An idol is forever, not just for Christmas

10th May 1979. Margaret Thatcher has just become the new prime minister of England. Pluto moves inside Neptune’s orbit for the first time ever since either planet became known to Science. The Sahara desert experiences snow for a period of thirty minutes.

In a small dusty village in the remote interiors of a large state of west India, a tall young man is anxiously pacing the floor outside his house. From time to time, he stops to glance through the open door, then resumes pacing as vigorously as ever. He is oblivious to the heat of the afternoon sun on his bare head, unaware of the scorching earth...

Read the full story in the November 2011 issue of Underground Voices

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1090 words
Fiction/Drama
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"Very well written, and I liked the cycle being played out here."

Anonymous

Editor 1 (of 6)

Flashquake

"We love it."

Anonymous

Editor-in-Chief

Flashquake

"Terribly well written"

Geoffrey C Porter

Editor

Untied Shoelaces Of The Mind

"It is well-written, and the opening is particularly gripping"

Elizabeth Rosen

Essay Editor

Ducts

"I like your work."

Anthony Brown

Editor

Stickman Review

"It's a delightfully written story"

Penni Mitchell

Managing Editor

Herizons

"This is fine writing"

Valerie Polichar

Editor

Grasslimb

Deep impressions

‘Did it hurt?’

‘No. Well, a bit.’

‘What will your Ammi say?’

‘She’ll be cool. No big deal. Raised eyebrows, a shake of her head, maybe some extra work for me to do around the house. But she’ll take it well, you’ll see. After all, we don’t live in the dark ages anymore.’

But masking my anxiety with false bravado is not helping. I leave my friend and make my way home feeling a little sick in the stomach. Where is that euphoria – that feeling of supreme confidence and utter control – of power – that I had felt when the cold black ink had first spurted its way into my clear blemishless skin?

Ammi-jaan is in the....

Read the full article in the August 2010 issue of Underground Voices

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Request to read the original article via email for just 99p! (T&C apply)

352 wordsDark/Flash Fiction
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"This is nice"

Jim Tucker

Assistant Editor

Underground Voices

"Some really compelling writing in this"

Camille Alexa

Flash Fiction Editor

Abyss & Apex

"This story sticks"

Anonymous

Editors 1, 2 and 3 (of 6)

Flashquake

"I like this"

Antonios

Editor

Vestal Review

"I like it"

Dash

Editor

Expanded Horizons