Summer 1979 WITH sunshine levels at least theoretically on the up, visiting season was once again upon us. What little joint social life my parents still had continued to revolve around dragging my brother and I to relatives, what few married friends they had, or to pubs. If they could visit friends and drink, thenContinue reading “The White Witch”
Tag Archives: isle of skye
Deep Impact
Broadford, Spring 1979 MRS BAILEY was a saviour of sorts, though on first sight she hardly looked the part. Clearly retired, her tendency to overblink created an illusion of timorousness. Her enthusiasm as church organist was infectious, even if I found myself stiffening with every bum note. She must have been in Broadford months toContinue reading “Deep Impact”
Mercy
1978 IT came as quite the shock when Sheila traipsed through the front door with a succession of kittens in her mouth. Her fourth brood no less and such a mixed bag, all short-haired except the grey one that looked like a proper little Persian. My favourite, he was the plucky one that rummaged intoContinue reading “Mercy”
As The Crow Flies
MIDNIGHT had long passed and it was raining hard. Visibility was limited to that which was illuminated by the bright flecks of driving rain caught in the beam of the headlights. All else was black. The dance was now a distant memory. Despite the conditions and a bloodstream full of whisky, the man in theContinue reading “As The Crow Flies”
The Magic Potion
THERE once lived a man who imbibed a skinful of whisky and fell asleep in his armchair. His wife had long gone to bed, leaving all three bars of the electric fire on. When the man spluttered himself awake in the wee small hours, he became aware of an excruciating sensation in the inside ofContinue reading “The Magic Potion”
The Undertaking
The aftermath of a funeral is the setting for an encounter with the supernatural. Appearances can be deceiving … “I had already returned to my home town by bus by the time the fancy Hearse arrived from Glasgow … In the first few moments of being introduced to the young undertaker and melting at theContinue reading “The Undertaking”
Port Wine
Granny’s acting awfy suspicious-like. Why on earth would she want to harm her newborn grandchild? “… [THE woman] quietly turned the handle and crept towards the little cot that had been placed beside [the] bed. There she found the infant loosely wrapped in layers of swaddling blankets, a tiny set of fingers poking out theContinue reading “Port Wine”
Terminus
THE Abortion Act has not long been passed. An unmarried pregnant woman is railroaded into terminating her pregnancy due to mental illness. If her doctor has his way, she will be among the first in the Highlands … “ … THERE was no sense of dread, only a knowledge that she didn’t want to be here.Continue reading “Terminus”
As the Crow Flies
What has Iain been up to? The Old Man has his ways of getting to the truth of the sins of the son … “… THE MAN slammed his brakes, veering to the other side of the road to avoid lurching forward and flying through the windscreen … When the car finally screeched to aContinue reading “As the Crow Flies”
Chicken
The house has a little secret. What is Roddy not telling his wife? “… MR MCDIARMID was just polishing off the last spoonful of cream from his plate when the light and soft quiet emanating from the window was interrupted by a dark shadow and a loud flutter … By the time Morag returned fromContinue reading “Chicken”
M K MacInnes, writer 