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Colin Devonshire

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

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139 Stories

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What A View

'Twenty-five years ago today, I stood here and marvelled at this view,' Mark said. 'Have you not been since that day?' Peggy asked. 'No, dear. That was the first and last time, until today, of course.' Mark pulled his flask from his backpack and slugged it back. He was not offering Peggy a taste of his Thai whisky. Mark did look her way; she shook her head. He shook the container; there was a little left. 'What now? Are we eating our picnic or walking?' asked Peggy. 'It would be a shame to bring you all this way if we didn't enjoy the sigh...

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Come To Bed

'I've got a plan,' Christy said to her mirror. She didn't expect an answer. Instead, her smile cheered her as the girl clambered into bed. She hunted for her mother's copy of Agatha Christie's "Ordeal Of Innocence". 'Here you are,' she pulled the well-thumbed copy from under her pillow. Like several of Christie's heroes, Christy wants to be a private investigator. But, before that, she would have to finish school, train as a police officer, and then as a detective. Christy huffed at the thought of years of training. But then, she fell aslee...

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Happy Pumpkin?

'It is Halloween. Why did you give the pumpkin a smile?' said Bert. His wife turned back to her sculpture, a grinning winter squash with a kitchen knife embedded in its eye. At least it was happy. 'That eye is smaller than that one,' said Bert. 'Yes, dear, but I haven't finished yet,' said Dorothy. Her back was to her husband. She dared to look at the ceiling. 'Hurry up. The children will be here soon. Next year buy at least two pumpkins; then, when you make a mess of one, you can try again.' He slammed his newspaper against the wall. Doroth...

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Did I Dream That?

The train rattled. The passengers didn’t. Those sitting were reading newspapers or playing with their phones. Those standing had thoughts of their own. No one talked. A briefcase tipped, ‘Shit’ said its owner, bending and standing it between his legs. No one cared or even looked, me included, my eyes were watching branches as we rushed by. My watch told me I’d be late for my appointment. “Must not keep the professor waiting” the nurse stressed. I turned my head remembering. ‘I shot an eighty, last time I played golf there,’ I whispered to my...

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Just Dreaming

‘This can’t be bad can it?’ There was no answer from Mark’s girlfriend. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was steady. Why wouldn’t it be? Her legs were stretched, and her toes reached the gentle slap of baby waves trying to tickle her calves. A seagull screeched its presence above them. ‘He must be looking for food? Sorry bird, we have nothing for you.’ He wanted to adjust his seating but he didn’t want to disturb Lek. Mark was sitting with one arm buried in the sand supporting his upper body. His legs were straight with Lek’s head res...

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Where Do I Come From?

‘Where I come from, women are equal to men. Gays are accepted. What more do you want?’ 'Yeah, but that is not true. My mum is not equal to my dad.’ ‘Did your mum say that, or your dad?’ ‘Neither said it. I just know.’ ‘Really, how so?’ ‘Dad earns more.’ ‘Does that mean he is better?’ ‘No, but…’ ‘In your house is everyone equal?’ ‘No, if I want to watch something on tv, I can’t if football is on.’ ‘So, your dad is in charge of the telly?’ ‘He bought it, so, I suppose he is.’ ‘What if your mum wanted to watch a romance film, but the football i...

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The Handsome Man

‘Hello, handsome man, come inside, please. Oh, it’s you.’ Her fake smile was now a real snarl. A stooped figure ducking behind the bar opened the fire exit door. The back door closed soundlessly. ‘Yes, it is me.’ He nodded. ‘Where is he going?’ ‘Who knows? He is the boss, I don’t ask him what he is doing. Was he expecting you?’ ‘Get him.’ She fiddled with the shoulder strap of her bikini top and stepped down from the tall stool she had been perched. Without a word, she turned away and marched through the empty bar to the back door. Her cut-...

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Under The Roundabout

‘Leave my daughter alone. You filthy layabout.’ A young mother snatched the toddler away from Peggy the Bag. ‘She fell from the swing, I was helping her up.’ Peggy said cringing. The mother squared up to Peggy. The bag lady fell to the playground floor, and covered her head, expecting a kicking. The teenage mum spat and stormed to her daughter, who ran and was huddled and crying under the slide. Peggy turned her head, she saw something glinting under the roundabout. She spotted Old Gil laying on the grass next to his favourite bench di...

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Slim or No Chance

“We are running out of time,” said Stu. He upped the pace of his jog. His snub nose pistol was working its way loose in his waistband. “Relax, we’ve got ages,” answered Alex, “Watch you don’t drop the shooter.” Stu grabbed for his weapon as it cartwheeled towards the runway. The blast stunted Stu; it killed Alex. Stu collapsed next to his friend. He tried and failed to shake life back into him. The hole in the front of his face was not for talking or eating. The hole at the back of his head was bigger and splintered the skull. Stu wanted to ...

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I Can See Him

“I can see it now. It’s in my mind, there can’t you see?” “No, honey, I can’t see something you are imagining,” Brent said. He squirmed on his chair, holding his wife’s hand. A nurse popped her head in, “Everything alright with Julie?” “No change in her, I’m afraid. I must go, do you think she’ll notice?” “We do not know what she is thinking. But, at least she is usually smiling.” Brent collected his briefcase packed with his university’s papers. “Sorry, I have to read all this tonight. See you tomorrow?” “Yes, I’ll be here," sai...

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Bunkered

“What the? This is not my room. How did I get here?” Police Detective Jennings struggled to shake himself awake. Was he still dreaming? He shook the spiders from his gummed eyes. Peering through sand grains, he noticed his walls were light blue. “They are not that colour?” There was a strange electronic thing on his bedside table. His trusty alarm clock had disappeared, the electric box suddenly lit up, and the radio tuned. He knew it was seven o’clock. The wardrobe wasn’t his, the clothes inside wouldn’t fit. And there was only men’s stuff....

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One Star

“Thank you, most entertaining. That was the most tasteless meal I’ve ever had the misfortune to not eat. I was going to say eat, but I hate to lie. I couldn’t swallow a mouthful,” Chantana said as she pointed her spoon at a gooey mess of chicken curry. “Brilliant, that's what I wanted to hear,” Dennis said and, smiled. “What? You take me out for a meal, and wanted me to hate it? Thanks very much.” “No, no, you don’t understand. I will take you for a glorious dinner soon.” “Look, let’s get one thing straight, I am a food critic. I am not here...

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Jam Dai!

“I remember! You said, you, you, you promised, that we could go somewhere.” Silence answered. “You promised!” screeched Yaya. “I remember,” her voice quietened to a whisper. She kicked at the seated boyfriend. It was early Monday evening. Yaya had studied Business English all day, she was tired. Students were expected to perform non-stop at the most famous and prestigious university in all of Thailand. Parents are proud of their offspring for passing their way through to a learning place all Bangkok admired. Yaya’s were no different....

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Grow Up!

“Grow up, can’t you?” Sammie asked her brother for the tenth time that morning. “I enjoy playing, what’s wrong with that?” Phet answered. Songkran, the Thai New Year, is celebrated from April 13th to 15th. Songkran is the Sanskrit word meaning, passing or approaching. Buddha images were passing and approaching. A parade of trucks laden with huge statues, all shielded by local beauty queens drove along the road. All that bored Phet, he loved the fun bit. The water festival, where everyone got drenched. He went to fetch the hotel's hose. Today...

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What A Day For A...

“We’ve had a miserable spring, but today is the first day of summer, and the sun is shining,” said Bradley. “So?” asked Rob. “Yeah, so what?” asked Tina, Rob’s little sister. “I thought it would be great to enjoy a picnic. If your mum will knock up a few sandwiches?” Bradley looked across at his new wife. “Yeah, right, I’ve got nothing else to do,” she answered sarcastically. “Come on, pet. It has rained every weekend since we got married. This is our chance to get some fresh air.” “Robbie, Tina, what do you think?” Trish, their mum asked. “...

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