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.
A Freight Train and a Lead Foot (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 21, 1999
A stalled car on a railway crossing is only the start of a wild night. Everyone takes a turn on a dark dirt track, and the driver with the heaviest foot gets his say.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
The day starts slowly, plans form for a big weekend night, and a long train trip leads to a chat with Lyssa’s workmate Nikita.
Do Not Quote Me In Your Diary (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
Lyssa asks not to be quoted in the diary, so naturally she is, while Tony frets about Kieran, counts his first calories and shops for whey.
My Slow Motion Walk Across the Dance Floor (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 24, 1999
Tony sits out the dancing, imagines himself striding through the crowd in slow motion, and has an awkward run in with Lyssa and her friends.
I Invented The Word Prothane (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
After a flat call with Lyssa, Tony spends the evening defining a word he made up. He gives it rules, examples and a vivid backstory.
Aliens Made Us Their Guinea Pigs (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
The diarist longs for solitude, weighs up his odd arrangement with Lyssa and recalls a strange dream. Then he lays out a theory that humans began as an alien experiment.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
Lyssa shows off a gift from an old friend, theories are shared a little too freely, and the pair head for the bus in a cooler mood.
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.
A Haircut Too Short for Comfort (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
Tony finishes Sunday’s phone talk, reads some sonnets, then heads to Campbelltown for bills, a surprise meeting and a haircut he regrets.
Poems Pulled From a Box (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
After a drenched session at the gym, Tony ends up typing out old poems with Lyssa beside him. Her mood swings leave him unsure what the two of them really are.
A Nintendo Surprise After Bus Bickering (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
A late Saturday run through the dirt gives way to a Sunday of waiting at the station and bickering on the bus. The Nintendo surprise finally lands at home.
First Night at the Catholic Club (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 10, 1998
I sign the registry and enter the Club for dinner, then wander the floor bumping into old friends who cannot believe I am there.
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.
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.
Left Behind on a Birthday Night (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
The group splits up and Tony sticks by the birthday boy for the rest of the night. A fast moving scrap upstairs gives them plenty to watch.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
Lyssa leaves with her mum, the missing necklace turns up, and the evening drifts into memories and Friday night plans.
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.
Ace’s Strange Room And A Back Workout (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 10, 1998
An afternoon of errands ends with a stack of Shakespeare from the library and a gym session that leaves Tony’s hands with fresh calluses.
Cracking My Own Poetic Code (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 3, 1998
A poem about gossip leads Tony back to an old line he never understood, and by the end of the early morning he has decoded it and written another.
A Birthday Boy and the Night Bus (Part 7) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
Ralf turns the whole City into his audience, collecting birthday wishes from anyone who walks past. The ride home on the night bus is the funniest part of all.
A Gearbox With Three Working Gears (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
A sleepy evening ends with a joke about aliens, a borrowed Playstation and a film that needs close attention. Monday brings chatter about a car with a blown gearbox.
Rain on Metal and a Mended Chain (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 21, 1999
Tony closes out his birthday call, writes a poem about the rain and goes searching for someone to fix his necklace.
Too Shy for the Dance Floor (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
Plans collapse, a camera standoff gets settled and the crew drives to a Wollongong nightclub, where Tony dances near the action but never quite joins it.
Forty Five Pages on Blue Paper (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
Tony and Ralf spend Saturday afternoon at the shops, then at Shawn’s, where the poems finally leave the screen. The evening plans hinge on one reluctant driver.
Skateboard Girl At The Bus Stop (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 27, 1998
Tony reviews his muscle gains, retraces his sweltering walk home and works up the nerve to talk to a stranger.
Thank Yous Gone Missing And A Third Lung (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
Tony notices the thank yous have vanished from his nights with Lyssa, rates his lost year, and signs off with a strange theory about a third lung.
Bench Press Proves I Am Back (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
Tony learns that gossip travels fast, mistakes Wednesday for Friday, and finds his chest strong again at the gym. Back home he tallies his sonnets and tweaks an old couplet.
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.
Wheat Field Sheets and a Sore Chest (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 12, 1998
A rough night on the waterbed leads to a sweltering gym day and a warning about a strained chest. Evening brings a careful phone call and a movie that stirs up big ideas.
Two Sonnets and a Stubborn Pen (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 5, 1999
Tony skips the computer games for poetry and wrestles two sonnets onto the page, one of them written through the eyes of the girl who got away.
A Ten Word Language at the Petrol Pumps (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 20, 1999
A stash gets hidden, the crew kills time at the petrol pumps and a wild idea for a ten word language gets tested. The night closes with a bad feeling at Macarthur Square.
The Mystery Call That Said Nothing (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 4, 1998
After a drive with Ace and a kebab shop run into old faces, Tony gets home to a strange silent call and then wonders why a day has twenty four hours.
Inventing My Own Sonnet at Dawn (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Before sunrise Tony works out a sonnet structure he can call his own, closes the book on an old flame, and answers the dawn with a poem and its meaning.
Easy Money the Hard Way (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 24, 1999
A long phone call ends as the crew arrives for another round of Madden. Keith’s dubious get rich quick scheme steals the conversation.
Jett Brings Worms And A Weekend Unravels (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 21, 1998
Tony wakes to a forgotten anniversary and rewinds to Friday night, when Jett, a PlayStation and a surprise call from Lyssa changed the plan.
Summer of Misfortune and a Dusty Shelf (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Tony muses over time zones, mourns an empty shelf of cards, and renames the summer while planning his budget and replaying a very early phone call from Lyssa.
Superman Rescues a Singing Swede (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 5, 1998
Tony recounts a bizarre dream involving angry friends, a car chase and a rescue from the sea, then deals with a phone call about prank calls.
Locked Out Then Lifting Heavy (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 2, 1999
Locked out at sunrise, Tony finally sleeps, hits the gym for back and arms and catches up on everyone else’s New Years Eve over the phone.
A Sold Out Night at Penrith Panthers (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 20, 1998
Toni reflects on Lyssa, then Keith’s car roams from house to house in search of a plan for the night.
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.
Parked Outside Sofia’s House Looking Guilty (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 4, 1998
Mates turn up at midnight with news about a couple, and a nosy drive past the wrong house leaves Tony stuck in the back seat hoping for no trouble.
Santa’s Little Helper Takes A Taxi (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 21, 1998
Lyssa arrives in a Santa hat after her work party, full of stories about a hundred dollar cab ride, dancing lawyers and a mystery mobile phone.
Long Bitter Love Down the Phone (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 12, 1999
The explanation of Tony’s new sonnet continues, from the vines of early romance to the late-night calls that kept it alive far too long. He ends by comparing it with an older poem.
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.
A Swimmer Who Called Me a Man (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 28, 1999
Tony learns a swimmer is older than expected, watches her drive away and ends the day at a family party and a prank radio broadcast with Ralf.
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.
Tyson at the Catholic Club (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
Tony winds down the Waves night, then drags himself out of bed to watch Tyson fight with a hundred strangers.
Phantom of the Opera and a Bitter Phone Call (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 13, 1998
Macarthur Square brings a run in with Kofi, then a night at Mobil with Tatton and talk of heading to the city.
Pizza, Pumping Iron and Getting Dogged (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 22, 1998
Pizza, pranks and phone call eavesdropping make for a typically silly night with Keith and the crew.
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.
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.
A Day Counted in Phone Calls (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 5, 1999
After a long explanation of a sorrowful sonnet, Tony tallies each phone call with Lyssa and chases temp work through an agency.
Sick Day at Cronulla Beach (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: September 27, 1998
He spends hours on the sand while Jett rides the waves, then catches the train home with a few close calls with ticket inspectors.
The Cockroach That Got Away (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
The year’s last day opens with cockroaches, moon-gazing and phone calls, then drifts to a sunburnt afternoon and a wasp that ended the pool fun.
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.
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.
Whispering Under the Full Moon (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 3, 1999
Tony reflects on his daily calls with Lyssa, then tells the story of her visit, from whispered smokes in the yard to a fashion parade and a movie night.
Three Goodbyes and a Spelling Question (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 14, 1999
A friend’s house is found unlocked and empty, and Tony fills his sleepless afternoon with ridiculous phone calls. Lyssa and Ralf are the lucky audience.
Pizza Hut Pity and a Burning Excel (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
Tony watches a friend dig himself deeper into money trouble, sneaks into a movie with the boys and ends up staring at a burning car on the way home.
Chasing Easy Money, Then Chest Day (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
A money-making idea fizzles out before it starts, then a long gym session ends with a proud new arm measurement. A phone call suggests the romance is cooling.
A Very Big Spider Ambush (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
A big spider, a well parked car and a very surprised friend start the night. A tense drive and some hotel and beach mischief in Wollongong follow.
Sick Day at Cronulla Beach (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: September 27, 1998
After the beach, friends drift in and out. Shawn arrives for a night of PlayStation while Lyssa phones with stories from her evening.
Video Hits Loud and a Smoking Standoff (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
After a restless night Tony wakes on the floor, ends up dancing to music videos with Lyssa, and a dispute over cigarettes cuts the morning short.
Eighty Four Kilos In The Heat (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
Tony drags himself through a boiling gym session and a surprising weigh-in, then trades phone mysteries for fried rice and a slow bath with Lyssa.
My Finest Sonnet Arrives Unannounced (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
After rereading old pages, Tony writes a sonnet about the lost years and spends the rest of the entry explaining its meaning.
Three Calls From Lyssa And One Loud Motorbike (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 8, 1998
A string of phone calls with Lyssa swings from rude to revealing, and then Jett arrives with news about his own relationship.
The Night the Stuffed Cow Flew (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 3, 1999
A sleepover that began sweetly ends in a squabble over noise, sleep and a toy cow, followed by a sulky morning and a phone call that fills in the gaps.
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.
Chewing Gum Rules and Christmas Presents (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Hurt feelings follow Tony and Lyssa through a department store, a lingerie shop and a train carriage as the cost of Christmas becomes an argument.
The Blanket Thief In My Bed (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
After a TV evening of mystery videos and perfume gossip, Tony loses a battle over the blanket and ends up raiding the fridge in the small hours.
Pillow Fights And Half Hours That Never End (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: November 7, 1998
Tony waits and waits for his ride to Tyler’s party, then loses himself in a pillow fight with Binh and Keith. Tamsen’s flirting stirs up the friends.
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.
Smelling Like Chrome at the Mall (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
A vivid school dream ends with a stolen bag, then the diary turns to a wander through Macarthur Square, a black shirt, a scent called Chrome and an old neighbour.
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.
Cheese Toast And A Towel In The Sun (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
After a quiet night with Lyssa, Tony wonders about the girls he never dated, then shares a towel in the backyard sun and starts doing the sums on the future.
The Great Size C Battery Heist (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 31, 1998
Tony sees Lyssa off at the station, lifts, then roams the shopping centre with friends before closing the year with a poem about standing alone.
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 Day Out With Lyssa in Parramatta (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 6, 1998
A phone box scramble, a late bus and a train trip to Parramatta with Lyssa. Her photos stir up old irritations on a rainy day.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
After the beach the day drifts through friends’ houses, game tips and a trip to the cinema for a twisty crime film.
Bland Hair and One Honest Opinion (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Pants, nail polish and Saturday night plans fill the afternoon until one honest remark about a hair colour shifts the mood.
Parramatta Shopping and a Call from Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 3, 1998
A day of work clothes shopping in Parramatta ends with an unexpected phone call from Lyssa, bursting with news about her pay rise and her trip.
Serbia, the Three Hundredth Page and a Day at the Beach (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 27, 1998
A puzzling phone call sends two friends driving around Campbelltown, late night theories flying about what Tatton is really up to.
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.
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.
A Foolproof Plan With Fatal Flaws (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 30, 1999
The rain feels like a blessing as the diary catches up on Thursday night. A pointless drive to Liverpool and a hopeful money plan both run out of road by dawn.
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.
Waiting for a Phone That Stays Quiet (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 12, 1998
Late calls leave Tony wondering where he stands with Lyssa, while a big birthday night in the City seems to be happening without him. The phone stays stubbornly silent.
Remembering Old Kisses Between Dirt Tracks (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 21, 1999
Early morning thoughts drift back to old dates and old loves before the story turns to a tense moment with the police and a night of off road mischief.
Burgers and Goodbyes With Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: September 24, 1998
With only Simon for company, the diarist takes stock of the people around him and who he can trust. Late night finds him fiddling with speakers and finally heading to bed.
Knights Peasants and a Slow Gym Day (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 4, 1999
Tony oversleeps three times, drags himself to the gym for a back and triceps session and bumps into a few familiar faces.
A Bank Mix-Up and a Trip Not Taken (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 12, 1998
The ticket machine decides the day’s plan, a cheeky stranger offers an unwanted compliment, and a gym session closes the afternoon.
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.
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.
The Ten Caloric Commandments (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
A strict ten day food plan has a name, a budget and a checklist, and a trip to the shops and a back workout put it into motion.
The Girl I Could Not Talk To (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 24, 1999
After freezing up in front of a girl he danced with at Waves, Tony rewinds to Friday night and the long road to Macarthur Square.
The Days of Reckoning (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 4, 1998
Keith, Shawn, Ralf and the boys drop in late at night. The City plan collapses and we find ourselves rearranging an empty house for a laugh.
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.
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 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.
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.
A Prank Call That Rang Back (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: January 29, 1999
A phone prank sparks a bout of gossip, then the mates head to the mall for a haircut, burgers and people watching. The night ends back at the petrol station.
The Days of Reckoning (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 4, 1998
Lyssa calls just as I was thinking of her, then turns defensive about last night. I reflect on her friends and wonder about her real intentions.
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.
Stung by a Bluebottle and Smitten (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 28, 1999
Tony and Ralf fight for parking at crowded Cronulla, then Tony spends hours in the surf hoping to meet a certain swimmer and finally finds his opener.
Run-ins at Macarthur Square (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 8, 1998
Shawn and Keith flick through albums while I wonder why some people avoid me face to face. Gossip about Simon caps off a late night drive.
A Lighter That Almost Catches (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 25, 1999
A prank on the drive home gives way to poetry, body image worries and the end of a long mood study. The result is a lighter that sparks but never lights.
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.
Rooftops and a Modern Romeo (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
Daring climbs, a cheeky comment to a passer-by and a late bakery stop fill the end of the Wollongong trip. Back home, a new poem arrives in the small hours.
Sick Day at Cronulla Beach (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 27, 1998
Despite a heavy cold, he follows through on the beach plan with Jett. A late night call with Lyssa and a festival on Queen Street frame the day.
A Barefoot Midnight Walk With Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 5, 1998
Tony skips a road trip to stay home, then Lyssa arrives after a night out and the two creep outside for a quiet walk up the street.
Ravioli That Refused To Thaw (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 30, 1998
Dinner takes three tries in the microwave before the evening settles into a movie and a close, private night with Lyssa.
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.
Rereading Old Entries Over A Pizza Night (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 9, 1998
Late at night Tony goes hunting through old pages, wishes he had written more, and recalls a Valentines weekend in vivid detail.
Red Beams and a Harbour Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 5, 1998
A shouting match wakes the street while I watch from Keith’s car. We regroup at Tatton’s with Jett, Min-Su and Tamsen, then cruise the town.
A Blue Haired Night in the City (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 17, 1998
Shawn turns up with bright blue hair, Lyssa calls twice with very different moods, and the group heads for the city.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A friendly dance turns awkward, the night winds down, and the group heads off only to learn a friend turned up just after they left.
Biorhythms Bedtime and Bad Ideas (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
Tony rushes through a recap of Friday night, laughs at a sleepy bathroom conversation and tallies where his physical, emotional and mental cycles stand.
A Telly Hunt Tests My Patience (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 26, 1999
Lyssa wants a television for her Nintendo, so the pair trawl through shops from Macarthur Square to Cash Converters. Patience wears thin along the way.
A Fragile Truce With Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 23, 1998
Back home alone with Mariah Carey on the stereo, the diarist replays the last two days with Lyssa. Regret arrives too late, just as hers once did.
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.
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.
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.
Triple Positive Days and a Heavy Bench (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 26, 1999
After seeing Lyssa home, the diarist realises he may know a mutual acquaintance from years back. At the gym, everything finally clicks.
Tatton’s Terrible Driving Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 1, 1998
Tatton’s driving gets scarier by the corner, and the car keeps conking out. Later a street dash with Imad ends at Lucas and Simon’s new place.
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.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 7) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
An evening call with Lyssa moves through old irritations and tender moments, then drifts into the author’s hopes of one day being famous.
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.
Syllables Missing From My Sonnets (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 26, 1998
The sonnets finally reach their reader, and the evening fills up with persistent callers. Tony counts syllables and counts rivals.
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.
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.
Bananas and a Peach From Kuper (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
A Saturday that starts with a suit fitting ends with a gym reunion and a stubborn no to Lyssa. A hint of Rochelle’s Valentine scheme hangs over it all.
A Fragile Truce With Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: September 23, 1998
He sees Lyssa off at the station, then meets her that evening for a rented movie and a pizza that nearly goes wrong. A lift home sets up the night ahead.
The Long Night of Broken Promises (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 18, 1999
A long Friday night leaves Tony resentful, sleepless and wondering why he always gives first and gets nothing back.
Missing Half the Super Bowl (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
A night of compromises ends with Lyssa sleeping over and a Monday that starts far too late. The big game was already in its second quarter.
Liverpool Dance Floors and the Last Day of October (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 31, 1998
With the month nearly over, the author reflects on a night out that started with a long wait for Ralf and a parking struggle in Liverpool.
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 Blonde And A Chickened Out Hello (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998
Tony trades glances with a girl in the supermarket and chickens out, then lifts through a clicking chest injury before heading to the City.
Two Breath Tests on a Friday Night (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 18, 1998
Shawn is pulled over for a second breath test, Phoenix hangs up on a late call, and the next morning Keith turns up at the door.
Arguing With Plato Over an Apple (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 3, 1998
A sleepy day of phone calls turns into a deep dive through the encyclopedia, where Tony decides he disagrees with Plato about where inspiration comes from.
A Fake Lighter for a Snobby Dancer (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
An unexpected visitor interrupts a quiet night in, and Tony returns to Saturday and the nightclub his mates had been hyping. A trick with an invisible lighter does not go down well.
Turning Twenteen With Empty Promises (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 18, 1999
Tony turns twenty in a mood, charts his biorhythms and recalls a Friday gym session and the visit that left him let down.
Sonnets Beat a Nine to Five (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 2, 1999
Tony weighs a life of poetry against a desk job, praises the night and flips through old photo albums before a flat day at the gym.
Tatton Loses a Fight With Newspapers (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 24, 1999
A forgotten moment from Saturday night finally makes the page, and Tatton’s clumsy run with a bundle of newspapers steals the show. Tuesday brings bank queues and big plans.
A Night Lyssa Could Not Stop Talking About (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 11, 1998
Concert ads on TV stir up music dreams and an empty wallet, while thoughts of Lyssa and her night out at Chevy’s keep creeping in.
A Night at the Catholic Club (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 24, 1998
An awkward drunk stranger and a chat with Lyssa and friends make the pokies room a bit tense.
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.
Burgers and Goodbyes With Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: September 24, 1998
He talks his way into a Campbelltown outing with Lyssa, carrying her bag and chasing a little more time with her. Lunch and honest talk follow.
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.
Poetry Is Basically Air Says Me (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 3, 1998
Tony argues that poetry is a material just like air, shares five haiku, then heads to the gym and finishes with a theory of matter and time.