Tell Tale Tattler

In the heart of a modest Dublin housing estate, Arthur Brennan lives a life of quiet ambition, his middle-class comforts setting him apart from his neighbors. With a tailored suit and a steady job, Mr. Brennan embodies respectability. That is, until a sweltering summer night in 1977 unravels his carefully constructed world. When a fire engulfs a local business, temptation ignites, and a single reckless act sends his life into a downward spiral.

Narrated by a reflective observer, Tell Tale Tattler is a poignant tale of conformity, rebellion, and the devastating consequences of a fleeting lapse in judgment. As the neighborhood’s curtain-twitching gossip, Vera Richardson, stirs the pot, Mr. Brennan’s unexpected hardship becomes a public spectacle, stripping him of dignity and purpose. This evocative short story explores the fragility of reputation, the weight of shame, and the quiet resilience of a family forced to rebuild from the ashes of disgrace.

Haunting and deeply human, Tell Tale Tattler captures the ache of unfulfilled dreams and the enduring scars of a moment’s madness.