Between Heaven & Hell and Other Award-winning Stories from the Stringybark Flash Fiction Award

By David Vernon

Bikinis undulated, underwater pennants marking high points in Lachie’s life. Pink crocheted triangles, stiff with salt water, unknotted with fumbling fingers his first time. Sporty Lycra, cupping surf carnival competitors’ taut buttocks. Sequinned strings, slinking from the glittering loins of tired-eyed strippers at his brother’s buck’s night. Today, his girlfriend Em wore a shimmering cobalt bikini, the colour of the flash on a kookaburra’s wing (from Free-Diving by Morgana MacLeod).

Writers from all over Australian have contributed to this delightful anthology of thirty-eight flash fiction stories. Each story is complete in 1000 words or fewer. Written by established and first-time writers, these stories are the best of the entries in the Stringybark Flash Fiction Awards. Selected by David Vernon, Nadine Smith, Sarah Whitehead and Rick Williams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Vernon
• Release date: May 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458057662

David Vernon

I am a freelance writer and editor. I am father of two boys. For the last few years I have focussed my writing interest on chronicling women and men’s experience of childbirth and promoting better support for pregnant women and their partners. Recently, for a change of pace, I am writing two Australian history books. In 2014 I was elected Chair of the ACT Writers Centre.In 2010 I established the Stringybark Short Story Awards to promote the short story as a literary form.

Book preview

Between Heaven
 & Hell

And Other Award-winning Stories from the
 Stringybark Flash Fiction Award

Edited by 
David Vernon


Selected by 
Nadine Smith, Sarah Whitehead, Rick Williams 
and 
David Vernon

Published by Stringybark Publishing

PO Box 464, Hall, ACT 2618, Australia

http://www.stringybarkstories.net

Smashwords Edition

Copyright: This revised collection, David Vernon, 2018

Copyright: Individual stories, the authors, various.

These are works of fiction and unless otherwise made clear, those mentioned in these stories are fictional characters and do not relate to anyone living or dead.

This book is also available in a print edition.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Introduction — David Vernon

Vale — Mark Ricketts

A Life Worth Living — Z.S. Nojin

Free-Diving — Morgana MacLeod

The Oonjimalla Hotel — Kylie Mulcahy

Late — Linda Wyrill

Not Everybody’s Beautiful — Naomi Reed

The City — Favel Parrett

Pay it On — Anne Dwyer

A Tidy Sum — Kerry Lown Whalen

The Good Old Days — James Kent

You Can Fix Her Up Now — Kerry Taylor

Last Tango in Bassendean — Joanna Capelle

Blue Willow — Gayle Beveridge

Flash Harry — Kerry Lown Whalen

Between Heaven and Hell — Annette Johnson

Kings Cross Roads — Morgana MacLeod

The Black Hole — Pamela Tatt

A Matter of Choice — Coral Sturgess

The Gift of a Granddaughter — Vickie Walker

Mal’s Coming for a Visit — Rebecca Raisin

The Nest Egg — Francis Cloake

Home-coming — Kerry Taylor

Safe at a Distance — Kurt Ulmer

Carry You — Katrina Sugars

Living Alone — Meg Main

Red Wednesday — Frank Leggett

Nutmeg Custard — Jeanette Fegan

The Cleaner — David Campbell

The Boon — Thérèse Murphy

Not a Romance — Thea Biesheuvel

The Windmill Trilogy — Vickie Walker

The Haunting of Collie Street — Helen Meikle

Solitary Man — April Edwards

Obligations — Carmel Lillis

The Shed — Kate Loveday

The Duke of York and the Municipal Arch (1901) — Adam Tucker

Out of the Blue — Joanne Capelle

Connection — Beverley Lello

The Piano’s Song — Elissa Turner

The Stringybark Flash Fiction Award 2011 Winners

About the Judges

Introduction

— David Vernon

Our world seems to be getting faster. Fast food, fast finance, tweets instead of conversation and the ubiquitous and horrid text speak — Bcos its quickr. Don’t U h8 that? So is it any wonder that flash fiction is becoming more prevalent?

We know that fast food maybe fast but it can rarely be considered as food and we know that text speak often fails to accurately communicate, so does that suggest that flash fiction has to be the poorer cousin of a standard short story?

After reading these 38 stories I think you will agree with me that a flash fiction story may be short, but it’s not unsatisfying like fast food — rather it is a tasty little morsel that leaves you wanting more.

Really short stories (and these aren’t the shortest by any means — there is an entire genre based around 128 letters which are the number allowed in a ‘tweet’ on Twitter) do pose a particular dilemma for authors. How does one grab the attention of the reader, hold it and then provide a satisfying ending without running out of words? Read these stories and admire the authors’ skill.

This is the second fiction anthology I have edited. The stories are derived from the winning stories and highly commended stories from the Stringybark Flash Fiction Award. The first anthology, The Umbrella’s Shade was a delightful book showcasing stories of up to 1400 words from both new and established Australian authors. This new anthology also contains stories from those who have never been published before, as well as some seasoned hands. These stories prove that Australian short story writing, far from withering, as some literary commentators have claimed, is alive and vibrant.

There were four judges employed in choosing the 38 stories presented here from 146 entries. The authors were invited to write on any subject as long as it related, somehow, to Australia — and they had to write it in 1000 words or fewer. The subjects, plots and themes are diverse. Some are sad, some are funny, but I’m sure that all of them will make you think.

Thank you to all those who entered a story. If your story was not included, I hope to see a story of yours in the next volume — keep writing! Please visit www.stringybarkstories.net and see what tempting literary offerings we have awaiting you.

Enjoy!

David Vernon

Stringybark

June 2011

Vale Mark Ricketts, 1955 - 2011

While this book was being prepared, a dear friend and mentor died unexpectedly. I had the pleasure of working with Mark Ricketts when I was a young graduate, nearly straight out of university. He inspired me never to take 'no' for an answer and to follow my heart as well as my head. I worked with him for less than two years and haven't seen him for at least a decade, but his passion, his wisdom and his humour made an impact on me that I shall never forget.

A tireless environmental campaigner, Mark's legacy can be found in the landmark Queensland Environment Protection Act and some of the magnificent national parks he helped create and expand. A portion of the income received from sales of this book will be donated to FAME (the Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species) in his memory.

— David Vernon

A Life Worth Living

— Z.S. Nojin

Leanne’s dark eyes escaped out of the hot dusty schoolyard to the distant gumtree-lined horizon. She smoothed back her blonde hair in anticipation. A place past the woodsaw whine of cicadas waited for her out there.

So you really gonna run away? Mel asked, staring at her in awe.

I’m not runnin’ away, I’m leavin’ home. Leanne stuck out her chin. I’m nearly sixteen, and it’s the last day of school.

Yet, she was running. Running from a dreary life on a dead-end farm. Her life was not going to stop like her mother’s. Sitting all day in a tired grimy house, discussing the details of the next meal. Waiting to hear the stomp of heavy boots on the doorstep, high on a lonely mountain; her existence solely to serve her family. Leanne was so bored she could scream.

Does your mum know? Mel pushed her glasses back up her nose.

Nah, but she’ll be real happy to get out of the house to visit me, I know.

That’s if Dad let her go. He depended too much on his ‘little woman’. Mum hardly went anywhere; her life narrowed to drudgery.

Everything we need is here, Lea, she’d intone, while constantly mending their meagre wardrobe.

But she was wrong. There was nothing for Leanne there. Her father too caught up in his own thoughts of the next dig, the one where he would finally strike it rich. A bit of glitter here, a touch of sparkle there from the trickling creek beds, was all he could manage, but it was enough to fuel the flames of his fever. God knows he’d dug away half a mountain searching for the stuff. It was lucky for them all that her brother was trying to make a go of working the land.

What about Dean? Mel asked, as if reading her mind.

Oh well, if he wants to waste his life farming, that’s his choice, isn’t it?

Leanne scowled at the scuffle of boys staring at them from the shadow of the sports shed. Dean could have done anything, you know. He was really good at school.

Has he got a girlfriend yet?

No way! Leanne gave a short laugh. He stutters and goes red as a rhubarb just talkin’ to our old neighbour, let alone a girl.

Mel nodded solemnly.

And it’s much worse now he doesn’t go anywhere. He’s only got the dogs to talk to. He’s startin’ to grunt like Dad.

But he’ll never get married if he doesn’t talk to someone!

Leanne laughed again. ‘Oh he’ll probably just marry the first thing that flutters her eyelashes at him.’

At the sound of Leanne’s laugh, one of the boys ventured out a little way from his shadowed sanctuary. He grinned hopefully at the blonde girl standing with her friend in the dappled shade of the kurrajong tree. Mel rolled her eyes.

Here comes Dan, she murmured.

Leanne wrinkled her nose and turned her back on the annoying intrusion.

As if! she whispered. I had him two months ago. Why would I want to go back there?

Oh, they’re all hopeful I s’pose. Mel cast her a sidelong glance.

Leanne knew what Mel was thinking. So what if she’d slept with all the decent ones. And even the not so decent ones. What the hell else was there to do? But talk certainly buzzed around their small high school.

Yeah, well I’ve had enough of school boys. They are sooo boring!

So now you’re runnin’ off with Stu, the new maintenance guy?

We love each other! Leanne said stubbornly. And we’re gonna be together forever! Then she giggled. He is just so cute.

Mel grimaced. Isn’t he like thirty or something? He has a beard!

He’s a man! Anyway, it’s like I’ve been waitin’ forever for this day.

Leanne couldn’t wait for her new life to start. A life really worth living. She’d made her decision and she would only look forward now.

Mel shook her head. You’re always doin’ crazy stuff. Where’re you gonna go?

Oh, probably Tamworth first. A town big enough to get lost in.

But when? Mel frowned.

At the end of lunch! Leanne’s face shone. Then she whispered furtively, We’re not waitin’ round for the end of the day. Stu’s quittin’ his job, but he’ll quickly get another one. I’m gonna hafta get one too!

Like what? Mel said dubiously.

Oh, probably somethin’ in a shop. She shrugged. It should be easy; Tamworth’s got thousands of people.

Leanne jumped at the clang of the bell. As the other students streamed back into class, she grabbed Mel’s hand and stuffed a crumpled envelope into it. Give this to Mum when you see her at the bus stop, okay? Tell her not to worry about me.

Are you sure? Mel pushed up her glasses again. It won’t be the same without you!

Leanne hefted up her bulging schoolbag from behind the jutting tree roots. She hugged her friend fiercely.

I’ll ring you when I know where we’re stayin’. Her eyes searched the edge of the playground. Look there he is!

A tall man in scruffy overalls waved at them from outside an old grey ute. Leanne took a deep breath.

Well, wish me luck! she said, as she hurried off to meet her destiny, blonde hair flying.

Mel watched Leanne dump her bag and throw her arms around Stu, then open the ute’s rusty door and slide into the passenger seat. She watched Stu’s smiling face as he carefully