Scars

Scars: An ebook collection of Australian historical short stories

Only $US 2.49

Scars is an ebook. It is a collection of short stories, all written by Elizabeth Palmer, that are set in Australia at some time in the past. Many of them are told in the first person, present-tense to give a sense of immediacy to a distant time.

Scars, the short story, tells the story of a lady who was transported to Australia as a convict, but has since become a success through her dressmaking business. When a convict girl recognises her, she has to face her past.

Lashes goes into the mind of a convict who is being flogged. As he is flogged, he thinks about his life in England and tried to take his mind off the pain of his flogging.

Colonial Society is a wedding story. It is also a story about colonial society, and about which faults can be forgiven by that society and which cannot.

My Father's Gift is about a young man who travelled to Australia to make his fortune on the goldfields. Unfortunately, things did not turn out as he expected. All he has left is his pride and his father's derringer pistol.

Impatience looks at a young woman who feels guilt about the way she is looking after her children. A talk with her mother, who suffered through the potato famine, forces her to look at things differently.

Brave Bushranger is about a boy who read too many bushranger stories and thought he could be a brave bushranger himself. He soon finds out that the stories don't tell the whole picture.

Talking to Mac is about a little boy's attempt to become friends with a shearer. It is told from the point of view of the young boy, the shearer he is trying to befriend and the young boy's father.

In A Toast to Old Grandpa Benjamin, a mother feels guilty because she cannot say her traditional family toast at Christmas. She feels lonely because her husband has been put in jail.

Climbing Cliffs enters the world of the young men who landed at Gallipoli. They discuss their goals before they die.

Traitor is set during World War I, at a time when there was much hatred and animosity towards the Germans. One woman tries to remove all traces of Germany from her mother's house.

Freedom at Last is about a bank manager at the beginning of a depression. He is worried how he will see the bank through as he walks through the bush. As a young boy, he ran away from home and got lost in that same bush and the thoughts of that young boy are interspersed with the thoughts of the man he has become.

Keep on Walking tells the story of a man down on his luck during the depression.

The Baby Cries tells the story of a widow's attempt to ignore the fact that her husband has died during the war.

Christmas Dinner tells the story of two Christmas dinners - one held in a prisoner of war camp, the other at home in Australia.

Something to Celebrate is about the VP celebrations at the end of World War II, and a land-army girl's feeling that she wishes the war could go on so that she could continue to work.

Mother, Son, War is about a man who has returned home from war, missing an arm and shell-shocked and his mother's attempt to deal with this.

Only $US 2.49

Extract from Scars

I smooth my hands over my red satin dress. It is one of my finest creations. Usually, I do not wear my best designed dresses, preferring those dresses that customers are considering buying or have bought to shine over anything I might wear. An invitation by Lady Grescott, though, is an event which deserves the best. I cannot rely on my manners as I still doubt their correctness, believing deep down that manners, like pedigree, are inherited not gained. My looks used to see me through, but they faded long ago. The only way to make an impression is to wear one of my best dresses. Tonight, I must sparkle.

And I am sparkling; I know I am. Men gather around me, flirting with me a little, even though I am old enough to be a grandmother to some of them. Women frequently hold conversations with me, often asking my opinion on the outfits. Even Lady Grescott is spending a fair amount of time in my company – quite a compliment as she not only is the hostess, but an important lady. Many people seek invitations from her in vain. I know; I used to be one of them.

As the owner of one of the most prestigious dress-shops in Sydney, I am becoming quite a prominent member of the community. People request the pleasure of my company at dinner parties, afternoon teas and balls. Knowing how important it is, I take every opportunity to be seen: whether at charity functions, as a guest or hosting events of my own. And it has paid off – not only does my little (though not so little any more, thank you) business continue to do well, but my social standing, also, continues to improve. I’m not only respectable, by God, I’m downright upper class. All in all, I have really done quite well for myself.

If only I could wipe away the past.