By Kevin J. Phyland

Two sets of sunglasses fell off the dashboard as I parked. I decided on the yellow ones. It was nine o'clock at night.

The reds had seriously kicked in and I was buzzing something shocking. A full moon lit the street with film noir shadows. As I walked towards the vandalised lamppost my shadow followed like a mournful dog.

By Jan Napier

They shouldn't have laughed. It might have been alright if they hadn't laughed.

Lorenzo hadn't minded so much about what Jason and Pete thought. Brothers, he knew in some deep instinctive way, were just like that. Even so, Lorenzo was a man who stood by his principles. They would pay regardless.

By Gregor MacNamara

Barry couldn't see twenty metres ahead as the wipers struggled to clear driving rain from the windscreen. Lightning lit up the Queensland landscape. Fortunately, the next town was only ten kilometres away. He was looking forward to dinner and a cold beer at the pub.

As Barry guided the car around a corner the car's headlights flashed past a figure standing on the side of the road.

By James C. Clar

The excitement and anticipation at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena were palpable. Months of planning, preparation and painstaking calculation were about to reach fruition.

"Entering the upper Martian atmosphere in ... three ... two ... one," sang out a cute, young technician as she sat hunched over her monitors.

By Shaun A. Saunders

Jim Sanford, Marketing & Media Director of Fabcola, felt his stomach knot as he read from the latest issue of Consumer Watch:

"...increasing numbers of consumers are requesting tap water instead of sweetened carbonated beverages. Focus groups indicate this alarming trend is due to perceptions that carbonated soft drinks might be responsible for numerous health complaints including diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, tooth decay, and neurological and behavioural issues resulting from sugar and caffeine addiction and artificial sweeteners. Support for these extreme opinions has been provided by rebel medical practitioners and 'health' advocates —"

By Robert Moran

Estranged hands grope for purchase on the slickest of surfaces. Bloodshot eyes relay a scene to a closed mind, sealed against the trauma for the purpose of keeping sanity intact. Even as the fingers writhe in blunt agony, the self watches as if through some distant screen, from a world where such impossibilities are mere childish fantasy.

By Rob Bleckly

Judge Gentle settled her robes and looked with disgust at the plastic-enveloped item on the prosecution desk. Caged on the defence desk was the small fluffy white perpetrator of the envelope's contents, quietly wagging its tail.

Justin Case, the Defence lawyer hired to defend Ms Jones, smiled as the clerk read the charges.

By Mark McAuliffe

ABC BREAKING NEWS

Suicide bomb kills five, injures 12 on the steps of Parliament

Posted August 18, 2019 9:17 am AEST

Updated 15 minutes ago

A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside the entrance of Canberra's Parliament House, killing himself and at least five other people in the latest act of violence to be perpetrated by the terrorist group, the AFC.

By Edward Harvey

I wake in the morning as I always have done. A quick breakfast and I walk outside to see the sun. I live in a town that is untouched by me or any who came before me — yet it is empty.  I alone live here.

I suppose we got what we wanted.  It took some time; but enough patience, enough willing volunteers, and our world finally succumbed.  Nothing like the predictions: no big bang, no great tidal wave, nor the ozone giving up and letting the sun do its dirty UV work.

By David Scholes

Sydney, Australia: 2079

"Target acquired moving on the lower walkway from the Opera House towards Circular Quay.

"Height 160, weight 55, estimated age 84."

Evan located the target for his more distant accomplice, Lysander, with a laspen.