Category: Fiction

Short stories and flash fiction written by Sean

Job Application

Job Application

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In relation to the job posting tell us about a public figure you admire and explain why:

I’d say my personal hero has to be Jesus because I think we are a lot alike. What I admire most about him is not so much his teachings or sacrifice – I just think that, like me, he was a bit of a late bloomer.

My dad’s a very pushy man, another thing we’ve got in common, and he thinks I should be more career minded at 23-years-old and know what I want to do. I pointed out that Jesus didn’t know what he wanted to do until he was thirty! And if it’s good enough for him then it’s good enough for me.

I take great comfort in the fact that if this job sucks I’ll eventually find something that’ll work out.

Also, he had a cool beard.

Good Luck

Good Luck

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Examining the Egyptian market stall she picked up a scarab beetle ornament and crinkled her nose.

“It good luck” said the salesman. “It’s not the like The Mummy.”

As her silent husband shrugged his shoulders in indifference she opened her purse.

“I don’t like that film” he said now crinkling his nose. “Many inaccuracies.”

 

Tube Announcement

Tube Announcement

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11:27pm.

Sitting on an underground train I finish ruffling through the free paper and focus on the driver’s announcement.

“-I want you to know I only meant to scare her,” the calm voice said. “It was never supposed to kill her,”

My ears picked up. How long has he been talking?

“I thought burying her would be hardest but keeping it a secret this long has destroyed me.”

I look on at the dozen other passengers all transfixed on their portable entertainment. The confessional washing over them.

He continues: “I’m sure you’re disgusted by my tale and I do not expect forgiveness. I accepted my place in hell long ago.”

The speakers go silent. Should I be worried? Scared? Ring the police? I feel bad that what I really want is the first part of the story. The gossip.

Our train slows and the speakers crackle back to life.

His final words: “This station is Mill Hill East. All change here.”

The carriage empties as my fellow passengers shuffle onto the platform – unaware of what happened. I guess I’m no different.

The Jolly Codger

The Jolly Codger

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Captain Blackbeard was an excellent recruiter.

“Tax breaks aside,” he’d say, “there’s three perks to being a pirate. You’ll travel the world, work with animals and enjoy a great pension scheme!”

Blackbeard never had a reputation for nurturing talent and failed to pass on his map drawing skills.

Fifty years on I realise I should have pushed him for training. My X looked fine but what way to hold the map? How’d I forget to write north on the thing?

“East!” I confidently proclaimed to the trusting crew.

A one in four chance? Maybe. I’ve made it through tougher odds.

PRIVACY POLICY