Signing the paperwork

The phone rang. Mary-Beth heaved herself from her chair to follow the trill. Where did she leave the handset? There. On the hall table. By the time she reached it, she was breathless. Pressing the Answer button, she said, 'Hello?' 'Mary-Beth, it's Laura. How are you?' A beat. 'Are you OK, you sound out of…

Working the Crowds

The crowd is large. Boisterous. Arms outstretched, reaching for me, offering me posies and cards. I smile, slowly edge my way towards the people. I see a little girl, almost crushed between many pairs of legs and the fence line. Her pudgy little hand pushes through the palings; she's holding something. Once I come close,…

Ordinary Talent

'You think you're that brilliant?' Ethan asks. He's frustrated, I can tell. Rubs his hands through his thinning hair, then rests his head on them. Head bowed. Eyes closed. I mentioned, just five minutes ago, that I didn't need to practice today. That I deserved a day off. I'm tired. Sitting in front of the…

Sick

The entire crew came down with a bacterial infection. Photo by Adrian Lange on Unsplash

At home

'Well, what would you call it then?' Tommy asks. Lucy considers the vista: rambling paddocks, eucalyptus trees litter the hills on the horizon, the full dam, a chicken coop. She and Tommy stand on a verandah that hugs the facade of the house. She's always wanted a home with a verandah like that. She pictures…