Welcome to the forty-second in the series: 5pm Fiction.
Late April 2011 I discovered http://StoryADay.org and the project that is to write 31 stories in 31 days. Anyone who knows me or follows this blog, knows how passionate I am about short stories so my clichéd eyes lit up at this new marvel. And just a few days later there I was, breathing life into new characters. This went on to become (with some editing of course) my 31-story collection eBook Story A Day May 2011.
I was nearing completion of the 2012 project when I decided that I didn’t want to stop at the end of May so 5PM Fiction was born. I put a load of prompts on the 5PM Fiction page and today’s was to write a dialogue where one of the characters is in a difficult position, so here is my 147-worder.
Bath for two
“Twist it.”
“It won’t turn.”
“Here, let me have a go.”
“No point. I’ve tried.”
“Try a different angle then, or something.”
“Tried every angle.”
“Tried to warn you.”
“It’s been alright before.”
“Before me?”
“Just one… I told you about Sam.”
“Thought you were just friends.”
“To start with.”
“Like us.”
“Not like us, we’re better.”
“You got them undone before.”
“Always.”
“Happened often then?”
“A few times.”
“Didn’t realise you were so…”
“It’s OK. It’s not a competition. Wasn’t serious like we are.”
“Just fun then.”
“Yes.”
“More fun?”
“Different fun.”
“Turn the key again. The lock might have loosened.”
“No good. Have you got any WD40?”
“In the shed.”
“Would you mind?”
“But I’ll have to put some clothes on.”
“It’s dark, no-one will see you.”
“Next door have a security light… I don’t think WD40 will work.”
“Soap then.”
“Bath for two?”
“OK.”
***
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Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) 
on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.
