Category Archives: stories
You meet the nicest people in the oddest places
Last night, I had a very odd dream. Here it is, in exactly 100 words. Molly looked at the clock. Heavens, last night when she’d checked in at 2 a.m., a sign stated, they served breakfast only till 10 o’clock. … Continue reading →
The Chess Player
Chris is sick, so I’ve been moved up from Board 1, A Reserve to Board 4, A grade, and bugger, it’s the semifinal. Scary: my opponent is a boy of maybe 12. Gotta be a genius. I have white, so … Continue reading →
Eulogy for Paul
This is the latest story I have written for my work-in-progress, Lifting the Gloom: An antidepressant primer of short stories. I am posting it now, because I want to use it to illustrate my contribution to the August, 2020 Rhobin’s … Continue reading →
Before you can care for others, you need to care for the carer first
This is one of the earliest and most repeated lessons taught to student nurses. I have just completed a short story illustrating it for my coming book Lifting the Gloom: An antidepressant primer of short stories, and wanted to tie … Continue reading →
The distance runner
Oh God, it hurts. I can’t keep going. OK, I’ll slow to a walk at the next light post. There it is. I can make the next one. Downhill after the next post. Push hard and get there! Right. Coast … Continue reading →
Forgiveness
Matthew Trotter stared at the handcuffed man in the dock — the murderer of his wife and daughter. Trodg stood nearly seven feet tall, with a broad, powerful body. He was one of Matt’s caseload, so he knew the man’s … Continue reading →
My favourite villain
Rhobin’s topic for her faithful followers is to talk about the favourite villain in our stories. That just has to be young Will, the hero of one of the 26 stories in my short story collection, Striking Back from Down … Continue reading →
Plant something beautiful. Feed it with sunshine. Water it with love.
“Dr. Carlisle, I feel like killing myself, but I want your advice: should I go to the police first?” She paused, head hanging down. “Francine my dear, please call me Sue. Everybody does.” Then I allowed the continuing silence. The … Continue reading →
National Sorry Day: Jarro
Sorry Day is the anniversary of the event when Australia’s Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, officially apologised to the Aboriginal people of Australia for the “Stolen Generations,” and many other terrible injustices the invaders have committed. To celebrate … Continue reading →
Liberation
I am an empty space within a black steel box. One day, I touch the wall in front of me, and it’s a black curtain. Sunshine waits outside. I am a photo cube, displaying eight pictures. Serving others, but empty … Continue reading →
