Loveday Writing

The brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – May 2024 short story competition was as follows:

• Your story must take place on an IMPORTANT DATE from the past 50 years – i.e. from May 1974 onwards.
• Your story must include a character who builds something.
• Your story must include the words ENOUGH, CHASE and MISTAKE.

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Mauerspecht (Wallpecker)

Today was supposed to be peaceful, but I couldn’t help resorting to a little bit of violence.

Days ago, I would have been shot for what I’d done, but now it didn’t matter. The guard lying on the ground just stared at me, shocked at the “winzig frau” (tiny woman) that managed to shove him with one hand. Some people might think I made a big mistake by doing this, you never know which guards are still taking their jobs seriously, but he didn’t bother getting up to chase me.

I could’ve celebrated by driving across the border with my friends, instead I replaced my fabric sign with a hammer and chisel, and got to work. New world established, I felt the old, the Wall keeping me in, owed me a piece, it certainly took more than enough from me – family, friends, freedom.

With a piece of this old world, I can now start building a new one for myself.