Short Story

Short Story of the Month NZ: Goddess

She had always hated the beach, believing it was not a place for generously proportioned souls who would rather be sipping tea with their grandmother. Yet a work outing helped her take the plunge by getting to know her colleagues, shedding her inhibitions and embracing change

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Short Story of the month Australia: Kenny

The experience of a childhood tragedy rears its head 30 years later when remembering all the young lives extinguished too soon and the searing loss of youth and innocence. Is it better to let heartbreak engulf us, or should we grieve a little in every moment, for every moment?

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Short Story: Pity-Party

As old, single uni mates of the bride and groom Jane and Max, Geoff and Stewart wondered whether they’d been seated at the ‘saddo losers’ table at their friends’ wedding. But once they got chatting to their tablemate Hazel, they realised their assumption was far from correct…

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Short story of the month NZ: Triphena

Growing up in her beloved Zululand, young Triphena went to work for the Matthews family, like her mother before her. After a frightening incident at home however, the Matthews decided to leave Africa for a more peaceful country called New Zealand and take Triphena with them

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Short Story of the Month AU: The Escape Artist

With work, endless demands from the family, footballs flying around the house and a million
and one things to do, sometimes it pays to have your own parallel universe. When life gets too much, you can always reach for the escape hatch and chill out in your private villa in Capri.

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Short Story of the Month NZ: I am where I eat by F. P. Donnan

Thanks to his amazing food, Neil’s food truck was a godsend for locals and delivered pure eating pleasure for his customers. Yet it was more than a go-to dining destination for one man; it was part of his youthful past, Neil delivering wisdom and generosity along with tasty treats.

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Short Story of the Month: Iris by Anita Tavendale

Becky had always loved visiting her nan and hearing about her life. Sharing tea and shortbread from her old biscuit tin was one of their greatest pleasures. Nan’s passion for cranes was legendary, and the bond the girl and her grandmother shared could never be broken.

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Short Story: The Trick

When Jaz and Dave’s adopted dog developed a new fascination with greyhound racing, it also seemed he had the ability to pick winners. They both reacted differently to Smokey’s talent: Jaz was disgusted by Dave’s risky gambling, while Dave went down the rabbit hole even further.

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Short Story: Mama Waited For The Rain

At her mother’s suggestion, Georgia left the family farm to head to the city for an education. Yet when she returned she discovered that her mama had learned about her brief moment of bliss with a friend … forcing Georgia to confront mama over why she had sent her away.

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Short Story: The Imposter

Having survived a living hell growing up with an abusive father who masqueraded as a pillar of society, Vanessa was now a bestselling author and finally ready to live her best life. 

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Short Story: I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

Joined by her ghostly dad for a moving encounter, one recently deceased woman got to see her own funeral in a variety of worlds. Yet apart from seeing who turned up, the reactions of the crowd and what songs they played, one of her biggest concerns was who’d look after her cat.

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Short Story: The Counsellor

Need some help making decisions? The Counsellor is the digital friend you never knew you needed. How was Jamie to know in what ways exactly it could change his life …

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Short Story: My Garden

For one couple, their garden was their green and gold refuge, a riot of colour and life. When illness took her husband away from her, she left the garden alone until it became unruly. After a crew’s unloving cutting session the garden felt different: would it ever be her sanctuary again?

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Short Story: The Impudent School Teacher

When her car is vandalised and public transport lets her down, a teacher decides she’ll find her own unorthodox way to get to school, but things don’t go as smoothly as she’d hoped … 

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Short Story: Smoked

A little girl lives in quiet fear of her grandmother’s moods and unpredictable actions, the older woman’s smoking and staring off into space a disturbing aspect of their home life. Not even playing with her brother or the escape of school can erase the invisible pain of her existence.

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Short Story: Roses The Colour Of Corn

A fateful encounter with a charming young man in the orchard encouraged the blooms of true love and visions of a shared future. Years later, when Laura left for a new life in the city and worked in a florist shop she still could not forget him or resist her longing for the past.

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Short Story: Australia Is Burning

Lungs filled with smoke, John Campbell wakes to the sounds of firetrucks and the sight of his homestead on fire. He soon discovers he is not alone in his state of disorientation. Amid all the desolation and destruction, John is left to ask: do I have the strength to rebuild again?

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Short Story: Wagons For The West

Mary and her family undertake a trek across the country, lured by the promise of new land. When they stop abruptly, she discovers it is because her son has been terribly injured. When the other wagons head on without them, they are left to ask if they will ever see them again.

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Short Story: Going Straight

When her husband Bill went off to work in the Territory and left Liz alone with their three kids, she was lonely and resentful … until Bill’s friend, Des came around to do a few jobs for her.

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Short Story: Silly Me

Nina felt powerless to help her mum when it came to her bully of a dad and she was harshly punished when she reacted the only way she knew how. Did her mother have the courage to stand up to him, before it was too late for both of them?

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Short Story: Bondi Jo

Joanne is ready to put a deposit on the shop she has always wanted. When a thief tries to rob her of her life savings, she apprehends him … only for bystanders to sympathise with the robber. The day only gets worse as a cop gives her a ticket. Time to breathe deeply and say her mantra.

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Short Story: The Stray Cat Café Blues

Among the daily visitors to Jilly’s café is a tortoiseshell cat, there so often it might be a permanent resident. The plight of the unloved four-legged beggar tugs at the heartstrings of one patron, who feels a strange kinship with the stray … and brings a lonely work colleague along to meet the feline.

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Short Story: The Alien On The Plate

Layla and Jason’s mum is doing her best to lead her kids in a sustainable, eco-friendly life, including Plastic Free July and largely vegetarian meals. But can she, her husband, Tim and the kids stick it out when faced with a plate bearing an unappetising greyish mass for dinner?  

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Short Story: Candy Wings

Young Vi Ricci’s dream is to get out of Kirks department store for good and to become a makeup artist to the stars. When she gets the chance to work with the prominent David Silverman, it seems her wish might be coming true sooner than she ever expected.

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