At the Black Cat

It was story night at the Black Cat, an interesting pub in Weston-super-Mare, near Grove Park and almost opposite the Playhouse Theatre. It serves local and other beers and ciders, and we would visit more often except it is a car ride away which means one of us is on alcohol free drinks. However, tonight only I was going so I had a ride into town, and a friendly poet gave me a lift home.

Most of the writing group were there, and several other writers, enjoying fine brews and other drinks and sharing our stories with the other customers. We were gathered round one table and Fenja Hill was the capable MC who introduced us as we came up to the bar to read our work. The order was random, names drawn out of crime writer Brian Price’s hat. So guess who was drawn first? Yes, me! I’m awaiting new glasses so with the subdued pub lighting I couldn’t read the story I had intended which is in my collection of short stories, so using my phone I somehow alighted on my latest tale, ‘Alibi’.

I had written ‘Alibi’ for the writing group but hadn’t intended to share it so soon, set in a rough girls school where the main character who has managed to stay out of the firing line of various bullies, is unexpectedly and unwelcomely involved in providing one with an alibi. Stories read by my friends were all excellent and very varied, a woman who nearly died on a cliff top at night in a ferocious storm, a murderer who is anxious his victim may be discovered when a sand dune is due to be moved, holiday makers who didn’t read the small print about a guest house they stay in, and many others of many different genres.

It was a most enjoyable and interesting evening, with a great buzz, and it was wonderful to be among so many talented people who had gathered to have a beer or glass of wine, soft drink, cup of coffee and listen to such a variety of takes on a variety of genres.