My story The Canadian Salmon has been included in the third anthology produced by Bath Flash fiction, 'things left and found by the side of the road.' It is a lovely wee book, I feel very privileged to have my story in it.
The Canadian Salmon Back home in Canada, bears are black or brown, not white. This polar bear in Tokyo Zoo is a ghost. In eerie aqua light, it swims circuits: down, across, up – down, across, up. I come to see him most days after work. There’s a large glass viewing window below ground. I press my face to its cool surface. Small bubbles of air float up from the bear’s long muzzle. His eyes are black ice, ears pinches of porcelain. He runs through the water, fur swaying like seaweed in the swell. Sometimes, and this is why I come, he halts by the glass where I’m standing, and reaches out a paw to me as if to say, I understand how you feel. Every morning I join the commuters: a Canadian salmon swimming amongst black suited minnows. My pink skin and fair hair attract attention. Unable to read the station signs, I feel as if I’m drowning. The same routine each day: coffee, emails, reports – coffee, emails, reports. When I practise my Japanese phrases by the water cooler – “Ogenki desu ka?” my tongue feels as large as the polar bear’s. My colleagues humour me, “Thank you. I well.” Today I missed my station. I gulped for air searching for the train back. I floundered all day: spilt my drink, missed a deadline, lost a file. I visit the zoo on my way home and press my hands against the glass. The bear swims towards me, for a moment our palms align. My salmon heart leaps.
1 Comment
My notice board is sporting a crisp new certificate. I was thrilled to receive a Highly Commended award at the recent Cambridge Autumn Festival. My short story, Melt Down, started life as a three hundred word flash fiction, but demanded to be expanded. It's about autistic triplets who decide to take matters in to their own hands when their parents plan to separate them.
I plan to send this story out for publication in the near future. |
BioI am an author and artist. I enjoy writing short stories, flash fiction and am currently working on a Biblical Historical Romance series. Categories |