A collection of short fiction

Stories that show us at our shining best, and faltering worst – seesawing between light and dark, salvation and damnation, comedy and tragedy. And illuminated by the understanding that our redemption lies in our magnificent hearts, that can stretch to straddle the oceans.

There is Nora who talks to her bed. And her husband Jack who puzzles over what happens to women, what causes them to lose their zing and wiggle and allows them to become like bowls of cold porridge.

There is Julie the city hairdresser, who deliberately snips her client’s ear. And Tom, the aspiring writer, whose cockatiel has the same name and similar habits as his new gay lover, and who discovers epiphany in an hibiscus flower on the wrong side of the fence.

And Eve in Barcelona, who is obliged to walk on glass to get to the toilet. And Bette in Wellington, who wakes up one morning and notices the footprints of men, like dark smudges on her skin.

And Maggie in Melbourne, who puts sadness to one side while she shares coffee and spanokopita with her taxi driver. And Nicole who knows the downside of being beautiful and considers chameleons are best equipped for a stab at happiness.

And Lief and Tanya, who come to grief on each other’s dreams.