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Standing By
Thirty-one award-winning stories fill these entertaining pages. Written by Australian and international authors these stories explore Australian culture — sometimes funny, often poignant, occasionally unsettling, this anthology showcases the best of Australian contemporary short story writing.
Water slammed through the back door and roared down the hall. A foaming mass of brown filled the space and continued tumbling towards her. She turned and ran, liquid licking her heels. The water wall chased her out of the house into the front yard. She latched herself to the mango tree standing stiffly in the corner, and felt the water climb her legs with fierce intentions. The rough trunk dug into her arms as her grip tightened. The water continued climbing.
— from "Flood Day" by Tamara Lennon
My mother stood in the doorway that evening after dinner. She loomed magnificent like an oversized fertility goddess, serving to block the dim hallway light shining from the bathroom across the hall. Her faded floral nightie hung like an old ladies’ curtain over her prickly shins and clung around her sagging tummy, which was the only bodily part protruding into my bedroom sanctuary.
— from "Standing By" by E.C. Thorpe
When Jack came home from work that evening Bridie’s plan had firmed in her mind but she knew to bide her time. The leftover boiled potatoes from the night before had been cut into pieces and were now sizzling in a pan of dripping with bits of bacon rind that she’d saved from breakfast. She had boiled skinny green beans, the last few stragglers from the garden. Jack waited at the table, his knife and fork already in his hands.
“You kids come on. Your father’s waiting.”
The steak didn’t stretch to five people and so, as often happened, Bridie went without.
“No, I don’t feel like meat tonight,” she declared, fooling no-one.
— from "The Man of the House" by Gabrielle Gardner
Water slammed through the back door and roared down the hall. A foaming mass of brown filled the space and continued tumbling towards her. She turned and ran, liquid licking her heels. The water wall chased her out of the house into the front yard. She latched herself to the mango tree standing stiffly in the corner, and felt the water climb her legs with fierce intentions. The rough trunk dug into her arms as her grip tightened. The water continued climbing.
— from "Flood Day" by Tamara Lennon
My mother stood in the doorway that evening after dinner. She loomed magnificent like an oversized fertility goddess, serving to block the dim hallway light shining from the bathroom across the hall. Her faded floral nightie hung like an old ladies’ curtain over her prickly shins and clung around her sagging tummy, which was the only bodily part protruding into my bedroom sanctuary.
— from "Standing By" by E.C. Thorpe
When Jack came home from work that evening Bridie’s plan had firmed in her mind but she knew to bide her time. The leftover boiled potatoes from the night before had been cut into pieces and were now sizzling in a pan of dripping with bits of bacon rind that she’d saved from breakfast. She had boiled skinny green beans, the last few stragglers from the garden. Jack waited at the table, his knife and fork already in his hands.
“You kids come on. Your father’s waiting.”
The steak didn’t stretch to five people and so, as often happened, Bridie went without.
“No, I don’t feel like meat tonight,” she declared, fooling no-one.
— from "The Man of the House" by Gabrielle Gardner
ebook
Published May 3, 2016
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About the author
David Vernon
68 books12 followersDavid Vernon is a full time writer and editor. While he is known for his non-fiction books about birth: Men at Birth, Having a Great Birth in Australia, Birth Stories and With Women, he has turned his hand to writing science articles for newspapers and magazines as well as scribbling the odd short story or two. He established the Stringybark Short Stories Awards in 2010 to promote short story writing. He recently completed "A Good Yarn" an Australian history book. He was the Chair of the ACT Writers Centre for six years.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 6, 2016
I am incredibly honoured to have my short story published alongside the massive talent in this anthology.
Pick up your copy today!
Pick up your copy today!
Displaying 1 of 1 review