The Doll - Read Online

* Quick Read! - Flash Fiction *

The baby doll and the teddy bear had been placed side by side on the unmade bed. The doll was wearing a tattered dress, once pink, but with grass and mud stains which Ruth’s washing had failed to remove. She had bright red cheeks and oversized red lips coloured in with felt tip pen, and a green squiggle on her forehead. One arm hung loose, half torn from her body. Her hair was an uneven short frizz with blackened ends, as if burnt. One eye was jammed shut...
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The Doll started from an exercise to explore a character through their possessions. This is Courtney's doll, and her scorched hair and felt tip pen lips give us some insight into Courtney's life so far - a life which is about to change.

Read the full story at EveryDayFiction.com.

Saturday Morning - Read Online

The teapot was overfull, and tea slopped out onto the red and white check plastic tablecloth as the serving girl set it down.

“Sorry,” she muttered, embarrassed, “I’ll get a cloth.”

I didn’t say anything. Now I feel annoyed with myself, I should have said it was ok, smiled at her. Actually I was just shocked by her apology. How could she say “sorry” to me? I was the one who should apologize.
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Every week she sits at the same cafe table with a crossword she never completes - what draws her back, week after week?

Read the full story at NFTU.