Stories on the Go aims to encourage and engage the community in reading. We bring all sorts of literature into daily life and public spaces, offering short reads to those who don’t have much time and may not read often. If you are a published or unpublished author and would like to contribute with a short story we will share it via our platforms and initiatives. Submit any time your flash fiction or short story (up to 2500 words):
Includes a Q&A. Any other questions please email us stories@thecommutingbook.org
John paused and turned away from his screen to glance at the steaming cup of coffee. Something felt a little off but he couldn’t place his finger on it. Th ...More
September 22 ● 18 min read
Some relationships are destined to last. Others end in tears, mass destruction or an intractable skin rash. My love affair in the winter of 2002 was doomed fr ...More
July 20 ● 11 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Chapter Three Ari was really relieved to see his mum waiting in the emergency room when they got there. Koro h ...More
November 17 ● 13 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Chapter One Ari lay on his bed, balancing his sneaker on the tip of his big toe, counting how many seconds h ...More
August 1 ● 10 min read
“What do you intend to do about this disgraceful situation?” Alison Carrington seethed. Mayor Harper stared at the outraged, elderly woman, like a ...More
February 24 ● 22 min read
His fur is silky black, blue eyes wild, teeth glistening white – white like the snow that fell last winter, like the oleander that grows by the ...More
February 24 ● 6 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Chapter Four Ari watched the hands on the clock move towards three o’clock. He knew he had to get away from school qui ...More
December 19 ● 14 min read
At school, we studied the atom of protons, electrons and neutrons. Didn’t know of quarks with seven flavours, an elementary particle my dear Watso ...More
December 15 ● 4 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Upoko Tuarua Parahutihuti ana tā Emmy oma ki te waha o te kura, ka waiho mai a Ari ki tana puehu, ā, ka hemo ...More
September 12 ● 15 min read
It’s been nearly 70 years since my children left home. That sounds ridiculous but I am 120 years old. When they left, my house felt empty. I began to no ...More
August 1 ● 12 min read
When someone tells you to picture a magician, what do you think of? Daniel Radcliffe, complete with a wand and broomstick? Or perhaps a cheesy performer ...More
September 22 ● 9 min read
It’s morning. I know this because the clock says 7.23 and a finger of light is trying to pull back the curtains. My room faces east. So that makes it morning. ...More
August 1 ● 22 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Upoko Tuatahi Ka takoto a Ari ki tana moenga, ka whakataurite i tōna hū ki te pito o tōna matiwae-nui, m ...More
August 1 ● 11 min read
First, find a location. Find a shabby farm that keeps its neighbours at arm’s length. Find a house with a rusted roof, with guttering that dribbles down t ...More
September 22 ● 5 min read
‘How’s Alex?’ Hope said. She and Molly were sitting in a café by the river in early spring drinking tea from the same pot. Molly sighed, look ...More
August 1 ● 19 min read
At my father’s funeral an old man in a crumpled black suit gets up to speak. He rises slowly on old man’s legs from among the dark suits and neatly combed ...More
September 22 ● 18 min read
The time had come. In the warm darkness of his egg, the flamingo chick moved. Crack! His mother stood up. She fussed about, touching the egg gently with h ...More
September 21 ● 14 min read
Grayce huddled in the dark of her bedroom. The slithering sound came again, something scraping, knocking. Scrape-knock-knock-slide-slither. Somewhere i ...More
September 16 ● 3 min read
It was a glimpse into Paradise. The sun caught the old town first, its jumble of faded pastels glowing like the gilded ceilings of the Vatican – ...More
August 1 ● 22 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Chapter Seven “Ari,” his father said. “You and I know this water, mate. When I say ‘Jump!’ I want you to ...More
February 24 ● 7 min read
They’d been walking for about an hour. They’d started in Madras Street, at the office. William was down for the week, the presentation had gone well and ...More
September 21 ● 14 min read
My life is divided into two revolving states. During one, I eat healthily, run almost every day and don’t drink. I call this ‘Zen’. The other state is a d ...More
November 17 ● 6 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Chapter Six In his dream, Ari covered his head with his hands and crouched down, hiding. He could hear people calling ...More
February 24 ● 14 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Upoko Tuawhā Ka mātakina e Ari te karaka i a te wā ka whakatata atu ki te toru karaka. Me puta tere ia i te k ...More
December 19 ● 15 min read
Con walks down the streets of Newtown from Berhampore, past the damp, narrow houses, tipped into the wind, cold rain spitting into his face. There’s the Es ...More
August 1 ● 14 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Chapter Two Emmy flew through the school gate ahead of Ari, disappearing in the direction of her classroo ...More
September 12 ● 13 min read
The Strange Sagas of Sabrina Summers Saga 1: The Uncooperative Flying Carpet Prologue It was a terrible day for a wedding. The rain slanted down by th ...More
September 22 ● 21 min read
To read previous chapters go to Stories Upoko Tuatoru Ka māma te wairua a Ari i tana kitenga atu i a Māmā e whanga ana ki a Koro i te hōhipera. I h ...More
November 17 ● 18 min read
