The first of our short stories is “The Memory Trail” by Rebecca Holmes, with a clever illustration that shows what the write-up tells us: They’d come this way so often as teenagers. But years go by, and people change….
I love Sarah Holliday’s super-cute illustration for Meg Stokes’s story “The Runaway Elephant”. It’s a charming story, too, as Granny finds the perfect way to reassure Luke about new home, new school…
Do you remember meeting your in-laws for the first time? It’s all about “Good Impressions” in Jan Snook’s story, illustrated by Kirk Houston.
One last family vacation is the theme in “That Continental Feeling” by Eirin Thompson. All grown up? No, just grown apart….
We go back to the holiday camps of the 1970s in “Back To Dolphin Bay” by Joanne Duncan. But it’s not all “Hi De Hi”, more “Surprise, Surprise!” Illustrated by Gerard Fay.
“What If?” It’s one of the great story-writing questions, and life questions, too. This story by Val Bonsall is about Bob, questioning the Big Decisions he’s made. Illustrated by Jim Dewar.
It’s such a symbol of childhood summers: making a daisy chain. And in the last of this week’s short stories, “Daisy Chains” by Wendy Clarke, the daisy chain’s a gift for someone special and has to be just right. Illustration: Helen Welsh.
Serials
“Sanctuary Island” by Lydia Jones is our luscious story set in Greece. But it has a contemporary edge, too. This week, Helena’s in the thick of the anti-government protests in Athens. Illustration: Helen Welsh.
And anti-government feeling bubbles in “Together We Stand”, too, with its core story about women’s suffrage. It’s driven Councillor Banks to oppose Tanni’s tearoom and studio, but Tanni won’t be beaten. Heather Pardoe’s fascinating story is illustrated by Sailesh Thakrar.
Series
It’s farewell for now to the Kildartie Singers in “On Wings Of Song” by Joyce Begg. Next week we return to Prospect House for more mad vet tales from Malcolm Welshman.
And you can’t possibly miss “Riverside”, our weekly soap by Glenda Young. The good folks are looking forward to their first festival. Jumble sale? For Mary, it’s a chance to raid George’s wardrobe.
Happy reading!
Shirley Blair Fiction Ed Shirley’s been with the “Friend” since 2007 and calls it her dream job because she gets to read fiction all day every day. Hobbies? Well, that would be reading! She also enjoys writing fiction when she has time, long walks, travel, and watching Scandi thrillers on TV.
