A specially commissioned story from BBC NSSA 2023 shortlistee, Cherise Saywell. Reader: Katie Leung Producer: Elizabeth Allard Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
Hello, and welcome back to the BBC Short story podcast.
This week's selection is a specially commissioned short story about a misunderstanding at an out of town play centre and is written by BBC National Short Story Award 2023.
Shortlistee Charisse Saywell.
The title is minor disturbances.
Minor disturbances by Cherise Saywell, read by Katie Long.
Stand back, Mikey.
Penny knew better than to pull her child away.
His hands were on the window that looked out from the fun court.
The glass ran from floor to ceiling.
He leaned in, waved at a distant tractor outside the field.
It plowed, extended from the fence beneath the window to the horizon.
This leisure mole was with its play centre.
Its pool and gym was on the citys outskirts, hard up against farmland.
The tractor towed some sort of plough.
A gauze of dust surrounded it.
Some rain had fallen, but still everything looked very dry.
The child banged his fist on the glass.
Nearly time to go in, Penny coaxed.
Distraction was the best way to manage him.
He kept his hand on the glass, but he turned to face the play centre.