Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i Take a Break Fiction Feast

A night on the tiles? Well, I hope you enjoy yourself,’ Jenny muttered sarcastically, after reading a message from Alan. She’d had a tough week. Her kitchen was a wreck, and her mum, Moira, had fallen off a stepladder, yet her husband was going out! Moira had fallen while pruning some shrubs, meaning Jenny had to drive a hundred miles to help her. The journey was horrendous – an accident on the motorway, roadblocks, lengthy jams and stop-start traffic for miles. Finally breaking free of the congestion, she stopped for a coffee. But the service station was shut so she’d had to carry on without a break or refreshments. She wished she’d grabbed a bottle of water before she’d left home. But there’d been no time for that. When Moira’s…

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What on earth are you doing?’ Tony demanded, as Brenda climbed the stepladder. ‘Our viewers will be here any moment!’ ‘Just hanging this curtain!’ she said, hammering a tack into the curtain material and wall. ‘There, how does that look?’ ‘Very strange as there’s no window behind it.’ ‘No, just a huge crack in the wall,’ said Brenda. ‘Why you had to build this extension yourself, I don’t know…’ ‘Because a builder would’ve cost a fortune!’ Tony said. And then the doorbell rang. ‘Quick!’ he cried. ‘They’re here!’ Mr and Mrs Smith loved everything about the house. They loved the bedrooms, the kitchen, the garden and most of all they loved the view. ‘How lovely to back on to a field!’ Mrs. Smith exclaimed. ‘I bet you see all kinds…

Brian, I’m going to read something to you.’ On Saturday, Jackie sat with her favourite magazine, the one that included recipes, celebrity insights, expert advice and at least three short stories. ‘It’s from a story called The Trouble with Trouble by Naomi Brownlow. Now, listen to this – Brian borrowed everything from power drills to nail guns to soldering irons.’ ‘Hang on a sec, the character has my name?’ Brian sat to attention in his armchair. ‘A short man with a bald head and glasses…’ Jackie read on. ‘He never returned anything, and neither did his wife, Jaclyn, who scrounged eggs for baking, cake tins, and once even a food mixer.’ ‘His wife is called Jaclyn?’ Brian queried, stroking at his bare pate thoughtfully before adjusting his bifocals. ‘In fact,’…

When Mum won the lottery, she was determined it would only change our lives in good ways. ‘I’m going to clear our mortgage and buy you and your brother a house each, but that’s it,’ she said. ‘Your dad and I are getting ourselves a camper van and going off to see a bit of the world. We’re going to try the whole “living off grid” experience – no more evenings wasted on the socials or reading rolling news – it will be lots of walking in the fresh air, a mainly Mediterranean diet and only checking in with you two every couple of weeks, whenever we seek out access to the internet.’ ‘Couldn’t you give Tonya and me an allowance, so we wouldn’t have to work?’ my brother, Ryan,…

My friends, usually so trusting, were a little suspicious of Paulo, even before they met him. Probably my fault. I’d kept him to myself and told them very little, making it seem he’d not been completely open with me. Or perhaps they thought I’d made him up? To be fair, he’s so gorgeous, romantic and charming, I sometimes had to pinch myself when I saw him heading towards me with a bunch of roses and that seductive grin. Whatever was going through my mates’ minds, I got asked a lot of questions. Had I been to his house? (Yes, but not inside.) What did he do for a living? (He did tell me, but it sounded really boring and I’ve forgotten the details.) Had I met his family? (No, they…

Thump! Thump! Thump! The pounding of drums reverberated through the wall. Sarah turned over in bed and nudged Martin. Her answer was a snore. ‘Martin!’ she cried. ‘Please wake up!’ ‘It’s ridiculous! The walls in these terraced houses are paper-thin!’ But Martin snored on. He could sleep through anything. Thump! Thump! Thump! For Sarah, sleep was impossible. She banged on the wall. ‘It’s three o’clock in the morning!’ she yelled. ‘Turn it down!’ Amazingly enough, they did. Sarah sighed, turned over and tried to go back to sleep. But she couldn’t. She was seething. The inconsideration of some people! ‘What’s the matter with you?’ asked Martin the next morning, as Sarah sat at the kitchen table, propping her eyes open. ‘Didn’t you hear them?’ she asked. ‘Who?’ asked Martin. ‘Who…

That woman needs to relax and have some fun. She hasn’t dated anybody since she got divorced. You’re single. You should ask her out.’ Paul had just invited Heather to the usual Friday get-together after work. As always, she’d said no. I laughed. ‘Why would I do that? Heather’s cold, she’s standoffish. She has no sense of humour. She…’ Paul cut me off. ‘You mean you think she’d say no.’ He paused. ‘I reckon you’re scared of her.’ ‘Don’t be daft. I’m not scared of anyone.’ ‘Fair enough. Let’s make a bet.’ He looked me in the eye. ‘I bet you can’t persuade Heather to go out with you.’ My first instinct was to say no. Heather’s very good at her job and comes up with some really great ideas.…

Rescued Having stopped for a quick drink from her water bottle, Lizzie lifted her head and gazed up into the blue sky, dotted with just a few cotton-wool clouds drifting aimlessly in the breeze. If it wasn’t for the sharp nip in the air meaning that autumn had got well under way, you’d have thought it was a summer’s day. She gave a gentle sigh and adjusted her haversack, which contained the essentials one might need on a long hike, including food and water. Honestly, she’d never tire of this stunning scenery. Rolling hills and valleys that had turned vibrant greens into golden yellows, rusty oranges and earthy browns. Looking up well into the mountains, she could see the limestone rocks, some so bright they were reflecting the sun like…

Carl greeted me with his usual quick hug and peck on the cheek. ‘Go on through, Amy. I’m running late tonight. I haven’t finished the washing-up yet. Coffee?’ ‘Yes please.’ As I stepped into the living room, a wonderful smell hit my senses. ‘What did you have for dinner?’ I asked when he brought me my drink. ‘Whatever it was, it smells divine.’ ‘A Mediterranean lamb casserole. And you’re right. It was melt-in-the-mouth delicious. Diane Fletcher’s been cooking dinner for me a couple of times a week. She’s a really good cook.’ Di’s one of those annoyingly beautiful woman, the kind who needs no make-up. Whatever the weather, her hair flows like something out of a shampoo advert. It’s hard to know how old she is. My guess is late…

Helen frowned as she studied the unopened letter in her hand. The voice in her head said, Open it, it’s the only way you’ll find out what it is. She tore it open and took a few moments to read, and then re-read the covering letter. She’d been summoned to do jury service! ‘Why you?’ Derek asked. ‘Why not?’ she replied. ‘It says names are picked at random. Any adult under 75 can be called, although I don’t know of anyone who’s ever done it. Do you?’ Derek thought for a moment, ‘I think there was someone at work, he was off for ages with a murder case.’ ‘Thank you,’ Helen said sharply. ‘I didn’t wish to hear that.’ She put the letter aside, intending to re-read it again later,…

It all started with my seven-year-old nephew, Ewan. You see, there’s this little ornament in my mum’s knick-knacks alcove that her grandfather brought back from India – or possibly China – when he travelled there as a young man. It’s a little silver frog with a quizzical expression. It’s not valuable. But according to family legend, the frog has a story attached to it. It’s believed to have the power to grant a wish if you make that wish for another person – not yourself. Just the one wish, mind. And who did Ewan waste his wish on? Me, that’s who! Here’s why I wasn’t grateful… Last time I was round at Mum’s for Saturday lunch, my sister Libby was there too, with her little ball of mischief, Ewan. We…

Jessica sat at the back of the solicitor’s office feeling quite out of place. Evelyn’s family were all there. Such a shame they never visited her. Suddenly Jessica sat up on hearing her name… ‘Evelyn has left you a generous allowance, to be paid monthly, in return for taking care of Norman for the rest of his life. Harold, Evelyn has left you…’ The solicitor’s voice faded out again as Jessica wished she’d recorded what the woman had just said. She’d definitely heard, ‘generous allowance’ and ‘paid monthly’, but who was Norman? As the solicitor droned on, Jessica began to worry that Norman was actually a man – a son Evelyn had never mentioned? One that might need looking after… Quite possibly, he had special needs? Jessica had been Evelyn’s…

As I was standing in the chill air of a November evening, I knew as soon as my sister opened her door that she’d make a comment. ‘Oh, Alex looks nice,’ she said while peering into his car waiting at the kerb. ‘You haven’t seen anybody since Jack.’ ‘It’s nothing like that – he’s a friend and that’s all,’ I snapped. She knew Alex from my office had been offering me a lift since my car was off the road. Normally I’d simply drive over and pick up my son. ‘Where’s Ben?’ I asked. My sister looked after my four-year-old for a few hours after school. ‘He’s hiding of course.’ I did hope the drive home would be uneventful but the sun had set, and though not exactly close to…

There must be more to life than watching The Dog Show on TV,’ Stella moaned to her husband, Chris. Fifteen dogs of the rich and famous were being housed in a huge, custom-built kennel. Tasks were issued and treats awarded to the winning hound, with daily evictions for the dog with the lowest score. ‘Have a night out with Jayne?’ Chris suggested, settling down for the latest episode. ‘Why don’t we do something for a change?’ Stella couldn’t remember the last time they’d had an outing together. ‘Well, we could, but you haven’t seen Jayne in ages.’ Stella phoned her mate, and they arranged to meet at The Crown, but not until Jayne had watched all of her favourite soaps. ‘We’re the only women in here,’ Stella said, as they…

Joey and Miriam were approaching their first year together. Joey thought the world of Miriam, loved her in fact, although he hadn’t been brave enough to tell her yet. But there was just one thing they didn’t agree on. He had discovered it on their first date. ‘Give me your coffee cup, Joey,’ Miriam said the moment he’d taken his last mouthful. ‘Let me read the foam.’ He frowned. ‘Er, I must have misheard. For a second there I thought you said you were going to read the foam in my coffee cup.’ Miriam laughed, and Joey liked the sound. Before long he was going to fall in love with that laugh. But then, sitting in Beanz Meanz Coffee after he had finally plucked up the courage to ask the…

A dam couldn’t help staring at the long red hair of the woman queuing at the next checkout in the supermarket. Only one girl had auburn curls like that. But it couldn’t be Emily. Could it? It was nearly seven months since he’d arrived home from work to find her gone. A note propped up on the kitchen table letting him know she was moving to Scotland with a man she’d met at the art gallery where she worked. He’d been worried about her. That she’d had something on her mind. And she’d always been impulsive. Would he go over and say hello to her now? He had to talk to her. But she seemingly hadn’t needed to talk to him over these long months. Hadn’t needed to visit or…

Mia didn’t notice her husband Gary’s phone under a pile of newspapers on the coffee table until she accidentally sent it flying. When she picked it up off the floor, it came on at the last thing he’d been looking at which, oddly, appeared to be a picture of her big knickers hanging on the washing line. What? He had posted the photo in a group chat with his mates. Underneath he’d written, You guys think you have it bad. I’m the one sleeping with a granny! There followed a whole series of crying-laughter emojis and comments of You win and Oh gawd from his friends. ‘You guys think you have it bad. I’m the one sleeping with a granny!’ Mia sat down with a bump. How could he? So…

Cathy made sure she was early to work on Monday morning. After all, she had a new boss to impress. ‘Where is he?’ she asked Marie, as she rushed in. ‘Who?’ asked Marie. ‘Oh, come on, you know perfectly well who!’ said Cathy. ‘Your brother. I must say it seems a bit incestuous to me.’ ‘Pleased to meet you, Tom. The least I can do is get you a coffee from the machine’ Marie laughed. ‘Tom’s only staying in my spare room until the sale of his flat goes through. Then he’s moving out.’ ‘No, I mean your brother coming to work at the same office as you.’ ‘Well, we are the only large employer in the area,’ said Marie. ‘At least I’m not in his department or his personal…

Playing games Bad news, love,’ Mark called from the kitchen. ‘The wi-fi’s gone down again.’ That explained everything… After clicking ‘Buy Now’ on a lovely Yankee Candle for Bronwyn’s birthday, I’d spent the last 30 seconds staring hypnotically at one of those ‘please wait while we drive you mad’ spinning circles, the ones that tell you you’re lost somewhere in cyberspace. ‘Mum!’ It was Danny’s turn now, yelling from the top of the stairs. ‘Why has my Xbox frozen?’ Swiftly followed by Megan screaming from the other end of the landing… ‘Mum! What’s happened to the wi-fi?’ Two questions sprang into my mind almost simultaneously. One, why do they always ask me? I gave up physics in Year Eight, and how we sit and shop, watch movies and play games…