Tall And True Short Reads

Tall And True Short Reads is a storytelling podcast featuring short stories, blog posts and other writing written by Robert Fairhead from the Tall And True writers' website. Stream from Acast or follow and listen via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all popular podcast apps.

Read more: Introducing Season Five

The job offer notification pops up on my phone early on Christmas Eve. It's a short-term role helping with overnight deliveries. The regular delivery driver has hurt his back and needs an offsider for heavy lifting.

Read more: Nick's Helper

Bernie sat by himself on the far side of the emergency department waiting room. Elsie and Rita were sitting together, near the doors to the operating theatres. Elsie was sobbing, and Bernie wanted to console her, but he couldn't face Rita's wrath again. "It's all your fault, Bernie!" she'd shouted at him.

Read More: The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts — Two: A Fast Car — Part Three

Leo sat in sullen silence in the front passenger seat, staring out the windscreen, as Bernie's car strained, towing his secondhand car on a hired trailer up the hills to the abandoned quarry. Bernie had known Leo since the boy was eight and had taught him the things a father would normally teach a son.

Read More: The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts — Two: A Fast Car — Part Two

Elsie thought it unlikely Leo would tell her the truth about the unregistered secondhand car he'd asked family friend Bernie to tow to the abandoned quarry. But she still pressed her sixteen-year-old great-nephew about it over breakfast at the kitchen table. "Are you planning to drive it around the quarry, dear?" "Nah, I wouldn't do that, Aunty."

Read More: The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts — Two: A Fast Car — Part One

Tall And True Short Reads features short stories, blog posts and other writings written and narrated by Robert Fairhead from the Tall And True writers' website. At the end of each episode, Robert provides insight into the featured writing — when, why, and how he wrote it.

The podcast is recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People.

Read more: Introducing podcast on Tall And True

Robert writes and narrates the episodes for Tall And True Short Reads. He shares his writing on the Tall And True writers' website and blogs on his eponymous website, RobertFairhead.com.

Robert has also published several collections of short stories. You can follow Robert on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and Mastodon social media.

Read more: Robert's profile on RobertFairhead.com