A Story A Day 19th Oct

 Day 19 and I think Im getting back on track after a few days where the wheels nearly fell off. 31 words is not a lot of words, that's for sure. Here's day 19.

 Around midnight Chris hears retching. Dad, pissed again, he assumes. Sneaking to the bathroom he finds him holding the sick boy, comforting him, as he vomits and sobs into the porcelain.

A Story A Day 18th Oct

John, a big lapping dog of a man with a beard like a dirty paintbrush, claims he invented the Internet. “Psst, come here!” He whispers from the bushes by the University.

A Story A Day 17th Oct

Pete hears the mobile vibrating in his jeans on the wooden floor but he’s too close to finishing to stop. Meanwhile, in a hospital across town a child is being born.

A Story A Day 16th Oct

Having a cig outside Ruth sighs and thinks, “I gave up a family for this?” The pub door swings open and her partner Julie shouts, “Get inside pet, I’ve bought shots.”

A Story A Day 15th Oct

Learning of the beatings his grandfather had drunkenly administered, Anthony struggled to heed his father’s advice and, “Judge him as the man he is now, not the man he was then.”

A Story A Day 14th Oct

I'm 14 days in to my self imposed 31 word 31 day story challenge. It's been a lot of fun so far (if entirely daunting). The challenge has been making the stories as complete as possible given the constraints yet ensuring they retain as much ambiguity as possible (to me it's what the story doesn't say that makes it engaging). I'm feeling nervous about having 17 days to go but I've had some very generous feedback, plus I'm too far in to quit now. Thank you and please keep reading. Here's day 14:

 Since Mum left Dad has been really thirsty. When I get up in the night for a wee, he’s usually always in the living room having a wine in the dark.

A Story A Day 13th Oct

Heading towards the suburbs a bus trawls the frayed edges of town, through estates that couldn’t be re-branded or cleverly marketed. Middle-class commuters sit somnolent, dreaming of wheat beers and hummus.

A Story A Day 12th Oct

Thinking about him now, Sam feels empty and lost when she can’t remember his smell, or the silly voice they spoke to each other in when no one else was around.

A Story A Day 11th Oct

Dave hates being served by Stu. He’s felt uncomfortable around him since college. “You don’t like me because you’re homophobic!” Says Stu.  “I’m not homo anything mate!” Replies Dave belligerently .

A Story A Day 10th Oct

“There’s no such thing as romantic love.” Emily says angrily, “There’s familiarity, friendship and lust, nothing more.” “But I love you” Jake stutters. “I love you too baby” she replies grudgingly. 

A Story A Day 9th Oct

Scouse Mike slumps over the bar with his head in his hands. Around him drunks holler and cuss. “Gee kid.” Says the barman, “You sure are a long way from home.”

A Story A Day 8th Oct

Jimmy stands on his doorstep staring at the snow. Far away he hears people singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Jimmy picks up his rucksack, posts his keys and heads into the night.