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.
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.
Where My Poetry First Woke Up (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
In the early hours Tony sets the chronology aside to trace where his poetry came from. Old jobs, old crushes and a first line he still thinks is his best.
Writing the First Lost Years Sonnet (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 3, 1999
After a frosty phone call with Lyssa, Tony maps out goals for the year, then pours the early hours into a sonnet about Jewell and the lost years.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lifting Heavy And Overthinking Saturday (Part 6) – Mad Chaos: December 17, 1998
Tony finishes a punishing back and triceps session, takes stock of his injuries, and plans a perfect Saturday that Jett promptly rearranges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ralf and the Elevator That Hated Him (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: January 27, 1999
Ralf meets a huge spider in the car park, the lift refuses to cooperate and a hi-fi shop tempts Tony. The long way home takes far longer than it ever should.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fried Rice and Wounded Pride (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: January 21, 1999
A belated visit on his birthday brings a walk to the shops, a funny phone prank story and a promise to himself.
Braveheart Made Me a Bard (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 14, 1999
A battle-cry sonnet pours out after a Braveheart night, followed by a short poem about being told he cannot be a bard. Then Shawn tries to correct his Shakespearean spelling.
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.
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.
Hanging Up On Lyssa Again (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 27, 1998
A string of tense phone calls pushes Tony to draw a line, tally up the arguments and hold on to a few words from a song on the television.
Fighting Words Before Back Day (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 27, 1999
A frosty call with Lyssa is followed by a sluggish back and triceps session, a chat about a cheap car and a tired, sun tanned end to the night.
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.
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.
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 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.
A Puffy Face on a Plastic Card (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: February 2, 1999
A short gym finish gives way to a surprise visit and a day of errands. The new identification card photo was not a keeper.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 Skipped Gym Day And A Beach (Part 1) – Mad Chaos: December 29, 1998
A spontaneous beach trip pulls Tony away from the gym. The sand is hot, the waves are rough and the sun wins.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Bumping Into The Girl In Red (Part 2) – Mad Chaos: December 29, 1998
Tony tumbles into someone he was hoping to meet, loses his nerve and then loses a fight with the surf. Burgers help.
My Murmuring Disaster Beside a Commodore (Part 4) – Mad Chaos: January 25, 1999
After a night of near misses on the dance floor, Tony follows two girls to their car and freezes. The ride home brings jokes, regrets and a call nobody answers.
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.
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 Sunday Night Full of Surprises (Part 5) – Mad Chaos: December 15, 1998
Lyssa arrives at the house with excuses about forgotten poems, and an evening that starts at the computer takes a turn that ends in a mystery.
Valhalla Gets a Sonnet at Dawn (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 10, 1999
Tony wraps up one sonnet, stays up to write a Norse one about Valhalla, and ends the day smitten with a neighbour glimpsed from afar.
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.
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.
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.
A Chain Mended and Faith Renewed (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: January 21, 1999
Tony kills time in Campbelltown while his chain is repaired, then spends the evening on the phone with Lyssa as their relationship keeps shifting.
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.