Category: Stories

• Not the Naughty List

  “Get back to work,” a fat voice bellowed. Sherry Wintersleigh yawned, stretched her arms wider and opened her eyes. “What, what, what,” she began. “He’s always like this,” whispered a passing elf. “But Christmas is…,” Sherry said. The shadow standing over her shook his finger at her. “You heard what I said,” bellowed Santa. “On…

  Andrew Whalan

  December 24, 2019

  Stories

  Christmas, furiousfiction, microfiction, short stories, short story

• Laughably Ever After

  

  “Dr Twinkle?” “Speaking.” “Do you do weekend emergency out calls?” “Nope. Only weekdays. And only to the Kid’s hospital. Why?” “I need a doctor for a party.”

  Andrew Whalan

  November 23, 2019

  Stories

  flashfiction, microfiction, Romantic Comedy, short story

• Book Meet

  

  Buff notebook, fine point pen. A grubby dog-eared novel more well-read than me.

  Andrew Whalan

  October 23, 2019

  Stories

  flashfiction, furiousfiction, short story, Spy fiction

• One for Each Pot….

  

  “One for each person,” she thought she heard. “And one for the pot,” the whispered reply. Yes she thought. You again.

  Andrew Whalan

  October 17, 2019

  Stories

  flashfiction, ghost story, microfiction, short story

• Ghostwriter

  An ink-stained manuscript materialises before her. Through the mist, she sees him. Crouched, pen-poised a man is waiting, frozen in time. His pen rises, falls, sweeps down but doesn’t touch the paper. He sighs. She sees two hands rise towards her. “Nothing. Still nothing.” He throws his pen down on the desk. She leans towards…

  Andrew Whalan

  August 21, 2019

  Stories

  ghost story, short story

• Scissors Paper Nuke

  

  “Scissors Paper Rock.” “Scissors Paper Rock.” “Scissors Paper Rock.” Three boys playing the game of ancient ages rouse me from my rail induced reverie. Obviously brothers. The youngest is short, brown hair and eyes that observe more than he sees. The middle is blonde, curly-haired. His blue eyes dance with laughter at any excuse. The…

  Andrew Whalan

  July 24, 2019

  Personal, Stories

  Children

• Extenuating Circumstances

  “I need you to divorce me,” she said. As soon as I saw her I knew she was right. I needed me to divorce her. Although in truth I there could be no thought of remarriage. Not even a Reno remarriage. Even if Nevada was well over a day’s flying away. The crushing humidity set…

  Andrew Whalan

  June 30, 2019

  Stories

  short story

• The Last Child

  “He’s never done anything like this before.” “What?” Alex mouthed.  Caroline held up one hand. Principal, her husband heard her in his head. “Thank you for telling us,” she continued,”we’ll take care of it.” Take care of what? You’re not telling me everything, he thought at her.  She pressed the red icon. She looked up…

  Andrew Whalan

  April 24, 2019

  Stories

  short story

• The Curious Case of the Endless Linen

  We would arrive at the same time. Opening time. 7:30am. I’d see him standing at the door, five or six laundry bags at his feet. A small wizened man, the classic caretaker from central casting. Behind the double glass doors, I saw the proprietor waiting. A grey man worn down by time and with little time…

  Andrew Whalan

  March 20, 2019

  Personal, Stories

  short stories, short story

• Breathe For Me

  Breathe for me.Watching you sip each breath, I want to breathe for you. I want to inhale oxygen, pass it from my lungs to yours. And from there into that heart I love so much. You hold my hand. I hold yours. You must hear my words for you. Wait and hope.  You were to grow…

  Andrew Whalan

  February 20, 2019

  Stories

  Children, second person, short stories, short story

• Circus Trainer

  I needed the whip and chair today. It was that bad. It started quietly enough. Customer Service 101 : benign and boring. A course with the best beginning ever: no trainees when I arrived. Which was perfect. I hadn’t had my coffee anyway. I needed that thirty minutes. I unlocked the classroom, turned on the…

  Andrew Whalan

  November 11, 2018

  Stories

• The Prayer Book

  “Is this yours?”  Five fingers first appeared. Next a hand. Holding what? A notebook? A leather-bound notebook? Perhaps it’s a small purse? Or perhaps a pocketbook?  A prayer book. I leaned across my luggage trolley for a closer look. The Way of the Pilgrim: A Devotional Journey. I read. Oh no.  “Is that yours?” the finder repeated. A waif.…

  Andrew Whalan

  September 26, 2018

  Stories

  airport, coincidence, short stories