One for Sorrow

By Anna Gebbie

Normally, Alice would never walk under a ladder. Bad luck, her granny always said. Nothing as specific as breaking your mother’s back, but a looming sort of fate that would follow you throughout your day, casting a spindly shadow.

But today, the sun was shining, and the ladder was straddling the whole pavement. Surely there was no need to walk on the road? The moment was over in a blink, and Alice continued on her way, leaving the last of her foolish superstition behind.

Three floors overhead, an unfortunate magpie crashed into the newly washed window and plummeted to the ground.