Something a bit different for our Chapter of the Month this month: a short story. ‘John’ recalls the events of a tragic December night over forty years ago, when it felt like some deranged monster had stolen Christmas from us. But the music lived on, it still does… and it always will.

Here's what I ...

It was a horrible night, the kind of night sensible people stayed indoors, keeping warm and dry. The rain did not fall; it was hurled sideways on the wind. Only complete fools or those with urgent work to do would be out on a night like this.

A sports car was hurtling up the winding road clinging to...

She stood in the centre of the arena, her bronze battle axes held at her sides dripping with the blood of the fallen gladiators strewn around her, each of them killed with a single strike. For the first time in her life, she was able to glory in her womanhood. Her new leather tunic, splattered with ...

Ricky stood on the clifftop, surveying the horizon. She watched him, feeling a strange mix of emotions: love, fear, admiration, jealousy, loyalty… mostly a blind devotion. She would do anything for him, overlook any transgression, no matter how much it hurt. Trouble was, he knew it; and the question...

Serena stared into Bartok’s eyes. ‘I love you,’ she mouthed silently. ‘I love you too,’ he replied. She couldn’t tell if he’d spoken aloud or simply mouthed the words, Mamboja had disabled their intercoms.

The waiting was agony, but she still didn’t want it to end, especially as she didn’t know how ...

The road was badly rutted, riddled with potholes. The ancient transport vehicle was jolted and jarred as it sped along, seemingly in great haste to be rid of its cargo. As it swung from side to side, the pain from her wrists as she was pitched forward and the handcuffs chaining her to the side of th...

“What do you think, grandmother?” Urien turned to her as he had always done when he needed counsel. With his sword in hand and the crown on his head, he reminded her of Barthoor. But his eyes were Tanwen’s, his hair was her own, and something in his expression was pure Myrddin. She was just glad the...

The ship dropped out of hyperspace inside the planet’s defensive shield, exactly as planned. It was a difficult, dangerous manoeuvre, banned by Stellar Corps, but Shebana knew it was their only chance. She’d discussed it with her crew and offered each of them the option to withdraw from the mission....

The packed hall was buzzing with excitement, the crowd, mostly made up of writers, filled with anticipation. The entry for this year’s competition was huge and, rumour had it, the best, most competitive, yet.

Dave sat waiting anxiously for the ceremony to begin. He’d barely eaten a morsel of the del...

The two old friends were making their way along the darkened lane, strolling in companionable silence… until one turned to the other.

“So, who are you gonna vote for, Mike?”

“I don’t know, Dave, I don’t want to vote for anyone, really; I don’t think anyone deserves it this time.”

“Hmmm, I know what ...

She opened the door herself: she’d let her receptionist leave hours ago, before it had gone dark in the middle of the midwinter afternoon, she was alone in the office.

“Are you the one who called?” she asked.

“Yes, indeed… I am, as you say, the one who called. It is very good of you to see me at suc...

It was the middle of a long, harsh winter when the stranger came. The snow was deep, and he looked cold and hungry, so the villagers offered him a bed for the night, and asked him to join them beside the fire for the feast that evening. Supplies were running low and no-one in the village had any gol...

Standing at the back of the platform, he watched the passengers assemble. It was the usual mix: shoppers heading home, carrying packages and bags filled with purchases; office workers who’d managed to get away early; students from the local college; and, of course, girls from St Swanhild’s.

Too warm...

13th March 1979, 187 Woodland Road, Handsworth, Birmingham

I am so excited! I have never been this excited in my life. I’m going to see Bazza at Pop Toppers in London tomorrow. Tullie is taking me in his van. My lovely big brother, he deserves a big kiss.

But I’ll give Bazza a bigger kiss when I see...

25th January 1879, Cape Town, Cape Province, Africa

This afternoon we received the most dreadful news. Lord Chelmsford’s column has been defeated by the Zulus. By all accounts it is a complete disaster, our men have been massacred. There are no details about individual officers yet, but I fear great...

Somme Sector 1, Trench 26

30th June 1916

My Beloved Wife, Sarah

Nobody’s told us anything, but I’ve got a feeling we’re going over the top tomorrow. I think this is the big one, the big push. We’ll take Jerry by surprise, push him back to Berlin in no time.

I’ll get some leave before then, of course...

18th July 1942, Auschwitz, Upper Silesia, Third Reich

I met with Himmler again today. He is proving most useful. He has an interesting soul, without compassion or empathy, a quite remarkable find. Working with him is most rewarding. His methods are primitive, of course, but I can help with that. I h...

4 MAY 1804, THE MANSHUN

MISSIS SOMES IS TEACHIN ME TO RITE

SHE SED IT WUD BE GUD IF I MAK A DIRY AND RITE IN IT AT NITE

I WERK TO NINE OF CLOK SO CAN ONLY RITE LITEL WERDS

I SEEN BARTY TOODAY HE IS V FERY NIS AND KINED I LIK IM HIM

BUTT I DO NOT LIK MARKUS I AM SKARD OF HIM

6 MAY 1804, THE MANSHUN

I...

18th October 1943, Totnes, Devon

We had an American sergeant in casualty today. He was very handsome. He started flirting with me, I was rather flattered. But, in the end, I had to point out I’m a lot older than I look. I’m sure he’d have soon lost interest if he knew I was forty-three.

Naturally, I...

20th February, Princess Diana Memorial Hospital

Still no sign of brain activity from Carlton. I’m not giving up though. I don’t care what W says, I’m sure there’s something left in there, I can feel it.

I know that’s not very scientific; W would have a fit. But I can, I can feel it: a gut instinct, ...

15th January, Aylesbury, Bucks

That weird old guy called again today; the usual nonsense about me being in danger, me and some woman… I can’t even remember the name; I had no idea who he was talking about.

He kept insisting we should meet; he went on and on about it. He wore me down in the end and I...

Some people they… get addicted to booze

Crawl into a bottle, the haven they choose

Some people they… get addicted to fags

Age before time, become old men and hags

Some people they… get addicted to fame

They need the applause, or they’ll go insane

Some people they… get addicted to money

Graspin...

The present is the point

At which the future meets the past

It only lasts an instant

It isn’t meant to last

And yet it is the place we live

It’s all we’ll ever know

And while it has no permanence

There’s nowhere else to go

When something happens unto me

Take these, my children, and set them free

For through these words, when I am gone

A part of me will e'er live on

Remember me, when I am gone,

As one who once so brightly shone,

Who had his days out in the sun,

Shared some laughter, had some fun.

Forget this thing that you see now,

It doesn’t matter anyhow,

It’s just the place I used to stay,

But now I’ve had to go away.

All that’s left of me’s in you,

Your...

It takes your innocence

& gives you truth

It gives you memories

But takes your youth

It takes your mother

It drives you mad

It gives you tears

& makes you sad

It heals your wounds

& takes your pain

It gives you children

To take your name

It takes your strength

It steals your eyes

It gives you ...

I’m afraid of crushing failure

Afraid of quick success

I’m afraid that I’ll just cock it up

And really make a mess

I’m afraid of harsh rejection

Afraid they’ll just say ‘no’

Afraid that if the answer’s ‘yes’

I’ll swiftly lose control

But most of all what scares me

The thing I dread the most

Is n...

Now's the time we all should learn

People aren't valued by what they earn

Stripping the shelves with stupid greed

Leaves our fellows in desperate need

We've raped our earth for far too long

Now let's learn where we went wrong

She's telling us it's time to stop

She can't sustain us 'til she drops

So,...

He stands alone upon the hill

Above the barren land

He stands alone, for all is still

And makes the final stand

He is the last one to survive

His heart is filled with dread

He is the last one still alive

For all he knew is dead

He remembers well that fateful day

That shattered all our dreams

He ...

There’s a hole in the sky

It’s melting the snow

They’re cutting the trees

Before they can grow

The fish are all dying

The rivers don’t flow

I just want to run

There’s nowhere to go

And still we fight wars

Battle to and fro

Our own greed and pride

Is really the foe

Our planet is dying

But don’t wai...

Underneath a mountain,

In the heart of Khazakhstan

There lay an old machine

For which they didn’t plan

And as the counters fell to zero

It became a nuclear ‘hero’

And while we partied on

Our world was sudden… GONE!

And now we’re back in caves

To eke out sorry days

The world was once our place

‘Til...

Once they said they’d never use

Polaris, Trident and the Cruise

But when it came, that fateful day

They just blew our world away

Once this land was rich and green

Before we heard a billion screams

But then the fire rained from the sky

And everything began to die

Once we thought our leaders wise

All that I am

Will be wiped away

I’ve so much to share

‘fore facing that day

Well, I want to say

That life’s so unfair

Say death is a leveller

Say if you dare

The rich get the chemo,

The drugs and the knife

No effort is spared

Extending their life

The poor get excuses

Waiting lists and queues

Death swoops from the mourning sky

Around the world the echoed cry

Innocence condemned to die

No-one grasps a reason why

What reason could there ever be

For such a great calamity?

The scale of this atrocity

Defies all of humanity

Could any cause excuse the shame?

Will anyone admit the blame?

A t...

Tony, David, John & Jack

Want to go and fight Iraq

On life at home they turn their back

Common sense they seem to lack

Gordon says “It’s gonna cost

Could be financial holocaust”

Tony gives a short riposte:

“Gotta fight else all is lost”

Meanwhile, back down local way

Firemen asking for more pay

“Listen”, she said,

And opened my ears

“Just take my hand

Let go of your fears

You’ve been in a dark place

Now it’s time to come out

I’ll bring you the light

And save you from doubt

You’re not such a bad man

There’s good in you too

Please let me help you

See what you can do

All of that past li...

When she’s gone out,

& you don’t want her home,

When the best times you have,

Are when you’re alone

Then its time to move on,

However it hurts

‘Cause lonely is bad,

But some things are worse.

Either I was born too early

Or you were born too late

And we grew up so far apart

That we just couldn’t wait

Now we’ve rings upon our fingers

And we’re no longer free

But the oaths we took as children

Can’t quench the fire in me

We’re trapped in loveless prisons

But darling can’t you see

The fee...

I jumped out of the frying pan,

But fell into the fire,

Now all that’s left is cinders,

The ash of my desire,

But I will rise again my friends,

Far better and far higher,

This broken-hearted phoenix,

Has survived his fire

I thought I’d found a romance

Midst days of endless sun

It was such a big adventure

packed full of sexy fun

too late I saw how stupid

it was, this deed I’d done

as it turned into a nightmare

and I was on the run

I thought I’d found a soul mate

A Yoko to my John

I felt so devastated

When I saw that...

Once, long ago,

There was an island in the sky

And though the days would pass there,

Time would rarely fly

This land was fair and green,

My friend

The days were long,

Ne’er seemed to end

And while the people

Had their faults

By and large,

They were good sorts

And over all

There ruled a King

Wh...

A wee ghost story for Christmas

‘Twas on a night like this,

Back in 1846,

That the Princess Mary Grace,

Went down wi’out a trace.

She went down in the fog,

As the cap’n wrote his log,

Wi’ o’er forty hands,

Jus’ nor’ o’ Prestonpans.

And every night like this,

Since 1846,

If you stand upon the s...

We had a meeting to discuss

Whether we, that’s you and us

Should have a meeting every week

We need approval, which we’ll seek

At a meeting, another day

After which, we will say

Whether we’ll meet on the second or first

In any case, for what it’s worth

At the meeting, we will explain

The reason for m...