The ghost of a smile

IT was the smell which first drew Amelia towards the souk. A heady mix of sweet jasmine and piquant spices, together with another scent she couldn’t identify, combined to form something that made her

SATURDAYS were no fun when Mum was on shift. She’d made it clear that while she was at the hospital, whoever was left in the house was expected to get on with all the jobs that had to be done. Today t

NOTHING to report, Grant, except the usual niggles with the coal delivery. “Here, have a cup before I go.” “Thanks, Jim. I’m fair parched.” Grant removed his bicycle clips and accepted the proffered t

MILLICENT MACK replaced the mouthpiece of their candlestick phone and stepped away from the hall table. A quiet little smile touched her mouth and brought amber lights to fleck her pretty eyes. She mi

PAM glanced up at the clock on the far wall of the classroom. Just half an hour to go until the summer holidays began. Six blissful pupil-free weeks, to be spent mostly gardening and binge watching pe

I WAS only five when Elaine first came into my life. She was tall and dark skinned, with a perfume that smelled of roses and big necklaces in bright colours that bounced as she laughed. Whenever my da