Jury Roll And Calorie Maths (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 30, 1998
The month ends with a stubborn Monday, a diet breakdown and an odd letter in the mail. Tony closes November with a wish for the summer ahead.
Writing A Poem Beside Lyssa Asleep (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 30, 1998
Unable to sleep, Tony sneaks around the house and then writes a sonnet. The morning ends with a run to the shops.
Pity Is Not What I Wanted (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 30, 1998
Lyssa stays over and the night does not go to plan. Tony discovers what he does and does not want from her.
A Bag Of Returned Gifts (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 30, 1998
Lyssa arrives with a bag of belongings and a few gaps in it. A walk to the shops brings news about old friends.
Every Summer Before This One (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 30, 1998
Spring ends with a card game, a yellow bedroom and a long look back at past summers. Tony vows this one will be the best yet.
The Weekly Argument About Driving (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 29, 1998
The group spends hours arguing over who will drive before heading south. Tony gets home at dawn with no call from Lyssa.
Waves At Three In The Morning (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 29, 1998
The boys arrive at Waves just as the night ends and the street fills with drama. Tony is left dreaming about one unforgettable stranger.
A Heavy Chest Day And Heavier Guilt (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 28, 1998
Tony tries to keep both his night out and his ex happy and mostly fails. At the gym he finds out how strong he really is on the bench.
Lyssa Calls At One In The Morning (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 28, 1998
Lyssa rings in the small hours with news from a night out and a heavy heart. By morning, the plans for the weekend are already getting complicated.
A Stakeout With Terrible Driving (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 27, 1998
The boys chase a rumour across Campbelltown while Tatton fights a stalling car. Back home, Tony weighs a quiet life against a famous one.
Stranded Mates and Borrowed Petrol (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 27, 1998
A peace making phone call is followed by a rambling night drive, a mate stranded without petrol and some amateur detective work.
Blaming the Biorhythm Cycles (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 27, 1998
A rough month gets blamed on biorhythm charts, until a long awaited phone call changes the mood completely.
Anatomy Charts for a Gym Nerd (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 26, 1998
A quick, heavy workout sparks a plan to scan old magazine diagrams and build a computer guide to every muscle, while the phone stays quiet.
Subway Showdown Over Hot Chips (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 26, 1998
A late night drive ends with friends taking sides in a car park, and Tony finally learns why his mates quietly drifted away.
Piecing Together a Messy Weekend (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 26, 1998
Keith arrives with news from a chaotic weekend, and every friend has a different version of what really happened that night.
The Human Switchboard Takes Calls (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 25, 1998
Everyone seems to call Tony with their side of the story, while the one call he wants stays silent and another waxing lesson goes badly.
Caught in the Middle of Rumours (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 25, 1998
A decent workout gives way to a panicked phone call, rumours racing between mates and an uncomfortable quiet from the one person who usually rings.
Shrieking Through My First Leg Wax (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 25, 1998
A sleepless, jobless morning ends with a bold experiment, a pot of hot wax and a war cry that probably carried down the street.
My Own Laws of Physics at Dawn (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 24, 1998
Before sleep, a gym obsessed teenager tries to invent a formula for the perfect lift, and ends up dreaming of machines that beep in rhythm.
Toilet Roll Smokes and Home Movie Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 24, 1998
A broke and restless Tuesday turns into a night of old tapes, harsh self judgement and a homemade movie shot with whatever props were lying around.
The Night the Secrets Spilled Out (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 23, 1998
Old secrets finally come out, a framed photo meets the floor, and two late phone calls prove neither of them has quite let go.
Burning Poems Over a Bathroom Sink (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 23, 1998
A furious row over keepsakes ends with poems in flames and letters in pieces, and a nineteen year old wonders what he has just thrown away.
I Hid the Phone in the Garage (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 23, 1998
The night ends peacefully but the morning does not. One honest remark about the early months of the relationship snowballs into phone calls, a hidden handset and angry words.
A Movie We Barely Watched (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 23, 1998
A quiet evening at home with Lyssa starts with snacks and sunburn and drifts away from the film. Afterwards Tony puzzles over the mixed signals that follow.
We Tore Up the Forgotten Years (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 23, 1998
Tony admits the month has finally slid downhill after a fight over old letters. He then rewinds to Saturday night, a late bus, a rented movie and a few nagging worries about Keith.
A Sorry Poem and a Hundred Dollar Photo – Mad Chaos: November 21, 1998
Tony opens with a heartfelt poem, then walks through a day of phone calls, a rip off photo shoot and a mate bragging about a new mobile. Plans for the night are finally locked in.
Frozen on a Rooftop as Security Strolled By (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
The long flashback ends with a tense wait on a rooftop and a very heavy walk home. Back in the present, Friday fizzles into phone calls, a Centrelink queue and a lonely night.
Lipstick Numbers and a Crowbar (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
Tony recalls meeting Clover at the station, a kiss at Centrepoint and the way it all ended. He then turns to a risky night he had planned for weeks.
I Tackled a Giant in Tracksuit Pants (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
Tony remembers the worst team in the league and the day he threw himself at a man three times his size. The recollections drift on to first crushes, a rebellious year and his first factory job.
We Threw Golf Balls at Trains (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
The training history rolls on through 1994 with measurements, new methods and a few over-training scares. A golf range outing with Jett caps it off with flying balls and a swollen ankle.
My Teenage Body Was a Science Project (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
Tony recalls his quiet high school years and a clumsy first kiss, then traces how homemade fitness became a serious project of tape measures and training logs.
My Anniversary Slipped Right Past Me (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 20, 1998
The penny drops about a significant date with Lyssa. Tony then wanders back through his teenage years, from school and music to his first computer.
Jett Spills and I Plan My Gains (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 19, 1998
Jett passes on a bundle of neighbourhood gossip before the diary turns to a heavy Wednesday gym session. Tony then sketches a smarter weekly routine to get big before summer.
Jett Arrives On A New Motorbike (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 19, 1998
After an emotional call, a long sleep and a dinner plan that fizzles, Jett turns up on a shiny new bike. His news about the weekend is far from ordinary.
Not Letting Ali Be Her Best Friend (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 19, 1998
Weekend plans fall apart on the phone and old worries about Ali come pouring out. Lyssa ends the call in tears, and the chapter ends on an uneasy note.
Tatton Teaches Me World History (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 18, 1998
A taxi sends Lyssa home, a late call stirs up old memories and Tatton and Shawn turn up with a night of history lessons. Wednesday plans arrive just as the entry ends.
A Dripping Tap And A Stopped Clock (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 18, 1998
A movie night with Lyssa does not go the way he hoped, and the long shower afterwards turns philosophical. Monday morning brings a second try and a few more misunderstandings.
Dad Plays Chauffeur For Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 18, 1998
A long phone call about a modelling shoot leaves him seething. Later, with a little help from Dad, Lyssa arrives for a quiet night.
Sunburnt And Selling Cologne (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 18, 1998
A sleepy day at the beach ends with a sunburnt back and a ridiculous stop at the drive through. Back home, a phone call with Lyssa turns to her modelling day.
A Sunrise I Never Actually Saw (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
After a sleepless night, the lads chase food, a hot dog and a drive that proves some skills never fade. At dawn a quiet walk to the beach turns into a cold morning swim.
Knocking On A Door Too Late (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
After the dancing stops, the lads sing to strangers, play chicken with taxis and hunt for food in the early hours. One knock on a cabin door comes too late.
Dancing With My Shirt Undone (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
A night of cheap orange juice, wild dancing and a few brave attempts at conversation. One brunette stays on his mind long after she disappears into the crowd.
Hopping Out Of A Raging Car (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
An argument over nightclub tickets ends with one friend walking away from a reckless driver. Back at the cabin, a camera and a few drinks lift the mood before the night out.
Ralf Drives Halfway Across The World (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 17, 1998
A Saturday road trip to a Wollongong cabin starts with borrowed shirts and a very quick drive down the highway. A food run with a stubborn driver tests everyone’s patience.
Gunshots I Mistook for Fireworks (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 14, 1998
Lyssa visits in a skirt for a quiet movie night, and later the mates find the local festival has shrunk. Back home, the sounds Tony heard turn out to be something far more serious than fireworks.
A Dead Keycard and a Cheeky Grin (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 13, 1998
Tony and his mates try a cancelled fuel card at the servo, then wander Macarthur Square where one wide grin gets under an old enemy’s skin. A long evening call with Lyssa follows.
Left Stranded at the Servo (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 13, 1998
Tony and Shawn are left stranded when the car drives off without them, and the ride home turns into a comic songwriting session. The next day brings new plans with Lyssa and some honest thoughts on confidence.
A Tree Stump and Stolen Ice Creams (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 13, 1998
A man with a tree stump forces a tense stand-off at the top of the street. The crew then drives to the city, tests a theory about swimming the harbor and gets into trouble at a servo.
A Cockroach and a Plan for Two (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 13, 1998
Rain, a stubborn cockroach and a quiet night in lead Tony to map out a hopeful future with Lyssa. He then retells a Wednesday night that began at a servo and a handshake.
Who Knows Ace and Nobody Admits It (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 12, 1998
Tony stays up through the early hours trying to work out who is hiding what, and why a certain phrase keeps turning up. A dawn phone call to Imad adds another piece to the puzzle.
A Poem Read Down the Phone Line (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 12, 1998
With rumors flying, Tony finally reads Lyssa the poem she has asked about for weeks. The quiet moment does not last, because plans for Saturday soon turn the call into an argument.
Prank Calls and a Slipped Name (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 11, 1998
A night of waiting around Queen Street turns into a round of prank calls that unravels when Tony accidentally says the wrong name. The mates then spend hours with old photo albums until dawn.
A Gym Crush and a Flat Tire (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 11, 1998
Lyssa wants to know what Tony said as she drifted off to sleep, and the answer says more than he planned. Later, a night at the Mobil servo brings a familiar face and a very flat tire.
When Gossip Comes Home to Roost (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 11, 1998
A bit of gossip told in trust travels much farther than Tony ever intended, and now his name sits at the centre of it. Later he hunts through old diary pages for a poem he once wrote.
A Cricket Night Simon Will Never Live Down (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 10, 1998
Tony watches his mates play indoor cricket and enjoys cruelly cheering on the worst batsman of the night. Afterwards come a Subway run, a nervous learner driver and weekend plans with Lyssa.
Kuper The Spotter Who Wouldn’t Spot (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 10, 1998
A gym session with Kuper turns into a quiet contest, with spotting that is anything but helpful. Errands, a new hat and a friendly girl round out the day.
A Cheek Kiss And An Alarm Nobody Heard (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 9, 1998
The night runs long, an alarm goes unheard twice and morning brings a surprise encounter with Mum. Lyssa leaves in a taxi with a kiss on the cheek.
Pity Gets Me A Ride Home (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 9, 1998
Tony’s gloom finally gets Lyssa’s attention, and she finds a reason to leave with him. The ride home and the quiet hours after are full of nerves.
Red Rooster Giggles And A Wandering Hand (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 9, 1998
A planned quiet visit becomes a group outing with Kieran: Red Rooster, ice cream and a rented movie. Tony watches every touch for a sign.
A Waterfall Of Self Pity On A Wet Sunday (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 9, 1998
A grand waterfall metaphor gives way to a very honest list of what Tony thinks is wrong with him. Then the rain starts and so does the walk to Lyssa’s.
A Long Night Of Bad Luck In Ralf’s Car (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 8, 1998
Tony and his mates go from an awkward visit to a standoff with another car, then a nightclub that fizzles out. Even the drive home delivers one more twist.
Pizza Hut Deliveries And Simon’s Worst Idea (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 8, 1998
Still fuming, Tony drags Shawn out to Pizza Hut for a night riding along on deliveries. Simon’s clumsy attempt at romance ends in mutual embarrassment.
The Phone Call Where The Angry Button Got Pushed (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 8, 1998
A dull night out is nothing next to the afternoon phone call with Lyssa. The talk turns nasty and ends with a question Tony has wanted to ask for months.
Clones Wars And A Very Late Night Rant (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 7, 1998
Tony heads home when Wollongong was on offer, hears some surprising gossip, then sets out his theory of a cloning future. The night ends back on Lyssa.
Three Hours Beside A Silent Phone (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 7, 1998
A promised phone call never arrives, and Tony fills the silence with suspicion. The day behind it is full of phone tag, old teammates and window shopping.
Midnight Verse For A Girl Who Might Not Read It – Mad Chaos: November 6, 1998
Tony cannot sleep for thinking of Lyssa and sketches a grand Christmas surprise, complete with a poem. It is love at its most hopeful and most unrealistic.
A Hug with Only One Arm (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
Tony’s night at Lyssa’s falls apart when company arrives, ending with two empty hugs and a call that never comes.
Lyssa Buys Me a Chico Roll (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
Tony rides out to Lyssa’s, rents a movie they never watch and gets caught off guard by a tender moment with her cat.
Kieran Walks in on Me (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
A dawn of pointed questions, a stumbling answer on the phone and a surprise face to face in a house full of candles.
Playing Detective with My Own Diary (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
Tony goes back through old diary entries hunting for clues about an old night out, and starts to doubt what he was told.
The Stalker on the Early Train (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
A long phone call reveals an awkward admirer shadowing Lyssa, then a late night drive brings new gossip about Kieran and Bielka.
A Record Bench and a Locked Door (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 5, 1998
A closed office door, a new bench press record and a puzzling request from a stranger keep Tony guessing.
Dreaming of a Supercharged Celica (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 3, 1998
Tony doubts a rival’s story at Pizza Hut, watches Keith raid the freezer and plans a wild supercharged Celica build.
Abraham the Spirit Predicts Doom (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 3, 1998
A homemade seance with candles and a cup brings up a spirit named Abraham, some wild predictions and a very short sleep.
Gridiron Beats Footy Every Time (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 3, 1998
Tony tells the table gridiron is the tougher sport, spots Lyssa with Penelope and ends the night online with a borrowed modem.
Counting Pages Like an Encyclopedia – Mad Chaos: November 2, 1998
Tony stays up reading his old diary, owns up to hard lessons and tallies how many pages each year has produced.
A Pricey Sports Drink in Hurstville (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: November 1, 1998
Halloween night ends in a slow Hurstville crawl, then Tony rereads a poem he wrote in July and sees it in a new light.
Marley Picks Up After a Year (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 1, 1998
A night of prank calls turns into an hour long chat with Marley, plus some honest thoughts about Jewell and the future.
Fate Charm Fuels Prank Calls (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: November 1, 1998
A new month opens with a fallen chain, a tense phone call with Lyssa and a prank calling spree that reunites Tony with old flames.