Gratitude

Who is she grateful for? Lily, of course…  

1. Lily. 

Josh could have chosen someone less agreeable. Jen doesn’t write that. It’s not what she means and not nice to Lily who is marvellous.

2. Dr McGuire. She must give it him. He’s wonderful with the elderly, being almost elderly himself. And he lets her run the reception and the books the way she wants to.

3. Ally. Her dear sister, so much bravado. So supportive.

Jen flushes with goodwill…(read on)

The Magician’s Assistant

‘I think you would be perfect for the television, Uncle Merv. I could help, if Maisie doesn’t want to do it.’ I was already pretty sure Maisie would say no. Ever since the twins, my cousin worried that her arse was too big and, in my opinion, she was right to. Plus, Mum said it was unseemly at her age to squeeze herself into her little satin costume and flounce about on stage….(read on)

Two Minds

He tried not to think on it too much. He thought about other things. Julianna mostly. He brought to mind her fine shoulders, the way they dipped midway and rose gently again to meet the joint of her arm. He had often rested his own arm there as they walked through the city gardens or when they rode the ferry to the mouth of the Brisbane River. That was where he lived now, where they had lived together, in Brisbane’s thickened air. That was until she was seconded to London for her job. These days it was just he in the little old weatherboard with its long slim back garden disappearing into the gloom under the mango tree. It was he alone, who sat on the back porch watching the flying-foxes fillet ripe mangoes. “I’ll be back,” she had said. Alastair did not doubt it, just as he did not doubt Julianna would accept his marriage proposal. All those things, which as a younger man, had seemed impossible had become inexplicably easier…(read on)

The Dinner Party

Anna Florin nodded her satisfaction as each guest took their seat. She had gathered the most interesting of people, the artist, the neurosurgeon, the novelist, the musician, a collection who needed to seem as if money didn’t matter by giving it away. She smiled at them in turn for she was the socialite, the person bred to gather such people and nudge them toward each other so they may learn the significance of other people’s lives. In her fashion, she continued her visual reconnoitre of the table until she came to the empty seat beside her daughter. Anna raised an eyebrow at Madeline, and skipped her gaze back to the empty chair. Madeline shrugged…(read on)

Careful

Please Mum, I know you’re busy, but I want you to meet my fiancé. The Crab House, 7:30pm.
Joanna

Elise stared at her phone, eyeing it warily and waiting, as if something else might issue from it. Her personal assistant strode into the room, cradling the day’s agenda.
“The presentation starts in two minutes,” Bronwyn said.
Bronwyn was like herself. She didn’t round things up or down. She was precise. Two minutes was two minutes. Elise slipped her phone into her pocket. “Right then, let’s go.”…(read on)

All is Risk, is it Not?

Max was running the blade of the trimmer along the top of a hedge when the removal van came to a wheezy standstill in front of the house next door. He stood on his toes, still trimming away, but squinting through his safety glasses. Bruich Removals, it said, white lettering on black across the side of the van. A dark grey, sporty sedan came next and a man emerged from it. He strode up the path of the neighbouring house to the front door, jostling in his pocket and extracting a bunch of keys. “Sorry lads,” he called to the two brick-shaped men, who had climbed from the cab of the van. One was manoeuvring the tailgate loader with a remote control, while the other, who balanced on it, was levitated toward the rear roller door…(read on)

I See Everything

I see everything and by this I mean I see too much. I’ll give you an example. Right now, my work colleague, Jonah, is walking down the hall and I know, at the very last minute, he will veer toward me and perform one of two actions. A) He will try out a joke on me; one that he may or may not be put to work later on people he actually wants to impress, or B) he will angle his hips in my direction and practice one of his pick-up lines, like “How’s it going sweetie?” I have started to look away recently and count the seconds. 1-2-3. You see, I have seen it all before…(read on)

Alapai’s Prophecy

Alapai watches the young people enter. It is his first sight of them and he is careful with it. He makes sure to notice the one who holds the shoulders curved forward and defeated. He looks too for the one who holds them high to the ears, defensive. He knows on sight who is dating whom by the way they move together. They sit as if their race chooses for them. Tongan with Tongan. Maori with Maori. White with white. Samoan with Samoan. Somali with Somali…(read on)

441 Kilometres to Go

“John.” He made my name a statement, nothing more.

“Pete.” I said.

He shut the passenger door and sat stiffly, staring along the road leading out of Cunungra barracks.

I reached toward the GPS, selected Dangarsleigh Road, Armidale, and pressed START. “Four hundred and forty-one kilometres to go,” I said…(read on)

Little Wild Things

Gil padded across the thick grass of the quad, past lounging students under trees and on park benches, reading, chatting, smoking, sleeping. No one noted his passing. He was already a ghost. He stood in his ghostly fashion in the middle of the stone path. The clock tower rose above him against a very blue sky. Birds swirled above it, so frank in their freedom, so very sure of their position against the big blue…(read on)

Matt and the Flat Cat

“She’s dead, Matty. She is dead….and flat.” Daryl says this as if it might be the eighth wonder of the world.

“Are you sure?” I ask. I’m hoping he has got it wrong and the cat’s just in shock.

“No I don’t think so. Come and take a look.”

“Nah,” I say. I’m squeamish. “What colour is it?” I ask. I see Daryl bend closer to the road…(read on)

City Born

Harriet is rushing through the smoky streets toward the pub.
‘You’ll love him, Harry! You will,’ Sylvie had said that morning.
Standing beside the smudge of red which is the DON’T WALK sign on the corner, Harriet is hoping Giles isn’t too inquisitive, not too much of a talker. Sex is a better icebreaker, she thinks. Doesn’t require a personality…(read on)

Nettie & Phil

It had crept out of my mouth before I’d thought to reel it back in. I was like that back then. I’d say anything if it sounded right, if the rhythm was right, you know. Like a pop-song lyric. It didn’t need to make sense. And I saw the blood drain from Phil’s face and then rise again, dark red…(read on)

To Never Reach the Sea

He ignores it there on the seat beside him. Instead, he sits high looking over the cars strung out before him. And beyond them is the sea. On this hot, fine day, it’s an impossible blue; it’s Le Mans Blue Metallic. Stephen breathes it in, goes so far as to crack the window and point his nose toward the gap, but all he can smell is Rex’s leash on the seat. It’s musky, a mix of cow leather and dog…(read on)