She was first violinist in the National Symphony. He was first trombonist. I, their first born, was Allegra. The priest's Southern accent saw my vowels elongated and a little of his spittle hit my forehead with the baptismal water. An active child with no discernible musical talent, at primary school I started answering to Leggy, … Continue reading Names I have known →

David arrived at the school gate, brown leather sandals and satchel unmarked, marking him as the new kid. Three boys approached. In a line they stood. A line of boys each called David. The first David stepped forward, all scabby knees and dirt scuffed face. He slapped the new David on the back and said … Continue reading Three Davids →

Melanie rose from the water and took a moment to consider what she saw. The last thing she remembered before the blackness was the traffic light change from orange to red. The morning had started like most mornings of the last year in alarm screaming darkness. Pulling herself from her cocoon she had stabbed the … Continue reading Heed (chapter 1) →

Norma/n was an ordinary child. An ordinary worm child. She had a mother/father and a father/mother. Like most normal worm children she never met them. She started life with her worm siblings, happy in the warm soil, learning how to be a good worm. But in some ways Norma/n was a most abnormal worm. One … Continue reading Norma/n the Heroic Worm →