bentenlaughing

She slowed her taxi to a halt at the crossroads. Like on a racetrack, cars tore by. We waited. The conversation was mundane but friendly. I began by talking about heavy downpours. La Nina, she said. I thought it meant droughts. Where you're situated near the equator or below it. She said.  She put her foot down on the accelerator. A mountain biker hurtled towards us. Like in the movies he landed on our windscreen. Fuuuck he grimaced at her. He stumbled away. Behind us, he limped towards his friend, another bike rider. We drove through the intersection and parked, shell-shocked.  Janice Slater   October 2023 

  His trolley screeched around the corner; a look of oblivion on his face. It was inevitable that they would crash. But she jerked back at the last second.   They stood still.   An apologetic smile from her. A look of blame from him.   He held his ground, demanding her move. He was used to taking up spaces.  She obliged and shrunk into the aisle.   Triumphantly pushing his trolley past, he continued on.  He had not learnt his lesson.                                                                                           Cassie Crowther 2023

Ice Flow Geraldine stopped reading and looked at her watch. Almost four. Her mother would be back soon. Hello baby. Elle would say. What’s doi’n hon? Nothing much. Geraldine would answer. This was the routine they shared. Solo Mom and adolescent daughter. Geraldine hated onslaughts of small talk. Geraldine hated her name. Elle’d made a pact with Geraldine. ‘I won’t call you Geraldine. At least not to your face.’ Then she’d added. ‘I won’t bore you ‘Deeny’ with how my day’s been if you’ve done your chores - ok ? Otherwise, I’ll haunt you, Hon, with the name you were born with.’ The phone rang. Mom? Deeny said. It’s ME! The voice announced. Hello ME. Deeny replied. Cheeky duck. More like your mother every day. Geraldine raised her left eyebrow. I’m surrounded Geraldine! Geraldine pursed her bottom lip. You know I will hang up ME if you ever call me THAT again! Surrounded by ice - oops Deeny. Mountainous icebergs. Anyway, she’s not here MEEEEE! Mom’s not here. I was dancing with Rudi dear...