A novella in 30 chapters

Stingaree Bay: Chapter 30

Two Years On

Steve Fendt
Serial Stories
Published in
3 min readJul 26, 2024

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‘Everlastings’ by Steve Fendt

It was an immaculate afternoon in early autumn.

A light breeze from the Bay took the edge off the sun’s heat and made the sheokes sing — that sound both eerie and beautiful: once heard, never forgotten. The day smelled of warm earth and fresh-mown grass.

‘Well, this is all quite … odd, isn’t it?’ said Tony quietly.

‘Yes — yes, I suppose it is. But in a rather lovely way, don’t you think?’

Tasha slipped her arm around his waist and gave him an affectionate squeeze. He nuzzled behind her ear and kissed her softly.

‘OI! TONY!! Put that woman down — and get your arse on stage!’

Loz’s voice, amplified by the PA system, echoed around the garden. The startled couple suddenly found themselves the focus of forty-five amused pairs of eyes.

He grinned. ‘Gotta go, love.’

Striding across the lawn and stepping onto the low dais, he grabbed his guitar from its stand and shuffled into position with the other members of the Pickin’ Chickens around the vintage condenser mic.

‘Sorry to keep the brides and grooms waiting.’

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Steve Fendt
Serial Stories

https://stevefendt.substack.com Short stories, serial fiction, memoirs of a possibly quasi-true nature. Stories of the Australian beach and bush.