http://www.writers-online.co.uk^35Also shortlisted in the 500-word short story competition were: Sharon Boyle, East Lothian; Michael Callaghan, Glasgow;
Kevin Cheeseman, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire; Kath Delaney, Lancaster; Alyson Hilbourne, Penrith, Cumbria;
Sophie Holland, Bristol; Vanessa Jarrett, Lymington, Hampshire; Kerry Jeffs, Framlingham, Suffolk; Pat Metcalfe, New Mills,
Derbyshire; Alexandra Nicholson, Weymouth, Dorset.APRIL 2020SHORT STORY COMPETITION WINNERS
Annie Percik
lives in London with her
husband, Dave, where she is revising
her first novel, whilst working as a
University Complaints Officer. She
writes a blog about writing and posts
short fiction on her website (www.
alobear.co.uk), which is also where
all her current publications are listed.
She likes to run away from zombies
in her spare time.
2nd place
by Annie Percik £50
T he Game
T
he children play in the
dappled sunlight as their
mothers chat from deck chairs
arranged in the shade.
It’s a complicated game. The
rules were devised by Daniel,
always the deep thinker of the
group, but it’s clear that Annabel
is the one in charge.
‘No,’ she says. ‘You need to stand
over there.’
Ben, the follower, the meek
one, does as he is told, moving to
the designated spot in the centre
of one pool of sunlight. Daniel
nods in satisfaction. Annabel has
understood his vision and is nowensuring its implementation. All
is good.
The children have known each
other their whole lives. It’s a group
born, literally, out of a pre-natal
yoga class their mothers all attended.
Their birthdays fall within a span of
six weeks and they have been in and
out of each other’s houses as if they
all belong to one big family.
‘Now you need to get to that spot
without stepping on the dark bits,’
Annabel says, pointing.
The wind rustles the leaves of
the trees overhead, making the
sunlit patches of ground ripple
and shimmer.
‘Quick!’ Annabel shouts. ‘Before
the ghost steals all the light!’
Ben scrambles to obey. The rules
may be Daniel’s but the story is
Annabel’s. She always takes the bare
bones of what Daniel provides and
turns them into an epic fantasy
that transforms their games into
adventures.
Ben might not have helped with
the creation of the game, but he’s
by far the best at it. He doesn’t fully
understand the rules, but Annabel’s
instructions tell him what to do.
He leaps from one circle of light
to another, nimbly avoiding thedangerous shadows where evil
spirits lurk and lands securely at
his destination.
‘Yay!’ Annabel calls out, throwing
her arms in the air. ‘You’re safe! The
ghost can’t get you now. But you
can’t move until me and Daniel
have made it too, or it’ll be able
to find you again. And if we get
caught, it’ll eat you too.’
Ben looks alarmed by this turn
of events. But he stands firm on his
spot and pulls Annabel to safety
when she stumbles on the last jump.
They arrange themselves at the edges
of the circle, trying to make enough
room for Daniel. But the wind is
their enemy, shifting the parameters
of their designated haven beneath
their feet. Annabel topples first,
pulling the boys down with her until
they end up in a pile on the ground,
shrieking and laughing as the ghost
claims its victory.
Their three mothers look over at
the noise, quickly reassured by the
sounds of joy beneath the imagined
terror. They dream a future for their
children. Annabel will be CEO, of
course, while Daniel will head up the
Research & Development division.
And Ben? Nobody is sure where his
strengths will lie yet. But he’s got time
to shine. And whatever role he ends
up taking, no doubt he will keep the
ghosts at bay for his friends.