Liars' League

The Storm by Jake Springer

 

Read by Mandy Lalley

 

Erica and Jan, alone together in a wooden cabin in the mountains, had not spoken to each other for two days when Erica decided to dance for rain. At the beginning of their three day bank holiday break, soon after she had asked to have anal sex, Erica had decided not to talk to Jan again.

Something Missing by Bobbie Darbyshire

 

Read by Clive Greenwood

 

'What do you think of it so far?'

The voice made the woman jump. It came at once from behind her and from inside her head. Had she been startled awake by a dream? She spun around.

Not Dogs, Not Angie, But Life by Jason Jackson

 

Read by Alistair Cope

 

On Saturday, I take the dog to be killed.

'Good dog,' I say, as it pulls at the lead. It is a bear, a wolf, a fucking hound of hell, a huge, straining mass of muscle and fur and saliva and teeth and sharp, sharp claws, and it will die, because it is stupid, and because no one, least of all me, wants it.

Holiday on Ice by Anna Clair

 

Read by Gwynfor Jones

 

In his dreams, Colin is a bird. He has always been a bird, in his dreams. When he was younger he was an eagle, an osprey, a pigeon, a peacock, among others. When he lived in Brighton, by night he was a seagull, shrieking against the salt wind. But lately, he keeps dreaming he is a penguin.

Cages Swinging in the Moonlight by Tom Conoby

 

Read by Gemma Stone

There's a mynah bird on the verandah, singing sad songs while its owner, in black leather, sits on her boyfriend's lap with a glass of red wine in one hand and the remains of the bottle in the other. The boyfriend's arms are round her waist like he's saving her from drowning, or from running after Kylie Mulligrew in the High Street on a Saturday night with a handbag and intent. Alison – her name, the girl in black leathers – shows no signs of resisting his restraint tonight, unlike on Saturday nights. She turns and kisses him on the mouth – lips don't come into it, this is mouth to mouth, manic, urgent. Mannie – the mynah – sings "Where do you go to my lovely?" Alison is in the driving seat. This is how babies are made.