Mariska stood on top of the library stairs, cradling her find in her arms. Above, the sun’s last orange rays streaked through the sky. A warm summer breeze wafted through the air. She got home and put the heavy leather-bound book on the dining room table. Bending down, she picked up Pixie, her stray, scratching him under the chin. She walked into the
25-year-old Ariadne coasted to a stop in front of the Real Estate Agency in Misty Creek’s main street. She gave her appearance a quick once over in the rear-view mirror, and applied some lipstick. Turning to the back seat, she patted her mix breed Australian sheep dog on his rump. “You wait here Dingo. Watch the car. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
The Tennis Tournament Madison paced nervously up and down the confines of the locker room. Her mind was racing, breathing shallow and fast. “I have to get a hold of myself!” she chastised herself. “It’s only a game. Portia may have beat me before, but she won’t psych me out this time!...... I hope …. Damn, she’s getting into my head again!!” She
Whispers of the Dark Forest Nineteen year old Emily looked at her “friends” lounging about on the porch. A sledgehammer of truth hit her. She shrugged her shoulders and stepped out of the haze of dope smoke onto the rickety porch steps. Emily looked at her beloved VW Bug. “I thought it would be such a good idea for a relaxing weekend before our
The Playboy Albert A frown of discontent marring his attractive face, 25 year old Albert sat down in the window seat on the 7am Virgin Airlines flight from Gold Coast Airport to Sydney. He managed to fold his long legs into the narrow space and rested his tired head against the window. He sighed and closed his eyes. “Last night’s sending off party
The First Resignation Deidre felt hollowed out. Her stomach churned. Dark shadows ringed her eyes, making her look older than her 30 years. Knees knocking, legs shaking, she stood in front of her boss’ closed office door. She took a deep breath and pushed her glasses up on her nose. She patted her hair and knocked. “Come in,” barked the ogre. She entered
The Narrow Escape Caren’s eyes flew open. She whipped her bedsheet off, rolled into a sitting position and knuckled the sleep out of her eyes. The cold one eyed gaze of the December full moon stared through her open bedroom curtains. She grabbed the security monitor off her bedside table. She pressed all the buttons. The camera system remained off-line. Her pulse hammered
The Innocent Thief Six year old Xanthia watched the coin rolling across the hardwood classroom floor. It slowed, did a twirly-spin dance and shuddered to a halt next to her right foot. She bent forward staring at it. Her right hand stretched out. She picked it up. Examined it. “Wow. Half a crown.” She looked up. All the kids were standing in line at
THE BALLROOM AFFAIR ADELINE She hovered in the door of the ballroom. A cacophony of voices assaulted her ears. Parties have never been her favourite thing. This time there was no way out of it, it was after all the firm’s 30th anniversary. She patted her hair. Nothing to be done now about her unruly mass of curls. She hovered another moment, wondering
The Last Straw She blinked, peering at her laptop screen and re-read the email. “The absolute fucking audacity. Just who does he think he is.” Her pulse hammered at her temples, threatening to crack her skull. Temper uncoiled itself, rearing its triangular venom head. Her jaw clenched. Her nostrils flared. The past reeled off picture after picture, drumming it on rollercoaster tracks through
