WEBVTT 00:00:04.309 --> 00:00:17.850 One more short story. Hello and welcome to episode 00:00:17.850 --> 00:00:22.109 two of One More Short Story with me, Chris Fullwell. 00:00:22.589 --> 00:00:25.789 Thank you for joining us. Once again, we're going 00:00:25.789 --> 00:00:28.530 to be diving into some of the stories from the 00:00:28.530 --> 00:00:33.049 world of writing battle. Two stories this time. 00:00:33.549 --> 00:00:36.770 Short and sweet, but that's okay. We don't mind 00:00:36.770 --> 00:00:38.710 short and sweet. Not when they're this good. 00:00:39.170 --> 00:00:42.490 And without giving the game away, stories where 00:00:42.490 --> 00:00:46.570 somebody is not who they may appear to be. Very, 00:00:46.590 --> 00:00:49.350 very different in style. Both 500 words long 00:00:49.350 --> 00:00:53.990 from the spring microfiction in 2025. Now we're 00:00:53.990 --> 00:00:57.130 going to kick things off with Split Ends by David 00:00:57.130 --> 00:01:00.490 Rowe. This was back in the small town secrets 00:01:00.490 --> 00:01:05.409 genre and the other two prompts were barbershop 00:01:05.409 --> 00:01:08.810 and champion. Now it's read by Maverick Jones 00:01:08.810 --> 00:01:10.989 and I definitely don't want to give too much 00:01:10.989 --> 00:01:13.250 away on this and I know you're going to enjoy 00:01:13.250 --> 00:01:17.769 it. But let's just say it's about a barber who 00:01:17.769 --> 00:01:21.810 maybe is more than she appears to be. So this 00:01:21.810 --> 00:01:25.989 is Split Ends by David Rowe read by Maverick 00:01:25.989 --> 00:01:30.590 Jones. The man darkening my doorstep carries 00:01:30.590 --> 00:01:34.829 a noxious aura, malice dripping cleanly from 00:01:34.829 --> 00:01:39.390 his unburdened soul. You must be the new barber, 00:01:39.670 --> 00:01:43.489 he says. His eyes sweep my body with a mixture 00:01:43.489 --> 00:01:48.549 of contempt and desire. And you must be Paul 00:01:48.549 --> 00:01:54.150 Kresser, I say, gesturing to the chair. Paul 00:01:54.150 --> 00:01:58.000 ambles over. his ponderous bulk landing heavily 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:02.540 on his right side. He has the look of an athlete 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:06.519 gone to seed, though unmistakable power still 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:11.979 lurks beneath his extra pounds. So what do you 00:02:11.979 --> 00:02:15.659 normally get, I ask, fastening the cape around 00:02:15.659 --> 00:02:20.780 his neck. Paul shrugs. Frank always fixed me 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:25.909 up right. Damn shame what happened to him. Frank. 00:02:26.830 --> 00:02:30.750 The name summons a savory taste on my tongue. 00:02:31.729 --> 00:02:36.750 He'd been a buffet of secrets, a meal fit for 00:02:36.750 --> 00:02:41.949 a queen. I'd gorged on the terrible truths that 00:02:41.949 --> 00:02:48.629 had punctuated his screams. Tragic, I say, as 00:02:48.629 --> 00:02:52.370 I meet Paul's gaze in the mirror. I know how 00:02:52.370 --> 00:02:55.810 prominently Paul featured in some of Frank's 00:02:55.810 --> 00:03:00.969 darker secrets. This town may be small, but it 00:03:00.969 --> 00:03:08.150 offers a rich menu. I start cutting once it's 00:03:08.150 --> 00:03:10.990 clear no further instruction is forthcoming. 00:03:11.949 --> 00:03:16.090 So, tell me about yourself, Paul. Not much to 00:03:16.090 --> 00:03:22.099 tell. Our construction. Married? Yep. Getting 00:03:22.099 --> 00:03:25.900 all gussied up for the wife, I ask. Date night 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:30.319 tonight? Paul chuckles. Something like that. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:35.620 The accreed scent of a lie permeates the air, 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:43.599 overpowering the barbicide. How nice. Paul's 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:46.319 scarred knuckles emerge from beneath the cape, 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:51.360 wiping a clump of hair from his cheek. I catch 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:54.099 a glimpse of silver before his hand disappears 00:03:54.099 --> 00:04:00.060 back under the nylon. Nice ring. Paul grunts. 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:03.340 I was state champion. Might have gone pro until 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:09.199 I tore up my knee. I'm so close that his feelings 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:14.060 melt on my tongue. I lick my lips, trying to 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:20.040 place it. It's not regret nor melancholy. Its 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:28.899 rage tastes like iron. Sorry to hear that. After 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:32.339 a few more snips and some gel, I'm finished. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.600 Paul takes a moment to admire himself in the 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:42.300 mirror. Not bad for a chick. He flashes nicotine 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:47.680 -stained teeth. Just kidding. I return his smile 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:53.750 and take his cash. Until next time. As soon as 00:04:53.750 --> 00:04:58.290 Paul leaves, I flip the sign to closed. I pull 00:04:58.290 --> 00:05:01.550 a lump of clay from the drawer and begin molding 00:05:01.550 --> 00:05:05.149 it into the shape of a man. I give the figure 00:05:05.149 --> 00:05:10.110 thick arms and a heavy punch and place a tinfoil 00:05:10.110 --> 00:05:15.990 ring around its fat finger. Upon its head, I 00:05:15.990 --> 00:05:18.709 arrange the fresh hair clippings from the floor. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:27.000 I knock again. At last, a woman cracks open the 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:31.439 door. There are shadows in her eyes, a dark reflection 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:36.920 of the man I'd seen earlier. Good evening, Mrs. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:43.540 Cressford, I say. She hugs herself tightly. Do 00:05:43.540 --> 00:05:48.779 you have it? I hand her the doll. As promised. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:54.319 She reaches for it with a trembling hand. Thank 00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:01.319 you. How can I repay you? I smile. Just let me 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:06.879 watch. She swings open the door and steps aside. 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:12.939 I'm still sated by Frank, but sometimes a girl 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:29.740 needs dessert. Blimey. Well, that's my nightmare 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:31.980 sorted for the next couple of weeks. I mean, 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.180 don't get me wrong, that guy clearly had it coming. 00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:38.660 But yeah, what a story. I think there's a non 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:41.519 -zero chance that either the writer or narrator 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:44.300 of that story have actually killed people before. 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:48.500 I should stress that is just a joke. I don't 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:52.459 want to create problems for our legal team. Our 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:56.699 legal team is me. But yeah, great story. Really, 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:00.980 really strong stuff. Now, David got himself to 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:04.100 the Sensational 64 in the final showdown for 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:06.720 that one back in the spring. I think it should 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:09.379 have gone further personally, but hey, what do 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:13.819 I know? I'm just a guy doing a podcast. Now, 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:15.379 we're going to move on to something lighter. 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:17.920 I think we all need that. And it's going to be 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:21.160 Pride Comes Before the Fish by Christina Kershaw. 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:26.470 Again, back in the spring. This was in the house 00:07:26.470 --> 00:07:29.810 pet adventures genre. Her other prompts were 00:07:29.810 --> 00:07:34.670 diplomat and subway. And she's been gracious 00:07:34.670 --> 00:07:37.810 enough to let me read it. I do enjoy reading 00:07:37.810 --> 00:07:40.509 a story now and again. Not just to myself, as 00:07:40.509 --> 00:07:43.970 much fun as that is. But I do enjoy it and I 00:07:43.970 --> 00:07:48.350 hope I can do it justice. So this is Pride Comes 00:07:48.350 --> 00:07:51.470 Before the Fish by Christina Kershaw. Read by 00:07:51.470 --> 00:07:56.779 me, Chris Falwell. Sir Alfred Whittington II 00:07:56.779 --> 00:08:00.740 was the toughest gangster around. He ran his 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:03.620 territories with an iron claw, once leaving a 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:08.100 foe scarred and half blind. He prowled through 00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:10.779 his tunnel, pausing to sharpen his claws on a 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:13.959 threadbare seat next to the platform, before 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.439 crossing the train line and entering mouse control. 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:20.279 Keeping track of their supply was Sable's domain. 00:08:20.970 --> 00:08:23.870 Sable was a powerful hunter and protective of 00:08:23.870 --> 00:08:29.829 their vermin stock. Usually. You're eating it, 00:08:30.069 --> 00:08:33.970 Alfred hissed. He leapt on Sable, biting his 00:08:33.970 --> 00:08:39.250 neck and ripping out a chunk of fur. Get off 00:08:39.250 --> 00:08:44.269 me, Sable yowled. My owner's left. I'm starving. 00:08:46.289 --> 00:08:49.269 On reflection, he did look scrawnier than when 00:08:49.269 --> 00:08:52.750 he'd first arrived. but Alfred never showed weakness. 00:08:54.470 --> 00:08:56.850 Starving will be the least of your problems if 00:08:56.850 --> 00:09:01.350 I catch you again. An unfamiliar scent caught 00:09:01.350 --> 00:09:07.009 his attention. Stay here, he said. He followed 00:09:07.009 --> 00:09:09.549 the scent, rubbing his cheek on the walls as 00:09:09.549 --> 00:09:13.230 he went. This didn't deter the intruders, and 00:09:13.230 --> 00:09:17.029 their scent grew stronger. Alfred dropped onto 00:09:17.029 --> 00:09:20.220 his haunches and slunk towards it. quieter than 00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:25.120 those rodents Sable was so fond of. Into view 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.860 tiptoed a dishevelled gutter cat, body low and 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:34.779 ears pulled back. My name is Timothy. My group 00:09:34.779 --> 00:09:37.039 and I are returning from a trip to Salmon River. 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:40.480 Please allow us through. It'll take half the 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:44.879 time to return home. Hmm. Sir Alfred Whittington 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:48.460 II has no interest in charity cases. Turn around 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:50.600 now and count yourself lucky you're still in 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:56.840 one piece. Timothy lowered his head. Please, 00:09:56.919 --> 00:10:01.679 we can pay you with some of our haul. You'll 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:06.399 leave it all as payment for trespassing. The 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:12.039 gutter cat reared up. We thought you'd want this. 00:10:13.710 --> 00:10:18.389 a baby blue collar landed at alfred's feet alfred 00:10:18.389 --> 00:10:22.970 growled fur bristling he pounced sending timothy 00:10:22.970 --> 00:10:25.610 hurtling backwards landing mere steps away from 00:10:25.610 --> 00:10:30.970 the railway line how we saw you drop it outside 00:10:30.970 --> 00:10:37.049 alfred or should i say snuggle bum we know who 00:10:37.049 --> 00:10:40.750 you are you're old lady richardson's pampered 00:10:40.750 --> 00:10:44.409 prince You get cuddles and fresh tuna every night. 00:10:45.549 --> 00:10:48.309 One more word and you'll be meeting the next 00:10:48.309 --> 00:10:53.490 train, Alfred said. Do it. My pack will still 00:10:53.490 --> 00:10:58.090 tell the world. Or let us through. You keep the 00:10:58.090 --> 00:11:02.549 collar and we keep quiet. Go on then, quick, 00:11:02.809 --> 00:11:08.929 Alfred said. Leave some salmon. Timothy raised 00:11:08.929 --> 00:11:12.399 an eyebrow. his golden eyes as piercing as Alfred's 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:16.559 claws. Alfred was loath to admit it, but this 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:20.019 guy was good. Diplomacy had never been his strong 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:24.559 suit, but this kitty had it nailed. Leave some 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:30.860 salmon, please, Alfred said. You're most welcome, 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:35.980 Timothy said, dropping two plump fish. With a 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:38.919 final glare at the retreating pack, Alfred snatched 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:43.840 up the salmon and traipsed back to Sable. I sent 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.879 the trespassers packing, but I got these, Alfred 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:50.759 said, dumping a salmon in front of Sable. Come 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:53.500 on, eat up. Can't have you on mouse control if 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:56.940 you've got no muscle. Oh, and help yourself to 00:11:56.940 --> 00:11:59.539 mice whenever you want. The place is crawling 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:03.000 with them. If anyone complains, you send them 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:14.100 to me. So there we go. Sir Alfred Whittington, 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:18.600 a .k .a. Snuggle Bomb, gets a reality check. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:21.659 I did enjoy the house pet adventures, and I think 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:24.940 Christina absolutely nailed the kind of fluffy 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:29.419 animals taking themselves seriously. But then, 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:32.259 ah, wonderful. Love it. Love it. She got herself 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:35.620 to the Sensational 64 with that story. I definitely 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:38.600 think it should have gone further, possibly unbiased 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:42.080 because I was allowed to read it. But hey, getting 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:44.399 to the last 64 out of hundreds and hundreds and 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:47.279 hundreds of writers is not to be sniffed at at 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:50.080 all. It's a great competition, writing battle, 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:52.820 but it does sometimes knock our egos as writers 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:55.419 when we don't get maybe where we want to. But 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:57.460 look, these fantastic stories come out of it. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:00.279 We get to read them. You get to listen to them. 00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:03.440 There are so many positives that come out of 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:07.029 the writing process of writing battle. In my 00:13:07.029 --> 00:13:09.169 couple of years of doing it, just the volume 00:13:09.169 --> 00:13:12.389 of fantastic things that I've read is huge. I've 00:13:12.389 --> 00:13:14.710 learned a lot. I've picked up on things that 00:13:14.710 --> 00:13:17.129 I do as a writer that don't work very well and 00:13:17.129 --> 00:13:19.070 that do work very well in some people's eyes. 00:13:19.509 --> 00:13:23.330 And it's just fun. First and foremost, this is 00:13:23.330 --> 00:13:26.289 meant to be fun. And that's definitely what Christina 00:13:26.289 --> 00:13:29.789 gave us in Pride Comes Before the Fish, as did 00:13:29.789 --> 00:13:32.169 David in a very, very different way in Split 00:13:32.169 --> 00:13:37.139 Ends. Thank you for joining us for another episode 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:40.440 of One More Short Story with me, Chris Falwell. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:41.779 We'll see you next time.