The job offer notification pops up on my phone early on Christmas Eve. It's a short-term role helping with overnight deliveries. The regular delivery driver has hurt his back and needs an offsider for heavy lifting.

Nick's Helper is a short story by Robert Fairhead from the Tall And True writers' website.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/nicks-helper

Listen to all podcast episodes on Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Episode 13, The Gift: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-gift/

Episode 52, The Special Tree: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-special-tree/

Season Five Trailer: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/introducing-season-five/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Phone Notification: https://freesound.org/people/katjajansen1997/sounds/538006/

• Phone Vibration: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/515295/

• Santa Bells: https://freesound.org/people/BrianJamesLong/sounds/330415/

• Kids Laughing: https://freesound.org/people/Iamgiorgio/sounds/371342/

• Door Slammed: https://freesound.org/people/TiesWijnen/sounds/455540/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bernie sat by himself on the far side of the emergency department waiting room. Elsie and Rita were sitting together, near the doors to the operating theatres. Elsie was sobbing, and Bernie wanted to console her, but he couldn't face Rita's wrath again. "It's all your fault, Bernie!" she'd shouted at him.

The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts — Two: A Fast Car — Part Three is a short story by Robert Fairhead from the Tall And True writers' website.

Read Robert's writing on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au

A Dog and Van Road Trip:

• Part One: Sydney to Uluru: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/a-dog-and-van-road-trip-part-one-sydney-to-uluru

• Part Two: Uluru: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/a-dog-and-van-road-trip-part-two-uluru

Listen to all podcast episodes on Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Season Five Trailer: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/introducing-season-five/

The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts:

• Prologue: The Clinic: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-prologue-the-clinic/

• One: Rock Fishing: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-one-rock-fishing/

• Two: A Fast Car - Part One: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-two-a-fast-car-part-one/

• Two: A Fast Car - Part Two: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-two-a-fast-car-part-two/

• Two: A Fast Car - Part Three: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-two-a-fast-car-part-three/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Car Engine Revving: https://freesound.org/people/overmedium/sounds/651534/

• Hospital Waiting Room: https://freesound.org/people/bassboybg/sounds/201638/

• Heart Monitor-Flat Line: https://freesound.org/people/samfk360/sounds/148897/

• Opening Door: https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_7146007/sounds/383846/

• Police Car Radio: https://freesound.org/people/mrrap4food/sounds/618971/

• Racing Cars: https://freesound.org/people/DaleT92/sounds/260886/

• Car Crash: https://freesound.org/people/squareal/sounds/237375/

• Bernie's Car: https://freesound.org/people/tiramisuper/sounds/474461/

• Heart Monitor: https://freesound.org/people/iluminati_2705/sounds/536706/

• Baby Laughter: https://freesound.org/people/iccleste/sounds/260774/

• Pub Ambience: https://freesound.org/people/BurghRecords/sounds/415974/

• Respirator: https://freesound.org/people/dansotak/sounds/137709/

• Wall Clock: https://freesound.org/people/Richard1052/sounds/585774/

• Underwater: https://freesound.org/people/DCSFX/sounds/366159/

• Wind and Waves: https://freesound.org/people/nickmaysoundmusic/sounds/585622/

• Santa Bells: https://freesound.org/people/BrianJamesLong/sounds/330415/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leo sat in sullen silence in the front passenger seat, staring out the windscreen, as Bernie’s car strained, towing his secondhand car on a hired trailer up the hills to the abandoned quarry. Bernie had known Leo since the boy was eight and had taught him the things a father would normally teach a son.

The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts — Two: A Fast Car — Part Two is a short story by Robert Fairhead from the Tall And True writers' website.

Read Robert's writing on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au

Listen to all podcast episodes on Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Listen to the Season Five Trailer: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/introducing-season-five/

Listen to The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts:

• Prologue: The Clinic: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-prologue-the-clinic/

• One: Rock Fishing: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-one-rock-fishing/

• Two: A Fast Car - Part One: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-two-a-fast-car-part-one/

• Two: A Fast Car - Part Two: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-nine-lives-of-leo-roberts-two-a-fast-car-part-two/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Bernie's Car: https://freesound.org/people/tiramisuper/sounds/474461/

• Bike Bell: https://freesound.org/people/altazor80/sounds/367744/

• Waves on Beach: https://freesound.org/people/VMan533/sounds/575894/

• Wind and Waves: https://freesound.org/people/nickmaysoundmusic/sounds/585622/

• Seagulls: https://freesound.org/people/plantmonkey/sounds/377107/

• Fishing Rod Reel: https://freesound.org/people/170129/sounds/408252/

• Heart Monitor: https://freesound.org/people/samfk360/sounds/148897/

• Heartbeat: https://freesound.org/people/PollyannaMedia/sounds/541434/

• Kettle Boiling: https://freesound.org/people/cupido-1/sounds/433538/

• Kettle Whistling: https://freesound.org/people/keweldog/sounds/181718/

• Bird Song in Sydney: https://freesound.org/people/Rimmer/sounds/662079/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.