Introduction There’s a sycamore that grows in my memory. Its roots twist through the past. Its leaves whisper secrets I’m still learning to understand. When I wrote Ride a White Swan I thought I was rendering a memory of a woman we called The Witch, a boy who loved football, and a sycamore tree. However,Continue reading “Ride a White Swan: A story of Summer, Secrets and The Spaces Between By Nasir Ali Hussain”
Tag Archives: Short Story
Three Colours: Pants
By Simon Downham-Knight For Terry Two Times Prologue: Being the middle-aged father of a teenager in the 2020s has made me realise more and more that growing up in the ‘70s and the ‘80s was a strange old time. We didn’t have the terror of all our business; all our mistakes; all our moments ofContinue reading “Three Colours: Pants”
Alison
By Simon Downham-Knight I strolled over to Mike Jones’s flat on a grey, early November evening in 1991. As I walked round the corner into Gloucester Street, I had an enigmatic feeling of excitement and trepidation. Mike’s flat was in one of those big white town houses in Pimlico. It had black railings, stairs thatContinue reading “Alison”
Bring on the Lucy
A Short Story by Simon Downham-Knight “Alright, boys. This is it. Over the hill.” John Lennon – Bring on the Lucie (Freda People) I’ve been a vegetarian since I was eight years old and a vegan since I was fifteen; I fucking hate meat: the smell of it, the taste of it, the feel ofContinue reading “Bring on the Lucy”
The Beckoning Stars Way Beneath Us
A Short story by Nasir Ali Hussain “Why struggle to open a door between us when the whole world is an illusion” Rumi The night was almost as striking as she was. Alice was pretty alright, in this soulful, doe-eyed way that could make a certain type of man yearn and burn. Maybe that wasContinue reading “The Beckoning Stars Way Beneath Us”
A, B, C.
By Simon Downham-Knight “When you wake up in the morning, I want the first thought to enter your head to be: ‘How much lovely money am I gonna make today?’” The ginger, red faced, stuffed suit at the front of the packed conference room said in a thick London accent. “Fellas, when you look upContinue reading “A, B, C.”
Dolphins & Sharks
By Simon Downham-Knight It was the height of Summer, somewhere in the early ‘90s. I was in my early twenties and had lived away from home since I was sixteen. The curtains were drawn tight to keep the sun out; the ash tray was overflowing, and I was three films into a VHS binge. IContinue reading “Dolphins & Sharks”
Foam
A Short Story by Nasir Ali Hussain July 1981 She was a heavyset, middle-aged lady with a heavy, brown leather handbag that was the same colour as the skin on her face. The bag bounced invitingly from one shoulder strap as she walked. It was about six o’clock, and the hot weather that afternoon hadContinue reading “Foam”
Penelope
A Short Story by Nasir Ali Hussain He was driving from London to Somerset. When Barry Naylor had got into his red Ford Cortina that morning the sky had been silver, blue and gold. It had begun to rain as soon as he got off the A40 for the motorway towards the west country andContinue reading “Penelope”
I HATE YOUR GUTS!
By Simon Downham-Knight Marcus lay on his side, in bed, staring at the buttery, early summer morning light streaming through the gap in his curtains. He had been awake and in that position for the last half an hour; despite the fact his bladder was full, and he was busting for a wee he hadContinue reading “I HATE YOUR GUTS!”
Spiral Staircase 