January, 2010. A British backpacker stepped off a tall ship in Campbell’s Cove, fresh from sailing tourists around Sydney harbour. Barefoot, wearing the full pirate attire of her new job, she set off through city streets to the NSW State Library, clutching a letter with her new ‘address’ (care of the ship’s owner), intent on … Continue reading In Praise of Libraries
Wendy caught Jesse in the garden, snail in his mouth. Its shell splintered like soiled wrapping paper, gleaming wetness sliding forth when she pried his lips apart. “It’s got to stop,” she told his mother. Last week it was a worm; on Monday a pile of tight-balled slaters. “We thought he’d choke.” His mother nodded, … Continue reading Child’s Play
The sky left new treasure for Devon last night. She's up at dawn, running past Mum’s slumped form at the kitchen table. Her nose wrinkles; she turns away and calls old Toby to “Follow me, lazybones!” Out the back door, its springs thump right on Toby’s nose. “Oops! Sorry, boy.”She opens it for him, then … Continue reading Junk
There were three reasons to be grateful for waking up that morning, and three hundred not to. Rachael listed the three so-called positives in a litany all day, convincing herself it was worth it. It had to be worth it. One: Benjamin. She bent to pick up his discarded pants, jocks, tee, socks... “Ben!” No … Continue reading Little Things
Content warning: implied child abuse. “Knock, knock!” Madeleine listens at the basement door, her Shell-coloured pigtails dusting its fading, Ceylon wood. She smiles at a reply no-one else would hear, and twists the brass knob, carefully, quietly. Beyond the door, the space below yawns in Oolong Black. She checks her surroundings, but the Guild Grey … Continue reading Sister
EMMA LOUISE GILL 