Competition entries

Daniel Wilson

A Stolen Wish

Mintaka was the youngest star of his one trillion billion siblings and since the dawn of time, he and his two brothers Alnilam and Alnitak formed the great belt of Orion. Mintaka envied all those before him who were able to hurdle through space and knowing that he was the last in line to grant someone’s wish broke his little hydrogen heart. Afraid that when his time finally came, that all the dream makers would be nothing but dust, he selfishly broke rules and began his decent. Unaware that his actions would affect the entire universe as we know it.

Glen Morgan

Thirty metres below

Thirty meters below …
Thirty metres of fresh air between me and the ocean below; I dangled as a spider upon its web. I had jumped off a personnel basket at the end of a crane, when the boom jolted back over the ocean. Amazingly, I grabbed -- and caught -- a tag-line rope; it was like catching a falling star. The crane driver swung me into the arms of a rigger; he thought I was bound for Davy Jones’ Locker. In this moment of peril, I was unflappable. Calm. Confident. Oh! for that state of quietude now!

Gillian O'Shaughnessy

The Other Side Of Night

I can’t reach you, but I know you’re there. Your field of view is a sky as white as mine is black and when you look up your moon glows a dark fire, as warm as mine is cold. You might like to catch a celestial wave to my side of night, or rise like a wisp of smoke and slip through a star door. Here you’d be free to loop and blaze in a streak of light and I’ll climb the tall tree in my garden and stretch out my hand to meet you.

Robyn Lunn

When Diamonds become Coal

You’d think an astronomer would have known that stars burn out.

‘Our love is written in the stars.’ It was our line, his idea. The astronomer in him, I figured. He’d name a star after me someday, as though he had plucked it straight from the skies. That’s what he told me, each promise holding grandeur as timeless as the Big Bang itself, and my trustful fingers waited, outstretched for falling stars that never fell. ‘We’ll burn there forever.’

I threw gasoline on a dying flame, his reading light as he reached for the stars.

One slipped through his fingers.

Venetia Scaife

Late Night Walk

The light came from a single shooting star as she apprehensively walked the secluded street. There was something creepy about the silence of the night that made her nervous. Picking up the pace, she wondered what consequences awaited her on her late arrival home. When she finally made it to the old familiar front door, she pushed against it heavily, causing such a noise she woke the household. The door opened. Throwing herself at him, they both fell backwards on the floor.
“Oh”, he said, looking relieved.
“You’re home!”
Then, with a surge of dog breath, she licked his face.

Susan Carameli

The Anniversary Dance

Anniversary

Fred held out his gnarled, age spotted hand and smiled at Dorothy. She grinned up at him.
‘Care to dance?’
‘Love to.’
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed ever so lightly. With her hand securely in his, he unlocked the wheels and pulled her to the centre of the room.
Her misty eyes glazed up at his. In her wheelchair, she swayed to the music. Flickers of light shone down from the disco ball. She raised her hand to catch a falling star. Sixty-five years remembered.

Susan Kennedy

Star Struck

To sleep outdoors under Western Australian skies is one of life’s blessings.

I grew up in the Murchison, with heavens stuffed full of starlight and mystery, my imagination taking flight.

I’ve strapped heartfelt wishes to falling stars, and dreamed of flying to Orion and catching comet rides.

I’ve seen the Milky Way kiss its perfect reflection on the surface of Lake Argyle.

And I’ve camped under a soaring Karri, its leaf tips stretching to tickle the stars.

Tonight I watch the Southern Cross, tilting towards the dark horizon. I have travelled afar, but this has always brought me home.

Maria Bonar

Dancing With The Stars

Beryl, the cupcake queen, will bake her famous blueberry muffins for the Bethanie Christmas Party. I can’t match her CWA talents, but as a retired showgirl, I offered to perform my stage routine. My word, how I used to wow the blokes. Beryl reckons the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but I always fancied another route.

I was designing my glitzy showgirl costume when I noticed a card featuring a colourful falling star on my door. (Matron accepting my offer?) Turning it over I read, “To identify patients at risk of falling without compromising their dignity.”

Lee Harsen

Catch a Falling Star

Put it in your pocket… Save it for a rainy day…never let it fade away.
Mum used to sing that to them.
“It’s just space junk.” Says Tim.
“Could be a meteor.” Shrugs Benny.
“Could be aliens.” Whispers Meg.
“Falling wishes.” Thinks Alana.
Beneath glittering sky, the chill of the back-paddock creeps through the tarp into their kidneys.
“When did dad say he’d call?” Benny says lighting a smoke.
“When they’ve got news. Who knows? Soon, maybe.” Tim is quieter now, frowning.
Meg shivers.
Alana wonders when it will rain next. She’s collecting pocketfuls.
All just for mummy.

Sian Ceinwen

Everybody Hates Mondays

“Yes, ma’am, I understand.” Pause. “No, it’s not okay for the cat to steal your fiddle.” Pause again. “I know that a cow needs a permit to jump over a moon.” A third pause. “Yes, well, I’ve logged your grievances and we’ll get back to you in five working days. Have a lovely day.”

Monday in the customer service department of Mother Goose Inc. is never fun for Geoffrey the customer service wolf. Fielding complaints from disgruntled nursery rhyme characters isn’t his dream job.

Geoffrey heaves a big sigh, picks up the phone and answers, “how can I help you?”