At the farm

'He's slippery, almost reptilian,' Laura said, with a shudder. Laura and Sophie were walking back to the farmhouse. They'd been hiking along the river bed in gum boots and holding long sticks. 'He's so not!' Sophie said, fiercely defending her primary school crush. 'He was lovely to me, all those years ago.' 'Yes, but now?…

Staying over

'Rouse yourselves!' Edna yelled. Her three grandchildren were sleeping in her spare room. Edna loved having them over to stay; they kept her young. And ever since Bert died, her home was too quiet. But, right now she was hungry. She'd been up since six-thirty and was tired of waiting for them. She looked at…

A friend like Margie

'She's always had a flair for, um...I don't know how to put it,' my voice peters off. Pam and I are talking about Margie, our friend. Margie flies to Spain every July and spends two months there. When she's home in Melbourne again, she is wonderfully generous, hosting parties and dinner for her friends. But…

The ring

I am madly searching through the rubbish. Ripping through full bin liners, contents slopping over my hands and fingers. 'Christ,' I murmur. An indeterminable liquid dribbles down my arm. The stench is foul, rancid. I cough. 'Are you sure it's in the rubbish?' Pete calls from the verandah. Stupid question. I ignore him. 'Hun?' he…

Breakfast

Marianne is in the kitchen, making porridge. She can hear Ben in the kids' bedroom: coochi-coos, raspberries on bare tummies, and giggles from the babies. 'Breakfast is ready,' she calls. 'Be right there,' Ben replies. He walks into the kitchen, holding their youngest. Zara is seven months olds, chubby and a delight. Following him is…