Rob Wilcher

“Oh good grief,” whispered Jennifer to husband Jason, “it’s Uncle Frank.” The waft came first, steaming feather meal and river mud, followed …

Geoffrey woke. The room was still dark, although day was up, and shreds of light stained the rims of the blinds which …

A few days before Christmas we got a new puppy. We called her Ruby. She was very cute, with big floppy ears …

I steer the ute out along a dirt track for a while and stop only when I feel it is safe. I …

“You know this woman?” Judith shoved the dog-eared photograph at the barman. He studied it and launched a chubby finger to her …

Geoffrey prodded the white surgical tape that held the plastic cover over his right eye. By dodging his head one way and …

Paradiddle, flam, blam, now the side tom, boom boom boom, kick drum, snare, sticks in the air, roll it ‘n’ swing, shake …

The bar heaved with the heat of drinkers, talkers and hangers-on. At the far end of the space, beyond shadowed dancing hordes, …

“I’ll need you to drive,” said Dave when they arrived at his Audi. “I’ve got a couple of phone calls to make.” …

The old man turned the skiff homeward. It had not been a successful day. The sea had misled him.  His pots were …

The crisp air assailed them as they stepped outside. Dawn had not yet appeared, and the sky was glass clear, the moon …

Back in his apartment, Geoffrey dialled the number of the only person he thought might understand his dilemma. “Dave, it’s Geoff.” “Geoffrey, …

“Show me where the diamonds are, Lehmann!” Lehmann’s face reddened under the throttle hold of the thug who held him over the …

“Shoes, sunshine, ships or shore Love me rich, love me poor.” It was a song her grandmother had taught her as a …

As I approached my death I came upon a man seated On the stoop of the Doorway To the End of Life. …

Meredith and Toby sat in abject terror on the chaise longue where they had, until this moment, been enthusiastically making out, staring …

The evening had begun its descent into a sepia haze as they drove the dirt track through low sparse scrub. A red …

A million doubts flooded his mind. He had never really contemplated his own death before. Sure, he knew he was going to …

The assembled gods declared, “The Mortals mock us! We must combine our eternal fluids and make a god so awesome they will …

Geoffrey walked along a narrow lane of boutique shops up to the main road. Two lanes of night time traffic swirled past, …

Mum says being dead is like being asleep except you don’t wake up. Which is silly. I have a sleepover at Andy’s …

Hotel 25 – affectionately known as The Two and Five by its regular guests – was a squat boutique hotel hidden in …

The sound of the crash ripped apart the hubbub of the pub. Geoffrey and others at the bar paused momentarily to realise …

I was a slight kid, some say cheeky, but not one of the muscular kids. There was one kid, a couple of …

There is that one dazzling slo-mo moment, when the kick goes up and the ball ascends towards the heavens, and with it, …

The white flash, then the savage crack of thunder, the flash again and the rain attacked the night. The storm had come. …

“Julianne, look what the cat dragged in. Over at Chanel,” said Suzanne, a coiffured blonde in charge of Lancôme. In front of …

An estimated five thousand people amassed in the plaza that day, some said more. Jess was one, masked, arm in arm with …

Geoffrey was floating, high and joyous amidst the whirring fans and rafters of the pub, slowly revolving in his private heaven.  The …

What to do. What a to do. First thing, get out of bed. This involves sitting upright on the edge, in the …

TWO STORIES EACH AT 500 WORDS FOR EASY READING, by Rob Wilcher The Slave Five bedraggled slaves made their sorry way up …

Mike strained as he planked, trying to resist the pull of gravity on his belly as it pulled on his tensed abdomen. …

Howard Hodgson paused at the entrance to the laneway to enjoy the busker who was belting out a blinding rendition of On …