Short Stories
A selection of Roisín’s short stories available to read or listen to online.
present perfect
‘Rabbit scarves. Grubby mittens. Coats; mint green, dinosaur print. Bloody zips! Somehow, I’ve managed to bundle the kids into all their layers, and we’ve made it out of the hotel room…’
how to build a space rocket
‘When the N12 is going that fast, it becomes smooth as space. No pebbles or gravel or road markings. Like how, if you travel at light speed, you can’t see any stars. …’
sleep watchers
Over Zoom one night, a therapist tucks her dark hair behind her ears and introduces herself as Maeve. They are about the same age, in their late thirties. She doesn’t ask about Orla’s childhood, or root around for scars. She says, Tell me what’s happening.
how to learn irish in seventeen steps
‘Watch swallows perform roller-coaster dips and dives across the pale June sky. You now have less than ten months in which to learn Irish. How hard can this language be?…’
no fury
Why is it so difficult to say the appropriate words? Why does love in its wake leave such venom? I tied the veil between two trees...’
(from 10.33 minutes in)
on cosmology
‘The Christmas tree in Trinity front square has blown over and lies in a sparkling heap. I feel like Christmas is happening in another solar system from where I am. For three weeks, all I’ve thought about is you….’
THe great hunger
‘When they drive in convoy into the dark mountains, Skaiste’s chest tightens. ‘Don’t worry, honey.’ Her mate rubs her thigh. ‘It’s been carefully planned.’