Tales from Three Corners
Jacq
The award winning short fiction podcast on village life - In no particular order.
Three Corners is just your average small town. But like all small towns, scratch the surface, and you’ll be surprised at what you find underneath. In that sense Three Corners is really no different to any other small town I know, except perhaps, for some of the characters you might meet.
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The electricity cut out without warning and a scream left his mouth involuntarily as he raced to find card for the meter.
Produced by our award winning sound designer Postie, voiced by Jason and Kadi. Photo by Edyttka Stawiarska.
No Escape
She had the dream, the dream they all did. The difference was, that she had the means to make that dream come true. She could just pack up and leave.
Produced by Postie.
Escape
He just wanted some peace at work. It was crowded with people seeking advancement, constant agenda driven behaviour, courtesy-less teamwork and it was exhausting. Just once, he'd liked to be the one people listened to. It was time to escape. Produced by Postie, photo by Feyza (@asumaani) and inspiration from Will & Steph (@picniccafehobart)
Flying
Sneaking past the blue bike in the laundry was the hardest. Everything was crammed in so tight it was hard to manoeuvre. Produced by Postie, photo by Leandro Boogalu.
Memory Attic
It smelt of dust, stale air and old memories. The sun light filtered through the window as the motes flew around the room in the wake of his footsteps. Once it was empty, a room of promises; a study, a nursery, a sewing room, guestroom and now... Storage. Produced by Postie, photo by Pexels.
The Big Bank Robbery
Mr MacGregor saw the unfolding of the Big Bank Robbery as he shuffled down the street. It was another hot day, the ground baked and the air dripped, and his town clothes were now coated in a fine layer of dust from the roadside. Produced by Postie, image by Ray Marsh from Pixabay
Time to Move
Every time he climbs the stairs, she sees that he looks in. Is it a reflex? Is it curiosity? Is it a little more sinister? The stairs run along her loungeroom windows, so many people walking up to the top flats do peep in, then realise what they’re doing and look away quickly. Embarrassed. Produced by Postie, photo by Niels Hunnersen.
Enforced Courtesy
For six months he caught the bus in to work. In those six months only two people returned his greeting. Two. Apart from the bus drivers, who always said hello, shared a joke, commiserated on a sporting team’s loss. Produced by Postie, voiced by the Franklin Frosties, and photo from Pexels.
Backyard Bard
He liked to think of himself as the Bard of the Backyard. The Shakespeare of the streets, the voice to the voiceless and the antidote to the dope of the wires. Produced by Postie, photo by ShonEjai.
Dust
A longing. A longing for sea breezes and misty rain. For green, green grass all year round, for trees that stood tall and grew straight. No more red rust dust. The smell of the smelter, it’s acrid taste so constantly depriving his senses of real aromas, of real flavours. Produced by Postie, photo by Button Pusher @ Pexels.
The Flower Thief
The offender sat quietly in her cell. She wasn’t a flight risk, the door was open, however it didn’t stop the disappointment of the police officer who brought her in, nor the sigh of resignation that came from the duty officer. Produced by Postie, voiced by Lizzie, Greg and Jacq. Photo by Irina Iriser.
A Stranger in the Valley
She lived alone, and strangers in the valley made her nervous, especially strangers in her driveway... Produced by Postie, voiced by Anthea, Tony and Jacq, and Photo by Pat Whelen.
The Equaliser
Swimming gave him the most incredible sense of freedom. He ploughed through the water, spinning, turning, loving, laughing. He moved smoothly, so sign of discomfort. It was his equaliser and he never missed a day. Produced by Postie, voiced by Jacq and Andreas. Photo by Pixabay
Trolls Under the Bridge
Her sisters said it only needed a tiny space to squash into. When it left that space it grew a hundred times bigger. They knew. They’d seen it.
They’d only just gotten away with their lives: But her courage was as big as her imagination. Produced by Postie.
The Clothesline
Stockings covered the old rusty hills hoist, a legion of legs, rotating in the soft earthy morning breeze. Hung up at dawn before the workers trouped through the apartment courtyard, coffees clutched tightly... bleary eyed and immune to curiosity. Produced by Postie, photo by Ruslan Alekso.
Doubting Tartan
The little tartan shopping trolley had been brand new for four years. It had sat it the corner, collecting dust and detritus while adjusting to its new role, ridiculing its owner with its garish colours.
Two Cups Full
It was a Queen Anne. A small tea cup with delicate violets painted on the bone china, with a gold rim on the handle and lip.... Produced by Postie
Writer's Block
At first he thought it was an apparition…. Then a late night hallucination, brought on by too much work, stress and lack of sleep… But after the third night he realised that what was happening outside was as real as the deadline he was pushing.
Produced by Postie, photo by Pixabay.
Not a Minute Too Soon
She saw again the sun baked yard, the droop of the tree, the lowest branches caressing his hat as he slumped in slumber. The sunlight glinted off the glass, that lay underneath his hand on the grass.
Produced by Postie, featuring Walter Williams, Erin Grech and Joey Moore. Photo by Pixabay.
Council Clean Up Day
Council Clean-Up Day at Three Corners was a Street Shopper's delight; and Morrie, who lived on the outer rim of the town looked forward to it more than Christmas every year. Produced by Postie, photo by zhang kaiyv.
The Librarian
Soft. Smooth. A secret indulgence.
Sensible - That's how they see her - Practical.
No one would ever imagine that the trips to Sydney to see her brother, always included a visit. Here. A salacious secret.
Produced by Postie, Photo by Anna Tis.
The Garbo
His pride and joy was this garbage truck. Small and compact, he washed her every day after the job, cleaning and scouring just like the manual recommended. Produced by Postie
His Dirty Little Secret
Everyone else dismissed her out of mind years ago. And because she was gone, holding on to that memory felt like a betrayal. Not quite though. Not enough to still her name in his mind. Not enough to quieten her whisper in the darkest of hours. Not enough that her mocking smile didn't egg him on...
Produced by Postie, photo by pixabay.
It Lived in the Shed
As the man grew older, he thought of it more often, hidden away; the nights of delight, the days of decadence and laughter...
When the world held no sorrows, no cares, no worries...
He wanted that again.
Produced by Postie, Photo by Susanne Jutzeler
The Phone Number
He sat still by the phone.
Cream, cracked, it came from the old house with him to this tiny apartment.
He'd insisted.
He wanted his own phone, so he could still chat to his mates.
Produced by Postie, voiced by Geoff, Cassie and Andy H, photo by Leah Kelley
Incy... Wincy... Spiders
They cleared the webs. They hunted fearlessly for the elusive orb weaver... and they speculated, in hushed tones away from the car's owner, about the possibility of an egg sac and multiple little orb weavers adding to the web... infestation...
Produced by Postie, photo by Rick Otten
The Busker
He liked busking as people made their way to work. A melody or tune to make the morning less daunting. Most were wrapped up in their own world, their own music, marching to the beat of the business drum. He enjoyed the surprise that occasionally graced a face... They didn't expect him at that time.
Produced by Postie, photo by Markus Spiske
A Garden Tryst
It was a very small patch of sunlight that lingered in the cool of the evening. But it had been there a while; the stones flat surface was warm to the touch and just wide enough for her to settle comfortably on...
Produced by Postie, photo by Pixabay.
In Death...
There is no beauty in death, only absence... He'd read that once, in one of his English novels, and it captured the Business elegantly.
Produced by Postie, photo by Photo by Paweł L.
Rattle on Bones
Rattle on Bones was the dusty, sneezy, packed to the rafters, second-hand, antique, junk shop in Three Corners.
Produced by Postie, photo by Burcu Koleli
Night Walkers
At night she owned this road.
No cars. No traffic. No other people. That's why she owned this time and this space.
The freedom was absolute.
Produced by Postie, photo by Plato Terentev from Pexels.
Old Man
His medals sit dusty in an old box. He hid for them for years, then he polished and wore them proudly. Now he can't decide what to do with them, so he does nothing. There is no one left to remember. Except him. He remembers. He will always remember.
He is the last one.
Produced by Postie, photo by Pixabay.
Cooking Books
Yesterday he counted two hundred and thirty two cook books, but it's not an obsession. Of those two hundred and thirty two he has only actually cooked out of fifty two - leaving one hundred and eighty unused cook books on the shelf... But it's not an obsession...
Produced by Postie, photo by ready made.
Naked Rooftops
Rooftops. That was the best part of this job.
He could spend his entire lunch break just gazing out the window across the rooftops. Occasionally he'd see Miss Maison from the Gelateria up on her balcony... or there was that time the vet next door had a rogue kangaroo in the yard...
Produced by Postie.
Marshmallows
You could hear the giggles all the way up the valley. They snuck under doors, around verandahs, they floated up the small ridges and through the canopied forest. They drifted under the pecans to the farmstead and through the gaps in the Liquid Ambers and Agapanthus.
The giggles that came with pure fun and joy.
Produced by Postie, giggles by Isaac and Ruby.
The Street Library
The installation of a street library started a small war in Three Corners. Declarations were made, lines drawn, friendships that had spent a lifetime in solidarity split asunder, and one marriage ended in divorce. Produced by Postie, photo by Erik Mclean.
The Bowlo
Exotic in a traditional sense of course, the Club knew its demographic well.
Tables sat on average eight, there were a few fours, a couple of tens, but eight was the usual congregation...Four couples, a clutch of widows, a gaggle of greying bachelors...
Produced by Postie, photo by Tyler Lastovich
Romeo
He was a real romantic underneath all the bluster - Not that anyone would know!
Produced by Postie. Photo by freestocks.org
Sweet
It's the first time she gets to choose whatever she wants from the Lolly Shop, all by herself. And when she does, it's a surprise to everyone!
Produced by Postie. Voiced by Stretto, Sal and Tess. Photo by Foodie Factor.
The Coffee Thief
A humble gathering of caffeine petitioners stood waiting, their orders given, a dance of beverage preparation seen at cafes the world over...
Produced by Postie, voiced by Margie and Hannah. Photo by Viktoria Alipatova.
Happy
There was such laughter in the eyes. In a face that would normally be described as small and pinched, with such expressive and delighted eyes, became 'pixie like' instead.
Produced by Postie, Photo by Edu Carvalho from Pexels
The IGA
When the only way to escape the heat is in the cool of the Three Corners IGA Supermarket...
Produced by Postie, voiced by Matt D & Jane U,
Her First Appearance
It was less than elegant. Remarkable, memorable even, but far from elegant.
(Warning, the Naked Mayor makes a rather brief cameo, and no Beetles were harmed in the pursuit of the right sound effects)
Produced by Postie, Photo by fotografierende
33 Kinds of Laughter
What could be more delightful than the sound ...
Produced by Postie. Photo by Marina Shatskih from Pexels
Guerrilla Gardening
It started as a single flower in the barrenness, no one noticed how it got there, no one knew anything when the landlord went a little crazy about it. But it grew...
Produced by Postie. Photo by Anna Guerrero from Pexels
The New Real Estate Agent
Manicured and groomed, he unleashed the full force of his charisma on Three Corners... (Produced by Dazzler, photo by PhotoMIX Company)
Fish for Summer Shoes
And the story still floats about town of the man who screamed down the main road with a police escort, sending pedestrians flying, roaring his pain out the window.
Produced by Postie, photo by Kaique Rocha
At Dawn
Soft silky stockings in the morning breeze. (Produced by Postie)
The Flying Fox
A hot summer brings out the home engineers. (Photo by Pixabay)