Category: Flash Fiction

• The Poet’s Work

  Andrew Whalan

  January 16, 2022

  Flash Fiction

  Poetry, Poetry community

• Ebenezer’s Haunting

  “Ha! You’re dead. And I’m not.And that is my final word to you,” said Scrooge. And with that the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to come and Jacob Marley dissolved themselves invisible. “And that’s that, “ said Scrooge. “I’ve won my peace.” But after that Scrooge couldn’t sleep. His eyelids would […]

  Andrew Whalan

  December 1, 2021

  Flash Fiction

  Christmas, Fiction, Flash Fiction

• Invasion 101

  Prepare the invasion fleet.Black space sparkled, gleamed and glistened as our ships came to life. Sleeping soldiers woke, stretched, uncoiled their tendrils, weapons at the ready.I sighed and shook my head.Their astronomers soon would see us. As a rapidly approaching asteroid swarm. And alert their leaders.Not again. You, I said. Wake up.The Fleet Commander yawned, […]

  Andrew Whalan

  August 25, 2021

  Flash Fiction, science fiction

  science fiction, short stories, short story

• Short Run

  Again. I drew my hand close, splayed my fingers wide and pressed down hard. On my shoulder. I pivoted and turned left, facing the scorers. “Short run, ”  I intoned, making sure my voice carried off field. Somewhere in the distance, a head raised and lowered. Perhaps a pen moved scratching paper, hopefully. I turned […]

  Andrew Whalan

  July 28, 2021

  Cricket, Experience, Flash Fiction

  Cricket, short story, umpiring

• Apocalypse Postponed

  “Comrade Colonel Stanislaw Petrov had to go. KAL007 had been shot down. NATO began Exercise Able Archer. We thought it was the end. And 26th September 1983, under his command we detected an ICBM launch. Then another four. And what did he do? He waited. Checked the satellite observers. No confirmation. The ground radar. No […]

  Andrew Whalan

  July 22, 2021

  Fiction, Flash Fiction

• Bemused

  My fingers close around the remote. One finger starts…And before I reach the on button, it happens.Her voice is in my ear. Thick as honey, she begins… I have better things to do than to bow to the whims of the likes of you, I say.I hear the tinkle of her laughter. Her whispered giggle. […]

  Andrew Whalan

  June 30, 2021

  Flash Fiction

  flashfiction, short stories, short story

• Resigned to Staying

  The mobile purred. A sleepy finger reached out and pressed answer. “Thought I’d phone in this week’s postcard from afar.” “Lee, I can barely hear you. You sound like you’re croaking it in a drainpipe.” “Only line in town, boss.” “Only time for one take, even then we’ll barely make the deadline. Gimme a second […]

  Andrew Whalan

  March 31, 2021

  Flash Fiction

  Fiction, flashfiction, short stories, short story

• After the Wedding

  Their fingers kept fumbling at my tie. And I kept trying to wave them away. Are you finished? I asked. They shook their heads. Over, under then thread the two between: Windsor knot finally done. It was then I lost it. One lifted my feet, the other my arms and lowered me in. Leave me […]

  Andrew Whalan

  July 28, 2020

  Flash Fiction, Poetry

• The Beckoning

  “I don’t know why I’m even telling you this,” she says. To the stranger over the phone. At last it has begun for her. Though of course it is over for me. Her hovering over me in the bedroom. Closing the curtains again and shrouding me in endless twilight. I can see my waxen face […]

  Andrew Whalan

  May 20, 2020

  Fiction, Flash Fiction

  Fiction, flashfiction, short stories, short story

• Meeting the Mother in Law

  In the middle of Australia’s same sex marriage plebiscite,  a hair colourist has a heart-felt awakening. “Meeting the Mother-in-Law,” the nail-polish label said. She held it up. And it suited her. Although it didn’t quite match her hair. I looked away and resumed lipstick scrabbling. I was happy caching my favourite shades: Dark Plum, Faded Pink, […]

  Andrew Whalan

  April 6, 2020

  Flash Fiction

  short stories, short story