Loveday Writing

The brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – March 2026 short story competition was as follows:

• Your story must take place in a PETROL/GAS STATION.
• Your story must feature a camera.
• You must include the following adjectives: JAGGED, LOUD, MYSTERIOUS somewhere in your story.

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Additional Service

I should have never set up my car mechanical business at the petrol station.

It seemed like the perfect business plan at the time – regular potential customers who could drop in after they filled up their cars (if they happened to hear any loud or mysterious noises as they were travelling), and a space that was already set up for rent where I could provide an additional service for the station’s customers. However, what I didn’t think about was the affect that the increased petrol prices would have on everyone’s wallet and temperament.

The customers are angrier and ruder now, even though the petrol prices aren’t the owner’s or my fault, but they take their frustrations out on us. I thought the lack of customers from the travel restrictions during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic was bad. The customers have become so hostile that I had to install my own security camera, although I don’t know if it’ll mean much considering a small window in the garage is broken, missing a jagged corner piece that used to make it whole.

I guess this is all just my cross to bear.

Another customer has just pulled up, I wonder what I’ll be in for today.