Holiday Season in Melbourne

By Melbourne Writers' Social Group

The Melbourne Writers' Social Group brings you a collection of short stories about Melbourne in December—a time for sun, surf, celebration, decoration, family gatherings, and reflection. Whether you enjoy the funny, fantastic, romantic, horrific, surreal, or sublime, at least one of these short stories is certain to entertain as you recognize famous landmarks or discover more about Australia’s City of Literature. We invite you to sit back with a cuppa or a drink, relax, and enjoy the following stories. May they warm you or chill you, make you laugh or make you cry, and take you on a tour of one of the world’s most beloved cities.

Eight stories. Eight writers. Each tale voiced in a unique way to capture the spirit of the holiday season in Melbourne.

The first story we have for you begins in a simple cafe with a waitress waiting tables. Another year single. Another year of muted celebrations. But maybe today will be different. Maybe today she will speak to him and he will finally see her. And not just as his waitress.

Table Thirty-two
by Jason Hargenrader

We run along the railway track of existence like it’s going to go on forever. And yet we all know it won’t. This story delves into how life can change suddenly without warning. Sometimes good can come from it. Other times it makes us reassess where we are in life.

Solstice Reflections
by Lynette Jordan

Here we delve into the memories of our youth and beyond. We remember that we were once all young, naive and awkward. A lot of us probably still are. Maybe there is something of you in this tale?

A Distant Joy
by Karen Hancock

A close knit family. A crypt that wants disturbing. The flap of wings. And suddenly it’s a spooky Christmas.

Picking up Yiayia
by Mimi Turner

Two different points of view can often be so dissimilar that it’s like we’re from two different planets. Or are we looking at two different stories? You be the judge.

Festive Spirit
by Louise Crossley

Two homes. Two families and a mountain of Christmas lights. They have a chip on their shoulders and an aging vendetta bringing them to battle. Pick a side and may the best dad win.

A Matter of Lights and Death
by Jainash Prakash

It’s 1915, the men are off at war and women mind the home. Worry is always at the front of their minds. They have waited and wished for their family to be whole again. Random reports come through of the fighting, but it tells them nothing of who will be returning home.

We’ll be Home by Christmas
by Eloise Verlaque

A speck in time. That’s all the existence granted to mortals. Barely a single flutter in a bees’ wings. But what if our existence was born from a wish. What if our life had an expiry date of even less.

Sandy Days
by Mat Clarke

The Melbourne Writers’ Social Group began as a social outlet for those in a craft where most of their work is done in isolation. Our membership is a melting pot of novelists, short story writers, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, songwriters, and those who have an idea they want to write about, but don’t know where to begin.

This anthology is a representation of the spirit of what the Melbourne Writers’ Social Group is all about--cultivating an atmosphere where writers are encouraged to explore their passion, improve their craft, learn about their trade, and to do so in a social environment that is supportive and fun.

So, as we say in the Group, we invite you to sit back with a cuppa or a drink, relax, and enjoy the following stories. May they warm you or chill you, make you laugh or make you cry, and take you on a tour of one of the world’s most beloved cities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melbourne Writers' Social Group
• Release date: Dec 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301305650

Melbourne Writers' Social Group

The Melbourne Writers' Social Group is a group for writers to socialise--when they're not writing. The aim of our events are to enjoy the company of other writers in a social setting, share information about writing related events in Melbourne, create accountability for our writing, celebrate writing successes such as hitting a word count or publishing, discuss writing challenges such as issues with plot, dialogue, or discipline and enjoy a tasty beverage!We welcome creative writers of any format or at any stage of writing - whether you've just started a novel, play or collection of poetry, or you're a seasoned published or unpublished author.

Book preview

Holiday Season in Melbourne

By Melbourne Writers’ Social Group

Copyright 2012 Melbourne Writers’ Social Group

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 978-1-3013-0565-0

Concept by Mat Clarke

Cover/Design/Formatting by Eloise Verlaque

CONTRIBUTORS

Jason Hargenrader

jasonhargenrader.com

Lynette Jordan

[e-mail]

Karen Hancock

kazhancock.wordpress.com

Mimi Turner

linkedin.com/profile/ view?id=218801377

Louise Crossley

louisecrossley.com

Jainash Prakash

jainash.com

Eloise Verlaque

thetrueadventuresofeloise.blogspot.com.au

Mat Clarke

matclarke.blogspot.com.au/p/mat-clarke-short-stories-and-writing.html

INDEX

Contributors

Table Thirty-Two

by Jason Hargenrader

Solstice Reflections

by Lynette Jordan

A Distant Joy

by Karen Hancock

Picking up Yiayia

by Mimi Turner

Festive Spirit

by Louise Crossley

A Matter of Lights and Death

by Jainash Prakash

We’ll be home by Christmas

by Eloise Verlaque

Sandy Days

by Mat Clarke

Melbourne Writers’ Social Group

The Story Mint

The Wharf Hotel

Tokyo Curry

Credits

TABLE THRITY-TWO

by Jason Hargenrader

After Stefan Renshaw savagely rejected her invitation to the dance in grade seven, Patricia vowed she would never be the one asking again. But faced with another Christmas of watching her sisters fawn over their partners while she cuddled up with reruns of Curtis Stone yet again, Patricia decided it was time to break that promise and make a new one—she had to ask Mark today. At least, she thought that was his name. The problem was that Mark was nowhere to be seen. The other problem was that they had barely said a word to each other. Ever.

Dashing through the snow. In a one-horse open sleigh…

A choir of young kids sang carols at Christmas Square next to the cafe where Patricia worked. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and hoped her deodorant would hold up by the time Mark arrived. She took the order of an older couple with a stack of boxes gift-wrapped in snowmen while she watched out for Mark. Across Collins Street the Town Hall clock read nine-thirty but he had not appeared.

Mark was a writer. Every day he’d come into the cafe with a writing pad, black pen, and a worn leather messenger bag and he’d write at one of the little bistro tables for hours. And every morning, Patricia would take his order of a large mocha and pastry of the day. He was handsome, unassuming, and his eyes were so kind that every time he smiled at her she wanted to stare into them forever.

But what if he said no? What if he wasn’t interested or didn’t find her attractive? Echoes of a grade seven Stefan Renshaw reverberated in her head. Fortunately most of her freckles had faded with age, but part of her would always notice them every time she looked in the mirror. The little bastard.

It didn’t matter though. She made a promise to herself. It was Christmas Eve and the cafe was closed tomorrow. Besides, what was a potential life of bliss compared to a single moment of rejection? Carpe diem, right? She groaned at her own futile hope.

Holiday shoppers carried Christmas-themed bags as they waited for a tram rolling down the gentle slope of Swanston Street. Patricia scanned the crowd. No Mark. She regretted chickening out