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A Drink after Work by Graham Crisp

29/3/2021

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Mabel was anxious. She began twisting her fingers through the folds of her skirt. Glancing up at the wooden faced clock on the mantelpiece, she saw that it displayed 6.30. Whispering to herself, “This is what happened the last time. She should have been home an hour ago.”
Suddenly the front door burst open and a cry rang out, “Sorry Mum I’m a bit late but the girls……...” Mabel interrupted her and shouted back, “You went for a drink after work, didn’t you?”
The slim figure of Mabel’s only daughter, Pamela, entered the room. Her face was flushed. Mabel looked up at her, she tried to fix a stern expression, but instantly failed and broke out into a beaming smile.
Pamela returned her smile, “How did you know that?”
Mavis smoothed her skirt and winked, “A mother’s intuition.”
 “Sit yourself down, love, I’ll go and get your tea.” Mabel hesitated, “Look I’m glad you’re making new friends, I was just a bit worried, you know.”
Pamela smiled and fluttered her long eyelashes, “Mum, I’m thirty-two,” she protested.
Mabel returned from the kitchen carrying a white bowl between her oven-gloved hands. “Spaghetti Bolognese, or Spag Bog, as you lot call it. “
“Oh, yes, Pamela, this was left for you in Mr. Patel’s shop.” Mabel handed over a white envelope. Pamela put down her fork and examined it. On the front she could see it read ‘FTAO Pamela Heatherington’ written in neat handwriting. Mabel watched intently as her daughter frowned.
Pamela pulled the envelope open. Inside was a small white business card, with more handwriting on the reverse. She stared at the card and then immediately slipped it into her skirt pocket.
“Well?” enquired Mabel.
Pamela didn’t look up. She muttered through a mouthful of spaghetti, “It’s nothing.”
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    Issue 8 & 9

    January 2021
    February 2021



    The Stories

    All
    A Blanket Of Stars By Georgia Cook
    A Chance By Liz Breen
    A Close Shave By Cindy Pereira
    A Compromise By Caitlin Magnall-Kearns
    A Drink After Work By Graham Crisp
    A Furtive Conversation By Sammi McSporran
    A Letter By Joe Bedford
    A Moment Of Introspection By Madelaine Taylor
    An Easy Mistake By Rachel Smith
    An Unfortunate Incident By Hilary Taylor
    Author Author! By Andrew Ball
    Bat Chat By Elaine Peters
    Bat Woman By Niall McKenna
    Beads Of Gold By Eva Bell
    Bearly Dry By Madelaine Taylor
    Bell Bottoms And Beer By Cindy Pereira
    Bench Mark By Jennifer Patsalidou
    Bride To Be By R.T. Hardwick
    Carnaby St Boutique By Steve Goodlad
    Caroline And Steven By Graham Crisp
    Cash Or Claret By Colin Ward
    Caught In The Act By Hilary Taylor
    Chance Encounter By Jeff Jones
    Change Matters By C.R. Berry
    Command By Ian Tew
    Crocodile Tears By Felicity Edwards
    Crossed Wires By Jeff Jones
    Ding Dong Dung By Cindy Pereira
    Dreaming Of You By Steve Goodlad
    Friederike By Mark Harbinger
    Global Architects By Rachel Smith
    Happy To Chat By Elaine Peters
    Holiday Of A Lifetime By Elaine Peters
    Horror Scope By Cindy Pereira
    Hotel Kasbah By Beverley Byrne
    Hunger By Caitlin Magnall-Kearns
    Lend Us A Tenner By Graham Crisp
    Love And Sparkles By Hilary Taylor
    Mistaken Identity By Madelaine Taylor
    Molly-Dolly’s New Clothes By Elaine Peters
    Mountain By Soren Petrek
    Mr. Patel’s Shop By Graham Crisp
    Out On The Town By Caitlin M Kearns
    Peter By R.T. Hardwick
    Plenty By Miriam H Harrison
    Pocket Money By Felicity Edwards
    Raisins And Rum By Cindy Pereira
    Reality
    Room 12 By Graham Crisp
    She Thinks I'm Stupid By Steve Goodlad
    Siesta By Elaine Peters
    Taking The Floor By Claire Barnard
    Tangle By Miriam H. Harrison
    Teacher By Madelaine Taylor
    The Book Of Revelations By R.T. Hardwick
    The Choice By Hilary Taylor
    The Death Of An Actor By Steve Goodlad
    The Ending By Liz Breen
    The Incidentals Table By Liz Breen
    The Inheritance By Graham Crisp
    The Neighbour By Lynne Couzins
    The New Guy By Felicity Edwards
    The Oasis By Tanvi Nagar
    The Present By Peter Hankins
    There Once By Miriam H. Harrison
    The Rescue By Hilary Taylor
    The Returners By Liz Breen
    The Stone By Felicity Edwards
    The Surprise By Jeff Jones
    Tough Cookie By Liz Breen
    Waiting Words By Madelaine Taylor
    Weakender By JP Seabright
    Werewolves By Jessica Brown
    What A Concept By Bud Scott
    When To Err Is Not Human By Dipayan Chakrabarti


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Secret Attic - Founded March 2020