Grieving Jewell Then Losing at Madden (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
Memories of Jewell sting while an old CD plays. The story then rewinds to a Saturday of Madden, a stuck car and a tournament with a name change.
A Goodnight Kiss With No Spark (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 11, 1999
After a long evening together, a call to dad and a goodnight kiss leave Tony wondering where the old spark went.
A Mystery Payment And A Fresh Haircut (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 7, 1998
Tony finds more money in his account than he expects, then spends the afternoon on a very particular haircut and a shopping loop around Campbelltown.
A Lost Ring And Fruit Loops (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
Tony wakes late on the first day of summer and trains hard on cereal. A call with Lyssa brings news about the ring and the piano box.
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.
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.
Hot Days and Fresh Starts – Mad Chaos: September 30, 1998
On the last day of the month he writes a song about a crazy world, prints his resume at a friend’s and sorts out an Optus bill before the month ends.
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.
Do Not Quote Me In Your Diary (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 22, 1998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.
Who Really Loved Who More (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 26, 1999
The diarist weighs his own part in a broken relationship and worries about losing his friends again. A day of shopping brings an unexpected moment.
Spies in the Station Toilets (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
Tony finally starts writing up Saturday night, beginning at Ralf’s house and a walk to the station. Two girls try very hard to spy on the group before the train arrives.
Perfume Money Buys Peace (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Tony trails Lyssa through the city on Christmas Eve, loses an argument about staying over, and wins her back with a bottle of perfume.
Awake All Night to Hand In a Form (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 12, 1999
With the sonnet contrasts done, Tony forces himself to stay up so he can hand in a form in town. By evening he is a sleepless wreck with a new mystery call to ponder.
Lyssa Brings the Ettamogah Photos (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
A pointless road-rules debate gives way to a warm Saturday night, with Lyssa flicking through photos and praising Tony’s poetry. Old friendships get an honest review.
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.
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.
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.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A relaxed beach afternoon brings new faces, a brave run into the ocean, and a story about a bike ride gone wrong.
Lost Necklace and a Night with Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: October 30, 1998
A cheerful ride home turns into a quiet, affectionate night in the author’s room, with the usual teasing between them.
Jumping the Train to Meet Lyssa (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Tony writes a poem that needs no voice, then wakes to a call, power walks to the station, and gambles on a free ride into the city.
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.
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 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.
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.
A Subway Detour And A Club Lock (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 6, 1998
Keith checks on a party in Ingleburn and it goes badly, then a Subway run ends with a laugh over a mistaken car door and a late call from Lyssa.
Burnt Pasta and a Taxi Fare (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 1, 1999
Lyssa rings with the gossip from a messy weekend out, then turns up by taxi for a movie night. The pasta did not go to plan.
A Six Minute Radio Show for Two (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999
Honest and sometimes awkward thoughts about closeness fill a long afternoon. It ends with a driving game and a six minute recording on the computer.
Do You Still Love Me (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 12, 1999
Over several phone calls, Tony and Lyssa weigh up getting back together and she asks the one question he cannot answer cleanly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Testing the Torn Pec Again (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 4, 1999
Tony starts the day with a small victory over a cockroach, then heads to the gym to see how his injured chest copes, before Jett calls with questions.
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.
Coffee in a Dark Little House (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 17, 1999
Tony tracks down his Valentine admirer, accepts a coffee he does not want and plots his escape with Ralf, before a long phone chat with Lyssa.
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.
Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 1, 1999
Tony works through a list of friends who all said no, then heads out alone on New Years Eve, sneaking through ticket gates to catch the big fireworks.
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.
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.
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.
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 Bank Mix-Up and a Trip Not Taken (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: October 12, 1998
He muses on who will read these pages in ten years, then heads to the bank to chase down missing money and a Liverpool trip.
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.
Typing Lessons for a Loud Kid (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 2, 1999
The library has no decent fonts, but it does have a very loud boy who cannot type. Tony helps, in his own way.
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.
A Stripper Story and Madden Heartbreak (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: March 2, 1999
Sunday brings Lyssa’s wild night at a work party, a cranky Keith throwing controllers and a Madden loss decided by a single punt.
Resentments, Workouts and a Broken Down Car (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 28, 1998
The gym session goes well, the poems for Lyssa stay on the mind, and the evening ends with a cheeky pizza shop visit.
My Hand Fell Off in My Sleep (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: December 4, 1998
Tony wakes certain his hand has dropped off, then plans a dramatic poem set in a poisoned English castle and recites the speech of a dying prince.
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.
A Black Outfit Worth My Gym Money (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: February 17, 1999
A shout of seafood and chips, a shop window outfit and a train ride past an old schoolmate shape a day that costs Tony his gym money.
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.
A Chalk War on the Platform (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 2, 1999
The new year begins with fireworks on the wharf, a sweaty dance floor and a very long trip home, with chalk flying and a few cheeky strangers on the train.
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.
Madden, a Celica and One Awkward Visit (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 25, 1999
A lazy Madden session with Keith and Shawn leads to a stiff visit to see a new car. Later, a phone call with Lyssa raises the same old question.
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.
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.
Interrogated About My Night (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Lyssa grills Tony about his night out, shares a rough night of her own, and the call turns into a frank look at what each of them wants next.
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.
Super Mario Is Too Cute for Me (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 21, 1999
After a night of rally bragging, the diarist tries Super Mario and finds it too cute. A teasing phone call and a rushed workout fill the rest of the day.
Lost at the New Nightclub (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 23, 1999
Tony swears he will change, then finds the new Macarthur Square nightclub is not for him, before looking back at a Thursday of calls and job ads.
Borrowed Jeans for a Nervous Clubber (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 8, 1999
Tony marks three years of writing, squeezes in a late workout, then helps a nervous mate face his very first nightclub.
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.
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.
Telling Lyssa About Jewell (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: September 22, 1998
On the train to Parramatta the diarist admits what Jewell meant to him during the break up. Lyssa’s hurt reaction turns the rest of the journey into one long apology.
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 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.
A Pencil for a Pretend Smoke (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 8, 1999
While Ralf and Shawn own the dance floor, Tony babysits a nervous mate, meets a friendly stranger and invents a very silly trick with a pencil.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Braveheart Sonnet and Hotel Doubts (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: February 16, 1999
Tony stays up writing a Braveheart sonnet while a tangled night with Lyssa leaves him questioning what a hotel stay would really change.
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.
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.
Fate Works in Pairs (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: January 19, 1999
Tony’s Monday ends with a surprise lift home, tales of his brother’s fights and a gym session that leaves him aching.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Worms On The Playstation And A Cinema Door (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 11, 1998
Jett shows up with his console and a new game, then the lads head to the movies where Tony decides to stay outside.
Singing Silly Opera Voices With Lyssa (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 4, 1999
A long evening call turns into a game of high notes and cracking voices, with plans for a birthday dinner and a promise to tape Lyssa asleep again.
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.
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.
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.
Seventeen Hours on the Nintendo (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 5, 1999
A hired Nintendo 64 turns one evening into a seventeen hour football marathon, complete with a playoff loss that still stings.
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.
Feeling Old at Nineteen (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 9, 1999
A restless early morning brings a finished poem about time, worries about his body and a long look back at the past few years.
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.
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.
Caving In To A Day Trip To The City (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 24, 1998
Lyssa begs Tony to meet her in the City, and he reluctantly caves, rushing his workout and listing everything the pair do not agree on.
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.
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.
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.
Training Tatton To Remember The Nineties (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 2, 1998
Shawn and Tatton keep Tony company with cards, teasing and television. The next day brings sneezes, summer heat and some close calls.
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.
A Landmark Weekend of Clubbing and Beach Days (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: October 25, 1998
A round of visits with Ralf leads to Binh’s shop, a cheap donut, and a nagging fear about a payment being stopped.
Racing a Mystery Girl in My Sleep (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 14, 1998
After finally sleeping at a normal hour, Tony wakes to a pair of dreams he works hard to remember. A cross country race and a school graph of shame fill the nap.
A Love Greater Than Love (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: February 12, 1999
Tony stays up until dawn finishing a new sonnet for his Lost Years series. He then asks, line by line, whether the feeling behind it was love or something louder.
A Sonnet About a Horse And Time (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 8, 1998
Tony wrestles with a stubborn sonnet that compares a galloping landscape to the way days pass, and finally lands a poem he is proud of.
A Cruel Little Joke From Lyssa (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 6, 1999
A prank call leaves Tony stung and sets off an honest night of thinking about his breakup, his friends and what love should be.
Resentments, Workouts and a Broken Down Car (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: October 28, 1998
Friends put a carburetor back together, a family illness changes plans, and a night of car trouble ends with plenty of teasing.
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.
My Biorhythms Added Up Wrong (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 23, 1999
Tony discovers his biorhythm sums were out by days, redraws his charts, and tries to predict when his mind is at its sharpest.
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.
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.
Ralf Grills the New Girl (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: March 8, 1999
Ralf interrogates a guest, I try to rescue her, and a camera captures the rest of the party.
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.