Airborne
by Jean Lumby
Short story winners
1st prize Winner
Originally from Birmingham, Jean Lumby moved to Worcestershire five years ago and retired in 2014. She was a member of Bold Writers in Sutton Coldfield until relocating. In 2010 She gained the OU Diploma in Creative Writing. She enjoys writing short stories and poetry as well as the ongoing challenge of completing a first novel. Jean is ‘over the moon’ with this, her first win.
It was a balloon. A bright pink balloon bobbing through the trees, occasionally ducking under branches then rising again.
Judy was taking her usual post-work stroll through the local woods. It helped free her mind from the day’s problems. She was a newly qualified solicitor in a smalltown practice. Late home, she hadn’t time to change out of her office suit other than pull on her wellingtons. A cool breeze blew under her coat and around her knees. The clocks would spring forward soon. Smatterings of green flecked the trees, ready to burst out and surprise. Perhaps, she thought, it was not such a good idea to come out so late. Dusk was falling, filling in the last remnants of light between black branches, like ink soaking into blotting paper.