“They drive me up the wall,” said Kim, when they were back at her house. “Tell me about it,” said Craig. “They’re worse than the kids.” This was not the first time that town friction had almost ruined something Kim had tried to do. The Book Week parade earlier in the year had very nearlyContinue reading “Pageant Part 7”
Author Archives: Matthew Pullar
Pageant Part 6
Perhaps a word needs to be said here to clarify the past. Difficult though it always is to untangle the truth from everything that everyone else has said, it needs to be recorded that, though Grant had seemed to all intents and purposes to become what is commonly called a nut, he and Sue hadContinue reading “Pageant Part 6”
Book Travellers: For Italo Calvino
Italo, I have often had this dream: A bookshop winds on spiral stairs, with shelves Inviting eager eyes to search for names And spines which lie, “Yes, I am here; it’s me.” Italo, in my dream it always seems That though my search for perfect books will delve Across each shelf, the titles play theseContinue reading “Book Travellers: For Italo Calvino”
Pageant Part 5
While Braydon and Kassie debated the merits of his drinking Coke, Braydon’s teacher was in a debate of her own. The town grapevine was more efficient than any telecommunications network could manage and the news had already reached her that Braydon’s father was in town. Kim was relatively new to the town. Moving to VictoriaContinue reading “Pageant Part 5”
Pageant Part 4
Grant looked at the mug, then up at Sue. “Thanks for the tea,” he said. “No worries,” she replied. “When do the kids get home?” “Soon.” “How are they going?” “Not bad.” Then, “Braydon fights too much.” “Does he?” “Yep.” “I’ll have to have a word with him then.” “You can try.” A pause. TheContinue reading “Pageant Part 4”
Pageant Part 3
Braydon felt conflicted about his father. Over the years, he had taken something of a bullet defending a man whom the whole town hated. But his stories of his father’s superpowers had done nothing to aid the cause. When he had told his friends that his dad was coming to town that Christmas, they hadContinue reading “Pageant Part 3”
Pageant Part 2
Though some would no doubt leave this detail out of their versions of the story, Grant did in fact tell Sue that he would be coming to town that Christmas. Braydon and Kassie both had parts in the Christmas pageant and he wanted to be there. It was all arranged quite politely, if a littleContinue reading “Pageant Part 2”
Pageant: An Advent Story (Part 1)
Last year I decided to write a Christmas story which I would post each day on my blog through all of Advent. The result was the story “The Gift”, which you can still read in instalments here if you care to look for it (just search for “The Gift” and it should come up easilyContinue reading “Pageant: An Advent Story (Part 1)”
“She pondered all these things in her heart” (After Luci Shaw’s “Mary Considers Her Situation”)
The virgin sat,the angel’s wordsshimmering around the room. She fancied now that Danielmight have shared her trembling heartwhen Gabriel had spoken truth which did not fully sooth. The prophets spoke of shoots from stumpsand virgins bearing Israel’s sign,and yet she’d never heard her name connected with such wondrous things,too wonderful for her to bearand truthsContinue reading ““She pondered all these things in her heart” (After Luci Shaw’s “Mary Considers Her Situation”)”
My Cup Overflows
Too good, my God, the way You hold my sliding self in You, too good the way you lavish love, too good the way You chide. Too soft, my God, Your voice, Your touch, and yet You thunder truth; too faint, sometimes, the hand that guides and yet Your all abounds in always-hoping, patient kindness,Continue reading “My Cup Overflows”
The Consolations of Writing 