The Small Wonder Slam
The Slam, hosted this year by writer and performance poet Lonny Pop, is one of the liveliest e
vents in the annual Small Wonder programme. The relaxed cabaret set-up offers a welcoming and informal environment for selected audience members to share their succinct stories (3 minutes maximum!) with an eager audience, followed by marking by a panel of judges. This year our friends from Rattle Tales will set the tone before formal proceedings with interactive flash fiction stories.
The winner receives £100 and the story appears on the Small Wonder website. This year’s title is ‘The Shovel’.
Read the 2012 winning story by Rosie Cullen
MORE ON THE 2013 SLAM
Small Wonder Shorts 
Here is my 3-minute story slam 1st prize story, 2013. Thanks to all involved, it was good fun.
THE SHOVEL
Were the traffic lights changing quicker or was it his nerves? Was he that afraid of Fiscal Eddie?
Did the old red Fiesta just backfire? What if it died and left him round Neasden in the dirty rain?
What would Fiscal Eddie do to him? Would it be worth than last time?
Would Melanie ever stop going on about how embarrassing it was to be seen with him and his black eye? Did she think he didn’t notice that look of satisfaction she couldn’t hide?
How would the kids react if their telly was repossessed? Could he ever face Jason and Kiera and Colleen and little Mel and wee Christopher, not to mention Albert and Patricia, ever again?
How long would it be before the electricity was cut off? Could you pawn a car? When was the six months up on the wedding ring?
Was that a different heavy outside the scrapyard site office? Was he the Leg Breaker? Had nature ever conceived a more sinister looking creature, other than a shark? Would even a shark go near that?
Was there still time to reverse the Fiesta and scarper? What if he started a new life somewhere? Would they take it out on his family? Had that been a threat when they said he was letting down Melanie and the kids?
Did Fiscal Eddie give fourth chances, after three and a headbutt?
Would Conjugater regain its form at Chepstow?
Why wasn’t Fiscal Eddie at the site office desk? Was there any point talking to the shark?
“Is Eddie not here?”
“Have you got the money you owe?”
“What do you think?”
How would he get home with a broken leg? Was this why in the Benefits Office you always saw geezers on crutches?
“Do you see that big wall over there?”
“Behind the mountain of tyres?”
“Can you see any other wall?”
Was he so terrified now, that the reality would be a relief? Was that Fiscal Eddie in yellow waterproof gear, with his back to them, surely not?
And what was that he was holding?