WESTERN WAYS 3
Jim’s third stripe had only come through a fortnight before, but that stripe was all the runner needed to see.

“Boss says he’s going to throw the towel in, Sarge. Stand ready to disable weapons and break cover, but at his command only”

Dinger Bell was the first to speak, as always.

“Fucking Nora, why?”

The runner shrugged.

“Sent a few lads out on a shufty, and they say the Krauts have got round the back of us with some of their armoured cars. No way round them. Pass it on, Sarge; I’ve got to go”

Chapter 11 – Towards the End Game

Jack said “He just got unlucky; no-one can predict a lightning strike.” I let it hang for a moment and then said “Do you really think that he was just ‘unlucky’ to lose his two houses and get his offices in Whitehall trashed by a power surge. If you believe that then you would believe anything.”

WESTERN WAYS 2
“Good morning, Natalya Ivanova! We have a busy day, and I have arranged a meal for midday. Best get started”

Heinz was almost bouncing on his toes, and as Natasha packed a small shoulder bag with a few things she might need, such as the heel of the salami she had shared with Valentina the evening before, he was chattering happily about the day’s work. Heinz was a true believer in the crusade against Jewish Bolshevism, a soldier in the fight to save civilisation, the precious Aryan blood, and so on. She had her doubts as to whether he had ever actually faced an enemy that wasn’t disarmed and caged, but he looked the part in his grey-green service uniform, collar lace gleaming with the SS rank pips on one tab and a grinning skull and crossbones on the other.

CHAPTER 16
“Got everything? Last chance!”

Dad was shutting the car’s boot as he spoke, so I just nodded and joined Alys in the back seat, her bag already in the back along with our sleeping bags. Dad slipped into the front passenger seat, clicking on his seat belt before turning to us as Mam pulled away.

Driven from Normal .

Simon McKenzie started his week normal enough, but after a series of events he now finds himself standing in a bar wearing a cocktail dress. Chapter 8.

Driven from Normal .

Simon McKenzie started his week normal enough, but after a series of events he now finds himself standing in a bar wearing a cocktail dress. Chapter 7.

Dana's life changed from that wonderful last moment, in ways he/she never realized. On his 13th birthday, with Mom and Dad away, Dora took control, requiring Daniel to take double doses of her birth control pills, the ones she had been stockpiling rather than using. But to Daniel, these were just vitamins, he never saw the package.

Vengeance
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

My name was Michael Inders Moog. Actually it still is, but everyone calls me Mim. It’s my initials you see. I would have hated that when I was just Mike, but I am not Mike anymore. And I don’t use Moog either these days. It is such an awful name. Like a pig with horns and an udder. I have a better surname now – one that I love.

Michael Inders Moog was a successful lawyer. Perhaps successful by having the wrong clients – ruthless and dishonest Wall Street hyenas. He was not so proud of his work.

CHAPTER 15
School itself was steadily becoming a more serious affair than it had ever been before, because those of us who were capable of joined up thoughts could now see how the next six years or so would decide the rest of our lives. It didn’t mean that we lost all sense of fun, but rather that we could see how many bites we would be allowed at the notional cherry of a future that was more than a dead end.

Holly Grove Private School, Christmas Classroom:
Christmas had her back to the class as she wrote some notes on the whiteboards. As she is writing the information on the whiteboard. There is a knock on her classroom door. She looks at who it was and noticed it was assistant principal Thorton.

“Excuse me, class.” Christmas puts her marker down and walks out into the hallway.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Thorton?” Christmas was wondering why he was in her class.

Chapter 9 – Making Sense of the Chaos

“Now for the clean-up” I said. Lance was about to burst so I put a finger to his lips and whispered “We cannot let them report to Melehan. They all have to disappear.” Merilyn said “They have been shocked but one has suggested ringing the boss.”

Driven from Normal .

Simon McKenzie started his week normal enough, but after a series of events he now finds himself standing in a bar wearing a cocktail dress. Chapter 3.

Jools…The Sailing

By Kelly Blake

Chapter 8 – But exposing only the Dark

They supplied a high chair for Merilyn and we sat with cool drinks until I saw Gwen speak to the maitre’d. He pointed us out and she came over and sat down. “It’s good to see you, Morgan” she said “And this must be little Merilyn?” Merilyn looked into her eyes and she relaxed and said “So cute!”

My Hero
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

It was that period in a hotel cocktail bar when all those who were going to dinner had gone, but before those returning might catch a night cap before going up. Drake was at the bar because he had nowhere to go. The attractive woman was a late arrival.

To Return Home

Thanks to Malady for his help editing and for ideas.

Cover image from Unsplash

3.3

I entered Jack and Sylvia’s lab, and found Sylvia alone, hunched over her work bench. She whirled like the proverbial kid with her hand in the cookie jar when she heard me. Speaking of her hands, she slipped something into her pocket, but I couldn’t tell what. She was a bit suspicious, but I put it down to me being suspicious of everything and everyone now, so I forced myself to ignore it.

Sam saw Michelle sitting at the kitchen table her head down looking upset. Fiona was grinning like a Cheshire cat. She was dressed as she always did throughout their marriage, dowdy. She was wearing jeans a baggy sweater and minimal makeup.

"What do want Fiona?"

"Is that any way to greet you wife Sammy?"

"You're not my wife for much longer, what have you come for?"