There’s a man that thinks himself an entrepreneur. Essential oils are expensive, right? That’s because production’s expensive. You get a whole heap of raw material and cook it for hours and hours. You pass the steam through little tubes that cause the volatile oils to condense, and every now and then a droplet drips into … Continue reading The Entrepreneur
Cut your nails you animal, thinks the cash register operator as the middle aged lady stabs him with her manicured nails. “Oops, sorry.” She says. “That’s fine. Didn’t even notice.” He responds. A bag of apples has torn open. “You don’t mind if I leave this behind do you?” Says the overcautious mum. “Not at … Continue reading The Power Pole Inspector
There’s a bay they call Jonas’ Bay, because Jonas was the first white fella to spot it. Others call it Gilbert’s Bay. Mr Gilbert’s the bloke that planted the poplar trees. Some call it Mary Bay, because Mary raised the kids whose names are written on the paper that says the bay’s theirs. Some call … Continue reading Burra-Budgial Bay
I am so scared. I go to the window and see outside, I mean, I see what it is possible to see. The clouds are so black that even though it is midday, I do not see a single thing - only shadows. The TV is still working but my phone is dead. I do … Continue reading The Storm
I sit on the floor in my room with my back to the wall. The weather is stinking hot, but it’s cooler down low. I type this on my antiquated laptop as my childhood teddy bear stares at me from atop my bookshelf. I ponder the musings of the great Anton Chekhov: “If you say … Continue reading Chekhov’s Gun
Walking through the Morton National Park, on the eastern end of Australia, I prick my ears to the strange symphony coming from the trees. The ranger told me to listen out for this peculiar song of the bush. It sounds oddly familiar. On the grassy highland plains where I grew up, the laughing would start … Continue reading Catalan Kookaburras
Sitting on the sand, the old man sighed. The air was cold, but the last rays of the sun were warm enough to suppress the chill. The man watched the waves regretfully. He couldn’t sit comfortably. He felt like he didn’t deserve to be comfortable after the pain he’d caused today. It started at the … Continue reading Sitting on the Sand
Kermit works at a print shop in the city. He hardly ever prints out photos anymore, but one day a man came up to print a single six-by-four. “Your name’s Kermit?” Said the man after reading Kermit’s name tag. “The Muppets were around in the seventies. Did your parents live under a rock?” Kermit was … Continue reading The Print-Shop
“Hey Jonah, where did you spend your month off work?” Jonah - a shy guy - felt justified in inflating his chest and proudly telling Betty where he’d been. He felt like such a trailblazer. “I went to Peru.” “Oh woooow! I went to Peru two years ago. It was great, we did the Inca … Continue reading The Traveller
Ramon always gets to class late. Ramon is always well dressed, his hair is clean, bright and tidy. His shoes are not new but they look appropriate for a child of school age who is very active and growing up. Ramon does not know his ABCs, or his numbers. When the teacher asks him to … Continue reading Ramon
Tandi Tales 