Fay Kastelein - Winner - Open Short Story 2009

ISOLATED BUT NOT ALONE

The spring in your step feels like a dead weight. Each day you wake at 5: am and go through the motions. You have given up on the thought of rain; memory of hopeful wishing is a ghost of the past. One day slides into the next,like your words, they have slipped away, dried up like the rain. Tess calls to you; it’s a voice that once brought a smile to your face, and peacefulness to your heart. You push your food around your plate and try to show some form of gratitude for the meal prepared. You wonder when this state of coexistence started. You hear the kid’s voices and recognise their faces but you don’t know them. They seem to have grown, especially Tommy. You remember him because of the thunderstorm when he was born 5 years ago, no rain since. Ed and Carolyn are home from boarding school. The house is full of noise. Tommy acts like two aliens have arrived, he is excited, but then he came along ten years after Carolyn. The gaps are becoming wider in the sunburnt dry earth which used to be your best wheat paddock. You remember tall grasses swaying gently in summer breezes against the background of the azure sky. Long days driving the harvester through wheat crops, the feeling of satisfaction and contentment as you drag your weary body home to the comforting sound of family.

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Margun Carless

Love Art - A Feast of heART Book Launch - Institute of Design Ulladulla

Friday 1st October 6-8pm

A unique recipe book launch, auction of framed canvas for charity, graphic design students art exhibition, solo ballet performance, "first designs" by fashion students fashion parade. Live music, champagne, wine and canapés provided.

Exhibition Dates 1st - 10th October

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