to have made. Why was I thinking? Looking on the bright side, at least these are magic beans, … Continue reading The Aardvark of Uncertainty
The Schrödingers’ Cat
The Schrödingers’ Cat by Chris Green Each evening, Mr and Mrs Schrödinger walked their salt and pepper schnauzer Ernst along the Promenade. Mrs Schrödinger would take the opportunity to window-shop in the fashion boutiques while Mr Schrödinger used the time to fantasise about what he would like to do to Hermione Shakespeare in the office … Continue reading The Schrödingers’ Cat
MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms by Chris Green The cows that were in the lower field yesterday evening have gone. Perhaps they have been moved up into the top field behind the trees. I eat my breakfast on the patio, fried egg, tomatoes and freshly picked mushrooms with a pot of Birchall’s tea. You get these comforts in the … Continue reading MUSHROOMS
The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron – Part 10
The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron - Part 10, in which Ron gets a job Wet Blanket Ron does not expect to get the job at Webber, King and Drewett. He doesn't anticipate that he will even get an interview. After all, WKD is a blue-chip estate agency, and he has no experience of selling … Continue reading The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron – Part 10
Schrödinger’s Cat
Schrödinger’s Cat by Chris Green (no cats were harmed in the writing of this story) The train doesn’t stop. There are no stations, no visible settlements. No landmarks, no buildings, no farms, nothing. I don’t know where the train is heading. The terrain comprises miles upon miles of wilderness, woodland and barren scrub. I can’t … Continue reading Schrödinger’s Cat
Room 404
Room 404 by Chris Green Level 4 is strictly off-limits. I shouldn’t be in there, let alone in Room 404, and logged in to the server. Everything on the 4Server is Top Secret. No one at my pay grade is allowed to access classified documents. There must have been an oversight in staff rotas, because … Continue reading Room 404
Bacon
Bacon by Chris Green Will notices The Guardian newspaper in front of him has tomorrow’s date. Normally, this might not matter too much. There would probably be an innocent explanation. The Guardian, after all, is famous for its misprints, but it is unlikely that an edition would have gone out with the wrong date on … Continue reading Bacon
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
Eternal
Eternal by Chris Green The daily proclamations of doom and gloom and the celebrity indiscretions in the media are getting me down. It seems none of it has anything to do with me. Why do I need to know what they are squabbling about in Parliament if I can do nothing about it? Why does … Continue reading Eternal
The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron – Part 9
The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron - Part 9 by Chris Green Having discovered he is fictional, and his social media followers having discovered he has discovered he is fictional, Wet Blanket Ron now needs to be creative if he is to continue his existence. As things stand, he is dead on the page, … Continue reading The Continuing Story of Wet Blanket Ron – Part 9
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
(NOT) BEING DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
(Not) Being Dmitri Shostakovich by Chris Green The knock on the door at 3 a.m. wakes me with a jolt. At first I think I must have imagined it, but there it is again. Not just a friendly tap like you might get from a neighbour to tell you that you have left your car … Continue reading (NOT) BEING DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
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. What the f...? 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. Why … Continue reading Call Wyatt on the Western Front
Give Chance a Piece
Give Chance a Piece by Chris Green If Chandler McCoy had not stayed up until the early hours watching The Shining on Netflix, he would probably not have been late leaving for work that fateful Monday in late September and if he had not been late leaving for work, he would not have been speeding … Continue reading Give Chance a Piece
Close Encounters
Close Encounters by Chris Green The Conference Room is the largest room in the Resource Centre. Seated, it holds about fifty, depending on how the tables are arranged. Around twenty attend the monthly Neighbourhood Coordination meetings which, as Centre Coordinator, I am obliged to sit in on. Susie Kew is the Community Liaison Officer for … Continue reading Close Encounters
Chinese Boxes
Chinese Boxes by Chris Green The fire engine hurtles towards me. It is out of control. It has no driver. Conan Doyle Street is narrow and on a steep incline. As it heads down the slope, it gathers momentum. It mounts the pavement. It is heading towards me. I dive into the doorway of the … Continue reading Chinese Boxes
Nightswimming
Nightswimming by Chris Green On the face of it, Nightswimming is about someone’s fond memories of skinny-dipping in their younger days. But is the song really about dreaming? You couldn’t get a more haunting tune or a more dreamlike arrangement. And the band is called REM. Rapid Eye Movement. It’s a perfect fit. Surely, Nightswimming … Continue reading Nightswimming
Cars
Cars by Chris Green I wouldn’t expect to see a motor like this parked around here. I’ve not seen one like it before. I do not recognise the badge. It takes a while to match the make and model on my phone. It’s a Duesenberg Sedan. Mid-1930s vintage. An almost icy shade of pink. It … Continue reading Cars
Sophie’s Choice
Sophie’s Choice by Chris Green I haven’t seen Sophie since she moved up north, so I am surprised to find her in the wines and spirits aisle in my local Tesco. She is studying the Sauvignon Blanc range. This was always her favourite tipple. I tended to go for Italian red. Sophie and I parted … Continue reading Sophie’s Choice
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 needless … Continue reading The Start of Something Big
Home Alone Too
Home Alone Too by Chris Green Was it a knock that had woken her? Anna doesn’t like being alone in the big house at the best of times and knowing Shaun is on the other side of the world makes her more edgy. The clock says 3:13. Much too late for anyone to be calling, … Continue reading Home Alone Too
All About Jazz
All About Jazz by Chris Green After the lunchtime rush, All About Jazz tends to be quiet in the afternoon. Things don’t 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, unless you … Continue reading All About Jazz
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. I 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
Pub
Pub by Chris Green ‘You’re probably wondering why the pub is called The Skydog Slaver, aren’t you?’ Nigel Slough says. I am not. I have been coming here for several weeks. At first, I may have been curious about the name, but now I take it for granted. ‘I’m just going to take Murphy for … Continue reading Pub
Ceraunophilia
Ceraunophilia by Chris Green I turn on the laptop one wet Monday morning to find a Facebook friend request from Tracey Accident. It must be a joke. No one is called Tracey Accident, Not even Random Name Generator could come up with such an absurd name. But I see that Tracey and I have several … Continue reading Ceraunophilia
Shrapnel Perpendicular
Shrapnel Perpendicular by Chris Green ‘Shrapnel perpendicular,’ the caller says and then hangs up. Shrapnel perpendicular? It sounds like a cryptic crossword clue. With the dull flat disconnected tone ringing in my ear, I continue to grip the receiver as if by registering my puzzlement, an explanation might be forthcoming. I record all calls on … Continue reading Shrapnel Perpendicular
Snake in the Glass
SNAKE IN THE GLASS by Chris Green Later No one sees him arrive. No one spots the silver Solstice slide silently through the streets on its way to the big house with the crow-stepped gables on Brindle Street. It is night-time in the sleepy town. Seeing the sleek Pontiac Solstice outside the house the following … Continue reading Snake in the Glass
Noir
NOIR by Chris Green It’s early evening. It is getting dark and the street lights are coming on. Apart from a 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 doesn’t often stop off on her … Continue reading Noir
In Dreams
In Dreams by Chris Green The girl at the next table in Bean Me Up is the spitting image of the one I was dreaming about not more than an hour ago. The dream comes back to me now. In technicolour. Cinema surround sound. There is no doubt about it. It is her. Everything about … Continue reading In Dreams
Time and Tide Wait for Norman
Time and Tide Wait for Norman by Chris Green Good Lord! There’s Chelsea Kiss. I haven’t seen Chelsea since…… Well, since she left Grace and Favour, where we both worked. That must have been what? Ten years ago? She went off to live in Ireland. Skibbereen, I believe. Strange choice, I thought, but her partner … Continue reading Time and Tide Wait for Norman
The Words of the Prophets
The Words of the Prophets by Chris Green I’m sure I logged out last night and shut the laptop down. It’s something I am in the habit of doing. This morning, to my astonishment, there’s a new document open on the screen. Three thousand words. It claims to be a story of mine. I know … Continue reading The Words of the Prophets
Dark Hollow
Dark Hollow by Chris Green It is a hundred miles to the holiday cottage in Dark Hollow, 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 Dark Hollow
That Other Place
That Other Place by Chris Green I am awoken by a knock on the door. The display on my smartwatch says it’s 3 a.m. Who could be calling at this hour? If Elin were here, she would insist I answer it because it must be important. But she is spending a few days at her … Continue reading That Other Place
No Dark Side of the Moon
No Dark Side of the Moon by Chris Green ‘Don’t blow in a bear’s ear,’ the stranger in the Astrakhan coat says, as he passes me on October Avenue. I am puzzled. Does he not realise there are no bears in these parts? The nearest thing to a bear is the Sonny Liston lookalike … Continue reading No Dark Side of the Moon
Future Shock
Future Shock by Chris Green You will be walking along Lynch Lane past the old furniture warehouse on your way to work. A Chromatics tune will be running through your head when two dudes in dark clothing jump out of a black Nissan Pathfinder with tinted windows. The taller of the two, a gangly figure … Continue reading Future Shock
Blues Harp
Blues Harp by Chris Green Man Eats Goldfish at County Fair, the headline poster outside the newsagents says. 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 help it … Continue reading Blues Harp
Dr Jive Goes to Ilfracombe
Doctor Jive Goes to Ilfracombe by Chris Green A break up can be devastating. Since Lucy left, I become confused in familiar situations. I get lost close to home and struggle to find my way back, even with Google Maps on my phone. I am taken in by conspiracy theories, and they are definitely … Continue reading Dr Jive Goes to Ilfracombe
Ceçi n’est pas
Ceçi n’est pas ….. by Chris Green Tiffany and I arrive at Kemble station, in the Gloucestershire countryside. We have taken the Great Western train down from London and are planning to explore the Cotswolds. We are keen walkers and have heard there are some fantastic walks in the area. We are booked to stay … Continue reading Ceçi n’est pas
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 … Continue reading The Rhubarb of Doubt
Have You Seen the Saucers?
Have You Seen the Saucers? by Chris Green Following the numerous sightings of inter-galactic visitors around Warminster in the 1950s, former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan developed a keen interest in UFOs. He paid regular visits to the Wiltshire locations where sightings had taken place and his library contained many papers on the subject. … Continue reading Have You Seen the Saucers?
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
Back in Time for Dinner
Back in Time for Dinner by Chris Green It is Monday morning, but I am not pressed for time. I am off work. An old Tai Chi injury has flared up, and I have been told to rest. I am sorting out things that, in my busy schedule at the kite repair workshop, I never … Continue reading Back in Time for Dinner
Red
Red by Chris Green The best way to predict the future is to create it, Brett Doobie is fond of saying. It is a good line to come out with at dinner parties. Abraham Lincoln, he might add, after a suitable pause while fellow guests wonder who he is quoting. Brett could not possibly imagine … Continue reading Red
Three Sides to Every Story
Three Sides to Every Story by Chris Green 1: I don’t know about you, but I know when I am being watched. I get a prickly sensation on my skin and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. This, along with a heightened sense of alert. The phenomenon has a name, … Continue reading Three Sides to Every Story
Lark
Lark by Chris Green ‘Do you think the lark has ascended yet?’ ‘Oh, come on, Sean! Of course it has! We must have driven fifty miles since you switched the radio off. We're coming up to the A30 turn-off.’ ‘Lark Ascending IS a long piece, Kate.’ ‘H’mm. But not that long.’ ‘You’re damn right. Not … Continue reading Lark
Rain Check
Rain Check by Chris Green It was clear from the beginning 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
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
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 … Continue reading Strangers When We Meet
Three
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
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 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 nothing … 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 … Continue reading Odyssey
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Southampton 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. 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 suggests I may have taken a savage beating. I am dressed in ripped jeans … Continue reading It Takes a Train to Cry
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
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
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
Chris Green Stories 