Tom Morris, now an elderly man, is reminded of a joyful childhood memory when he sees a schoolboy rush by, spilling his belongings. In a vivid flashback, Tom relives a day when he and his father, Gerald, ran home from the grocery store simply because they could, all while laughing, stumbling through mud, dodging donkeys, and sharing a bond strengthened by spontaneity. Decades later, the lesson still resonates with Tom: life is fleeting, and we must seize every opportunity to move forward, no matter how slow the pace. The Day of the Run is a heartwarming short story of family, memories, and cherishing the simple joys of life.

4046 words.

Francis Benedict Carlson grew up in Cardiff, Wales. He graduated with a first class BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design from Brunel University. Having spent many years developing E-Learning websites in Cambridge, he realised his passion lay in writing. He studied an MA in Creative Writing at Teesside University and graduated with distinction. In 2021, he published his debut novel, Mercurial Vision, a satirical, dark comedy. He is a keen traveller and has visited 72 countries to date.