A Selection of Eclectic Short Stories

By Susan Williams

Grab a coffee or a glass of something cool and refreshing, then take some time out from your busy schedule and read my short stories.
Some are heart-warming, some are humorous, and some have a little twist at the end.

‘A Clean Break.’
When Sarah’s marriage hits the rocks, she finds solace in drinking coffee and eating fancy cakes; and when things get tough, albeit loosely, her coffee habit is instrumental in saving the day.

‘A Woman of a Certain Age.’
A reflective piece probably based on my experiences.

‘They’re Here.’
Is the study of a new oceanic species.

‘Unconditional Love.’
Is the heartfelt story of a man’s search for his birth mother.

‘Beating the Bully.’
A story of love, fortitude and fate.

‘The Man in the Black Audi.’
A chance meeting that leads to romance.

Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Williams
• Release date: Jun 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463116432

Susan Williams

Hi, I live in Dorset, England and I was a Teaching Assistant. Due to Covid 19 I have decided to retire. Not sure what the future holds with regards to work, but for now, I'm concentrating on my writing and other hobbies.I am married and have two wonderful sons.I enjoy, reading, writing, playing darts, crafts, exploring coffee shops and mooching .

Book preview

A Selection of Eclectic Short Stories

A clean break

Sarah looked at John as he walked over to the television in search of the remote. Twenty years on, he was still the handsome young man she'd married all those years ago. But the comparison stopped there. Over time, the man she loved had turned into a vicious monster who enjoyed making her life miserable. Not only that, he'd been having a secret affair with his secretary for as long as she could remember. It was no wonder he wasn't interested in her.

'What the hell are you doing? Do you know how boring you are? I can't recall me ever telling you that. Well, it's been a long time coming.'

Sarah didn't look up, she dare not, instead she said, 'Coffee?'

He grunted and she took that as a yes.

'That's your answer to everything isn't it?' he grumbled.

Of course it was, she thought to herself as she deliberately kicked the kitchen door open with her foot. What else did she have in her life? Meeting her friends at the coffee shop was all she had to look forward to.

He'd enjoyed socialising with her once, before he'd taken up with that woman, and before he spent every weekend going hunting with the boys. But she wasn't stupid, she knew exactly what he was hunting, and he wasn't doing it with the boys; for he had no time for them either. She'd found that out, when she’d telephoned his mate’s wife, asking when they were due back, only to be told, that her husband hadn’t seen him for at least a year. After a while, John didn't even bother to keep up the pretence. 

'I don't want none of those syrupy things either. Just black will do me,' he yelled.

Plain it is, she thought to herself as she poured the water into the cups. Then she walked over to the cupboard and stood in silence for a while, wondering whether she should get the biscuit barrel down. After much deliberation she decided against it. He didn't deserve to have any of her fancy cookies. The very same cookies he always put back on the shelf whenever they went shopping together. He wouldn't take the time to savour them. He would stuff them in his mouth whole, and they wouldn't even hit the sides as they went down. No! he didn't deserve one. She would sneak one for herself later when he'd gone to bed.

' Put it on the table, I've got work to do,' he grumbled, and she did exactly as she was told. 

Then she went to bed. Not because she was tired, but because there was nothing to stay up for. 

'Why don't you just leave him?' Chloe grumbled.

'It's not that easy. I've got a lot invested in this marriage. The cottage for one thing. I love that cottage and I've spent years doing it up.'

'You don't love that cottage or the things in it. They're material things and you've only bought those things to hide your pain.'

'Flipping heck, what textbook have you been reading this time?'

'I've been reading about materialism. I reckon you