Winner - Mark Steinhardt, Bedford.

When Are You Going to Get a Proper Job?
Mine was a secular childhood: suburbs, Scouts and cello lessons, until a future must be chosen. Then ancient Jewish ambition and notions of status reawakened.
"Well son," my father said, "three careers are open to you. You can be a doctor, a lawyer or a failure."
I chose the last, or it chose me, my disconnection from the tribe complete.

1st Runner Up - Katherine Whiting, Winchester.

A Hold on Her
She sat, surrounded by plants, phone to ear. Music rippled as the ivy crept closer. Sporadically a voice jolted her, "Please continue to hold, we'll be with you shortly."
Soon even this message couldn't keep her conscious. Head slumped, a puddle of saliva formed on the table. The ivy set root in this nourishment and travelled around its new host.

2nd Runner Up - Gillian Wellby - Bournemouth,

Traffic Jam
Jack was hemmed in and he was starting to panic. Ahead of him was a red double decker bus; behind him was a helicopter, humming at ground level, and just visible to his left was a galloping golden horse. He screamed. Some body help me! Please!

Luckily his mum was on hand to whisk him off the merry go round.