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Colin Devonshire

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

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177 Followers
214 Following

134 Stories

1530 karma pts

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I SAID NO!

“And no, you cannot go out tonight!” “But why?” “Because tonight is Halloween.” “That’s why I want to go out.” Young George, known as Bestie to his many mates, and his mum, Petra Best, had this argument annually. This year George, was a teenager. Today, 31 St of October, he had turned the grand old age of thirteen. Thirteen years ago a heavily pregnant Petra, was attending a ‘service’, deep into the woods. George decided the time was right to pop into the world. He was not due for another month. The forest surrounded the small...

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Are You There?

“Hey, where did you go?” Sam banged his phone on the counter. He listened and stared at the Android. “Hello, are you there?” He looked around, hoping someone, anyone, could help. “Now what?” He asked the ceiling. The plaster above and the screen in front, blank, had no answers. The patrons of the upmarket coffee shop were unaware of Sam’s daily drama. He felt like throwing the cheap unit across the room. The people on the next table read his mind, they hid behind menus. A limp smile calmed them. “Phone’s not working,” he said, shaking it wil...

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You Call That Fun?

“You wanna do something fun?”  “Yeah, I’m bored, what have you got in mind?” The boy’s school was about to break up for the long annual holidays.  “You two at the back, stop talking. If you’ve finished your exam, sit quietly until time is up.” Mr Jacobs said. Further disturbing the unfinished papers. “Wanker,” mouthed Geoff. His best friend, Mart, snorted. The snort shifted to full laughter as Geoff was pulled out of the exam room by his ear. A bell sounded, pens were retired, except for one girl’s that kept scratching until grabbe...

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Deadly Head-Trip

"This is my worst nightmare." Chaem Choi looked at her body, it appeared she had been dipped in the sea. She squeezed her long hair, a small puddle formed on the tiled floor, like a puppy’s pee. Her bed was drenched, she dropped her quilt and pillows to slop quietly next to her drenched pyjamas.  “What the?” she said, brushing dampness from her arms, she tenderly fingered the cuts and bruises on her wrists. “That was some dream,” she muttered, as she tipped the mattress angled against the wall, then pushed the windows fully open, hoping...

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We Need Rain

“Get up! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Puyai shouts as he shakes his daughter. “Dad, it is hot, what do you want me to do?” Manao ducks as a stick whistles over her head.  “This farm will die if you don’t help me.” This time the stick clipped her above the ear. Blood dripped. She ducked and ran for the shed. “What can I do? We have no water and no seeds. Stupid old man,” Manao regretted she had said that. Then wiping away the blood, she regretted nothing. “Come out of there, let me teach you a proper lesson.” Puyai banged on...

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And You Said

“Time for bed, young lady.” “Ow mum, it’s too early,” answered Maew. “You have exams tomorrow, only two more days, then you are on holiday, and you can stay up later. But not too late, like last time.” “That wasn’t my fault, Granny forgot to look at the clock.” “And you forgot to tell her your bedtime.” “Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry.” “Forget it. What do you think our new neighbours will be like?” “Don’t know mum, I hope it’s not the man I saw there last Wednesday.” “Why?” “I didn’t like the way he looked at me.” “The agent told me an Englishman ha...

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Thumbs Up

“Christ Almighty, look at this rain, it hasn’t stopped since I left Bangkok, and it’s getting worse,” said Arpa to the mirror. She grabbed the steering wheel tighter as the truck behind her flashed its lights. “What’s up with you?” She screamed as the vehicle sped past, hitting a deep puddle overloading the hire car wipers.  Calming down, she flashed at a car coming towards her, “Bloody idiot, turn your lights on.” At four pm and dark already, the cloudburst followed her. Other drivers had slowed, and their headlights were on. She felt ...

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After Work

“You look happy today?” said Busabong. “Yeah,” answered Mark, “I always look forward to Thai religious days, tomorrow is the start of Buddhist Lent, which means I’ll be happy for the long weekend.” “Why? You’re not Buddhist, or are you thinking of becoming a monk?” she asked, giggling. “No, that will never happen, I’m not religious at all.” "Then why will you enjoy this weekend more than others? Not because you can’t buy alcohol I’m sure?”  Mark’s colleague was sniggering behind her slim hands. She knew Mark drank too muc...

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Torched

The lanky palms swept the top of the cracked tiled roof. A frond whispered its way to the parched grass. “Oh, be careful that just missed you,” Justin said, pulling Mondtree back. The pull became a hug. She shrugged him away, tutting. “Not here, not now,” she said. He led her to the wooden steps to the porch. “Nung, song,” she counted. “Nung, song, sam, si,” two steps, and four paces to the door, she said. “I don’t like even numbers.” Justin flicked through the brass ring of twenty-six keys, he knew how many, Mondtree had told him. “It must ...

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Really?

“The traffic gets no better, I see, rot tit!” Philip Rinn said as he walks into his new office. “Oh?” Anong said. “Oh, what?” Philip asked. “I must have made a silly mistake when I typed up details of your interview in London.” “How so? You type up information on all the staff?” “Yes, it is company policy. It said on your info sheet that you cannot speak Thai and that you have never been here before.” “I see, let me clear that up. I learned a few words of your beautiful language, and I’ve never worked here. I came for a holiday once. I ...

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To Write a Wrong

“Yes, yes, I’m coming. But, I must finish this first,” Geoff said. He grabbed an A4 sheet from his printer, balled the paper and missed the bin. “I’m sick of waiting for you. I’m going now.” Cyn, Geoff’s girlfriend, shouted from the bottom of the stairs.  In the tiny second bedroom, Geoff was studying the ceiling for the umpteenth time that morning. He slammed the laptop shut, there was an unwelcome sound from the aged machine. “Christ, what now?” He was scared to open it. “I’m going this minute,” Cyn screamed, the front door creaked as...

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Dead, Dead! Dead?

Weekly Contest #105

“We’re sitting here like idiots. There must be something we can do?” Giles said. Elbows on knees, chin in palms, the same stance as his two best friends. Giles was the thinker of the three, if anyone could resolve this situation, it was Giles. “How long have we been sitting here? Seems like ages?” Roger asked. He relaxed, and stretched his back, remaining seated on the boulder. “We can’t wait here forever. Won’t someone come and get us?” John moaned, he yawned, stood and walked around the rocks. It was dark, not pitch black, but gloomy, and ...

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See You Later

Weekly Contest #104

“Are you coming tonight?” Jake asked. He guessed the answer but didn’t want to hear it confirmed. Johnny turned with a smirk and that ‘you’ve gotta be joking’ look. “Come on, it’ll be fun.” Knowing it wouldn’t be fun for his best mate. A garish purple and green taxi pulled up. The window lowered. “Where you go?” The driver asked in his best English. Jake looked at Johnny. “Well?” “You go on. Maybe I’ll join you later,” Johnny answered, pushing his mate into the cab. They had been putting in the hours, selling non-existent shares in non-exist...

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Twisted Fate

Weekly Contest #103

“I’m going now. To Thailand I mean, I’m going to find him,” said Arthur. “You are as mad as our son,” said Mildred. “Our son is missing for God's sake.” “Not according to the Embassy in Bangkok when you pestered them.” “We have not heard from him for one year. No Christmas cards, no birthday wishes. And you say he’s not missing?” “This morning you got an email, from him, so what’s the panic?” said Mildred. “That email was sent one year ago. It was the same one we opened exactly one year ago. Don’t you think that’s strange?” “Okay, but before...

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Dad's Gone

Weekly Contest #102

“Oh, mum, can’t I watch TikToc a little longer?” asked Patsy. “You’ve got school tomorrow. After this long break, aren’t you excited to see your friends? I want you asleep before I leave for work.” “You’re leaving me alone tonight?” “Darling, you know I must go back to work. You are a teenager now, not a baby,” said Hathai Chantawan, Patsy’s mother. Chantawan was not her legal name. Fifteen years ago she had married a foreigner, taking his name, Peters. It was thought better in her job to use her maiden name. “But mum?” “Don’t but me. I’m ne...

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