Basil Clegg was sailing across the azure waters of the Caribbean when the shriek of the telephone ripped him from his dream and back into bitter reality. He sat up with a gasp, heart punching its way out of his chest, and scraped around for his glasses. As the dismal scene came into focus, Basil … Continue reading Emergency
Tag: family
Pictures: A Love Story
Most people have a drawer full of old photos that help them remember the past. I'm not too different from most people, except my drawer is full of photos that let me see the future. I found them a few years ago while I was tidying up the spare room so that my wife, Connie, … Continue reading Pictures: A Love Story
One Last Shot
My uncle used to have this old, black and white photo that took pride of place above his dinner table. No matter how many times he moved, that photo was always the first thing anyone would see when they walked into his house. There he was, 22 years old, being chaired around a boxing ring … Continue reading One Last Shot
Alone Apart
The Swell Season Banksia bushes sprawled down the side of the house and raced into the dense Australian scrub at the end of the yard. Their flaming flowers were heavy in the dying sunlight, and seemed to dance as the fat bees clambered around them. Sarah focused on the banksias blinking through the computer screen, … Continue reading Alone Apart
Hold Up
The Living End The 5:45 from Central squealed to a stop just as Dustin Johnson figured out the answer to 17 down in his crossword. For half an excruciating minute there was nothing but the shriek of brakes and the moaning of a horn and the shudder of the carriage refusing to do as it … Continue reading Hold Up