Flame red DEAR LANCE,I am sitting on the back seat of the bus, heading for Melbourne. This morning, my father took... By Sydney Smith
Rain BEN GETS ON the phone immediately and rings his brother who farms two hours' drive away. It's raining! he... By John Kinsella
The way I hear it WE WERE WATCHING television when we heard the sound. It was strange and yet familiar at the same time,... By Kris Kneen
The morning aunt SATURDAY MORNING AND I'm out of bed and running in the garden in my pyjamas. It is warm and... By Phillip Siggins
Did Eros remember her name? IT WAS AT the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna that Edith noticed that Ian was behaving in a curious way,... By Frank Moorhouse
The dignity of labour JASON CUPPED THE dog's testicles in the palm of his left hand and rolled them back and forth between... By Andrew Humphreys
A brilliant career on the edge WHEN HE APPEARED to accept his fourth Miles Franklin award in the elegant surrounds of the Mitchell Library, Tim... By Julianne Schultz
The wedding speech IT WAS A long time ago and we were unemployed. Me and Mike were sitting in his carport drinking.... By Jeremy Chambers
Milk IN THE BEGINNING, my mother took the form of a book. A 220-page paperback, with a cream and orange... By Edwina Preston
The secret life of veal SHE STRUCK ME as attractive in a certain way, the way the head of a well-made axe can be... By Nick Earls
Desserted I WAS SEVEN and at my cousin's christening when I first encountered a lemon meringue pie. The other sweets... By Alexandra Wilson
Burnt sausages, gingerbread and fruitcake LEANING AGAINST THE rear of my crew's fire truck, I open my lunch pack and pull out a sandwich. We'd... By Alison Aprhys