Sister doing it for herself

Anna had made several calls to her sister and left messages, without success. Finally Gemma answered. ‘Hi, sis. What’s happening?’ Anna paused and took a deep breath before saying ‘Mum’s gone.’ Gemma’s vocal fry voice responded ‘Oh my God, when?’ ‘Not that it matters but a couple of hours ago.’ Gemma, seemingly shocked, said ‘What …

The Devil is in the deal

This piece was written for the Six Sentence Challenge, with the prompt word of 'deal'. Galatians 6:7 (modernised for gender equity)  ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a woman soweth, that shall she also reap.’ Harper, with her companion in tow, knocked confidently on the door that displayed a brass name plate …

Karen finds salvation

This piece was written for the Blog Battle Challenge, with the prompt word of 'precious'. Karen trawled the internet constantly, often feverishly, in search of evidence that the world was conspiring to bruise her soul at every turn. She was rarely disappointed and lived in a constant state of distress, a state she lamented to …

Maximum nebulosity

The is piece was written for the Six Sentence Challenge, with the prompt word of 'nebulous'. “Stan, this campaign speech simply won’t do, with all these references to targets for economic growth, employment levels, CO2 reduction, home ownership rates, let alone how we are going to handle foreign relations.” “But, with respect, Prime Minister, these …

Max did something

This piece was written for the Six Sentence Story Challenge, with the prompt word of 'train'. Note: This piece departs from my usual humorous approach to these challenges. As Max watched his son-in-law, David, board the train and then boarded himself, he knew two things for certain; they would both be dead soon, because David …

The conspiracy conspiracy

Transcript from One World Government meeting held in Zurich, 9 August 2021, sensationally published by Wikileaks. President Frilled-neck Lizard presiding. President: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Our first item of business is the Conspiracy Conspiracy. Your report please, Q. Q: Thank you, Mr. President. As you know, Phase 1 involved creating my follower base of conspiracy …

A gripping tale

This piece was written for the Six Sentence challenge, using the prompt word of 'grip'. ‘Well, Lieutenant, do you think this is the work of Cornflakes Magee, the famous cereal killer, or does it have the telltale MO of the Handlebar Kid, or maybe even the shocking hallmarks of Electric Bill?’ ‘No, Sergeant. This has …

A tribute to careful planning

This piece was submitted to the Blog Battle challenge for August 2021, with the prompt word of 'tribute'. It was a fact that Phil had organised for Matthew to die. Phil took full responsibility but there would be no trial. He could have confessed but he chose not to. On principle. When the Reverend Matthew …

The naif fisherman

This piece was written for the Six Sentence challenge, with the prompt word of 'net'. I’d been driven by my friends to an exhibition (not at a gallery but at the artist’s house or, more correctly, the artist’s parents’ house, a mudbrick two-storey faux-Gothic number nestled in a forest background), where the wine was served …

The Press Gang

This piece was written for the Six Sentence Story challenge, with the prompt word of 'distraction'. Davo and his retired mates were watching the TV news at their local pub when a report on the bushfires included a reporter shoving a microphone in the face of a woman whose house had been destroyed, killing her …