RedBeard Bakery Microfiction 50 Words, 2016
The Shortlist
Orphic by Toby Sime, Daylesford
Hearing Silence by Yee Ping Woo (no address supplied)
The Disconnect by Brooke Edwards, Thornbury
Searching For The Bristlebird by Maeve McKeown, Blackwood
Silent Sky by David Marshall, (no address supplied)
The Castle by Helen McDonald, Trentham
The Sofa by Alice Montes, (no address supplied).
The Horse by Ngaere Keown, (no address supplied.
The Winner
Honorables Mentions
The Horse by Ngaere Keown
I packed the euthanasia syrup safely in my vet bag.
Dad broke the silence as he entered the nursing home car-park,
“Just thought I’d visit Pop on the way.”
I wanted to stay in the car. Soon, I noticed my bag was gone.
Dad tricked me about the horse.
The Sofa by Alice Montes
We'd only ever had the one small settee.
When we watched the evening news I'd listen to the television with one ear, and with the other I'd hear your breathing, your big heart beating in your chest.
I come home to sofa squeak and dust, and then there's so much silence.
Maeve McKeown, Blackwood
Searching For The Bristlebird
A scientist scans the data of the forest's soundscape but her acoustic niche is empty. Within the discreet bandwidth of her unique call, there is only silence.
In the forest the child sits quietly, eyes closed, with clear memory of bird song, waiting.
Now, the heart must hear what remains.