‘SATIN NIGHTWEAR FOR WOMEN IRREGULAR’ - Bath Flash Fiction Awards

My story 'Satin Nightwear for Women Irregular' was published in the Bath Flash Fiction Awards anthology, and online.

The awards were judged by Tara L. Masih, who said the following about the story:

"This flash broke the mold a bit from the other more traditional ones I selected. An intriguing title, and an intriguing story built from staccato lines full of alliteration and movement. You can easily get caught up in the list of unusual tasks that the “bereaved” partner takes part in to both honor and release the spirit of his or her wife, and miss the underlying grief. “The ground around me is worming, and when I walk away the earth shatters.” This line is one of the strongest in the competition. Learn from it."  

The full judges report can be read here.  

SATIN NIGHTWEAR FOR WOMEN IRREGULAR

The walk to the allotment is wet and full of cats, taut muscled screams darting under cars. It’s clunky, carrying all the bulbs she hoarded in one plastic bag, a bin-liner, stretched to a thin translucent skin.

When I get to her plot, I plant them. Ten halogen, twenty-two bayonet, and thirty-seven screw bulbs. 

The ground around me is worming, and when I walk away the earth shatters.

You can read the rest of the story on the Bath Flash Fiction Award site.