The Wrong Coloured Coat, a True Story I sat on the train home very happy with both myself and my purchase. A lone trip out from North Wales to Manchester, to the semi-famous underground market where I parted with my hard-earned money, my wage packet from my father’s factory slightly bulging with overtime, but soon to be emptied in exchange for my return ticket, a small coffee and my new pride and joy. A leather jacket, the type I had had my eye on for some months and now, th

Elephant, a short work of fiction, by Simon Morrell “When I was three years old, maybe almost four, I was fascinated by a carving my parents had on their living room wall. I knew I was this age because we had yet to leave the Merseyside area where I was born.   The carving in question was a beautiful work of art of an elephant and a calf, a full 3d wooden affair, tusks and all.   The piece didn’t make the journey to live with us in North Wales with us, some months later,

I’m Jack. That’s the name I go by for sure. I’m Jack, and I’m one of five siblings. The good one. The other four aren’t worth Jack s**t. Ha ha, no pun intended. I’m sober today. For now anyway, but it is only ten o’clock in the morning. Give it time. So the siblings, how about them? Who cares, but you did ask, didn’t you? Eldest one. Lawyer, don’t you know? Clever arse. As many bedrooms in his house as we are siblings. That’s five in case you weren’t paying attention.

"Don't Hit Him In The Head!" Fifteen years of age, seven stone and already terrified of life and with a blinking habit that attracts the...

A lot of us crave a new start, a life away from the small town that defines us. Not everyone makes it and in all fairness, not everyone wants to. This girl does though. This big sister is desperate for her new place in the world.

From the age of five, I was bullied and beaten right up until my early twenties. All manner of boy and man would, could and did hit me at will, but by far the worst of the bunch was a skinhead I’ll call Joe.   

A Bike, A Son and A Father. To the son, the father said this. “Here is the bike, now hear the people.” The people applauded as the father...

Simon on Counting Up From Zero, “I’ve never met a person yet (myself included) who hasn’t struggled with some aspect of their lives at...

Simon on Ready For Take-Off. "Having fought at every possible range, from non-contact Karate to full-on Animal Day, I know how hard it is...

Simon on Factory Girl;  "I guess at some point we have all, or at least most of us dreamed of something new in our lives, and that isn't...