Here is the story which was awarded second place in the flash fiction competition I held at Swanwick Writing Summer School. Entrants had to write a story up to 250 words.
Dead Ahead
By
Terry Baldock
What would you do if you came across a coffin in the middle of the road on a cold dark night? A dark rectangle against snow. Unknown against known.
They had.
It was as if it had risen from hell.
George slammed on the brakes.
‘What on earth!’
‘Or not,’ Penny giggled, her fourth glass of wine taking effect.
‘Or not what?’
‘Of this earth.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s a coffin.’
George nodded.
‘In the road.’
He nodded again.
‘What are we going to do?’
George thought. ‘Could have fallen off the back of a hearse.’
‘A second-hand coffin. Shall we have a look.’ Penny made to open the door. Then screamed.
‘What was that for?’
‘I saw it move. Call the police. They’ll know what to do.’
Creatures of the night were beginning to take an interest in the car’s headlights.
They’d soon get a whiff of the couple and start biting, that’s what George thought.
‘Let’s just go.’
‘What if another car crashes into it?’
The coffin lid moved. A hand appeared. A naked man rose from within.
He looked at the frozen couple then at his surroundings.
‘What the hell,’ he groaned. ‘It’s me stag do. I was expecting a stripper. He waved his hands. Help!’ Then noticed he was naked.
The words were lost in the dust and insects as the car roared away.
What would you do if you came across a coffin in the middle of the road on a dark night?
I love a story that makes me smile and Terry Baldock’s second-placed entry did just that. As the tension mounted, and the coffin lid moved, I steeled myself, ready for the zombie to emerge. I was certain it was a horror story. How wrong I was. I thoroughly enjoyed the revelation and the last line brings the tale full-circle back to the beginning. A thoroughly entertaining story.
Esther Chilton 
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