This archive catalogues pieces written as purely or mostly conversational exchanges between two or more characters. Narrative is minimal. Readers are expected to piece together place, circumstance, and characters from what is [or isn’t] “said.” In that respect these are mysteries of a sort, with readers playing as detective.
* Indicates this is the primary/only (genre) archive for this selection.
“Conversations” are usually anecdotes or vignettes, though given a creative reader’s imagination, could be considered rude stories.
78 entries, latest 6/12/2025
Recent additions
A Rabbi, A Priest, and a Vicar
Lightly humorous conversational flash fiction. The old joke starts out “A career drunk and an alligator walk into a bar.” We twist it a little bit here because only the drunk and a perceptive barkeep can see the alligator and his attitude.
*General Fiction; 6-12-2025 spwilcenwrites, first exposed on spwilcenwrites “But of Course – June 12, 2025; 474 words, approximately 3 minutes reading time.
Pollinators
Flash conversation. Two peas in a pod? No. Two bees on scout duty for new pollen fields. A revealing look into life in service to the hive.
*General fiction; exposed by spwilcenwrites “Pass the Okra – June 7, 2025”; 250 words, less than 2 minutes reading time.
Digital Fitness
Flash conversation. A bit of sci-fi playing loose and free with the current wrist fitness fad. How far can it go?
*SciFi and Speculative Fiction; exposed by spwilcenwrites “Dick Tracy Fitness – December 30, 2024”; 172 words, less than 1 minute reading time.
Domestic Difficulties
Humorous conversational anecdote. His son away at work, a dziadek (Polish grandfather) drives across Warsaw to check on his grandchildren after an unsatisfactory phone check to their home. The grandchildren for whatever reason do not immediately respond to his knock at the door. Confusion ensues.
*General fiction; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” 12/20/2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites “A Short Vignette – December 23, 2024”; 969 words, approximately 5 minutes reading time.
Smokehouse
Flash fiction from the dark side. Yancy’d put up with Louise a long time. Too long. He needed to get away. How do you get away from a dominating, cheating woman? Clean break that’s what he needed…
*Dark fiction, Noir; spwilcenwrites 11/26/2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Behind the Fiction Wall – December 1, 2024”; 408 words, 2 minutes reading time; MA for violence and language.
Archives
A Little Gardening Help
Speculative fiction. An avid gardener describes an advertisement she ran across in a newspaper, in the infomercial style you are familiar with, buried in the back pages. It was among classifieds, personals, buy, sell, and swap announcements, and personals. What the article promised took the gardener by surprise until she considered, “Well, why not? Technology seems to be in place; it’s used everywhere else, why not in gardening?” Some might consider the promises she recounts a bit far-fetched. You’ll have to decide for yourself…
*Science Fiction; ≈ 1050 words, 6 minutes reading time; introduced by spwilcenwrites “Imaginings – September 28, 2024”.
Animal Control
Conversational short story.I have problems with creatures, varmints actually, overrunning my lawn and garden and doing their best to sabotage the foundations of my house and outbuildings. I’ll try anything. This approach more or less presented itself.
*Humor; TheProse 5/14/2020, spwilcenwrites 7/4/2020; 566 words, approximately 5 minutes reading time; MA for suggested violence to animals.
Birthday Quandary
Humorous flash conversational anecdote. Hubby’s birthday is coming up. He plans an evening out with the boys. The Missus is curious. Well, ‘the missus’ is always benignly curious, right? We overhear a conversation between the two on the subject. It is, boys and girls, so very true to life.
*Humor, General fiction, Adult; first in spwilcenwrites “Choices – August 17, 2022”; 500 words, less than 5 minutes reading time; Triggers: language and mildly suggestive.
Building 431
Flash fiction in conversational format. An AI programmer is assigned to work Building 431. What is it that goes on there? He finds out, as will you.
*SciFi and Speculative fiction; spwilcenwrites 11/7/2020; 99 words, less than 1 minute reading time.
Civilized
Flash fiction. Stranded and starved because they’re out of Synthexx, two humans think they’ve made a good choice. After all, whatever it was, it was a lesser creature. Right?
Dark Fiction, *SciFi and Speculative fiction; spwilcenwrites 3/19/2021; 100 words, less than 1 minute reading time; MA for violent situation, language, and gross imagery.
Christmas Prayers
Conversational short story. Christmas eve. What would a young girl pray for?
Children, *Holiday(Christmas), International flavor; spwilcenwrites 12/12/2021; 257 words, 3 minutes reading time.
Cigar Store
Humorous vignette, conversational flash. Time to celebrate a significant event! Celebrations don’t come often enough to justify my own humidor, so a trip to the cigar store was necessary to get a celebratory smoke. The particular brand and type I wanted was not stocked. No matter, I’d get a little help from the gent working the counter.
*General Fiction, Humor; spwilcenwrites 11/12/2022; 352 words, approximately 4 minutes reading time.
The Democrat King, his Loyal Pages, the Dneep Forrest and the Fabulous Foo
Humorous truth-be-told of an old fable. There’s an old fable going around. Problem is, MSM’s got it so MSG-infused it’s as close to the truth as “an honest politician.” You want to hear the straight skinny? Of course you do. Just do us a favor and don’t tell anyone else. We have a Deal?
*“Twisted Fairy Tales, Fables and Legends,” Humor; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” 10/8/2023, exposed by spwilcenwrites, “Story Time – October 9, 2023”; ≈ 1200 words, 7 minutes reading time; MA: language, political and gender inappropriateness, and violence.
Digital Synch
Flash short story. Tick-tock, tick-tock. No. Wait. Digital. Would that be “hmmmmm” or whatever sound a whizzing electron makes?
*SciFi and Speculative Fiction; spwilcenwrites 3/12/2021; 388 words, less than 4 minutes reading time; MA a little light cursin
ESP
Flash conversational bump-in-the-night. Quite by chance, office mates and close friends Celene and Francine bump into each other between Bordeaux and Cabernet racks at the wine shop. They chat while searching varietals and vintages. Francine learns Celene is troubled over recent events. Celene explains. On parting, Francine has concerns of her own…
Dark Fiction, * Werewolves Vampires and Witchcraft; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” “ESP” 4/4/2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Cryptaesthesia – April 13, 2024”; 350 words, approximately 2 minutes reading time.
Every December
Flash Fiction. Grampa has a recurring question as the first snow falls and Christmas apporoaches once again.
*Holiday(Christmas); spwilcenwrites 11/29/2020; 100 words, less than 1 minute reading time.
Favorite Insults – No. 5 – Mrs. Clifton
Flash anecdote tinged with humor and social irreverence. Widow Clifton, a respected and unpretentious (and occasionally snarky) local grand dame, for the first time ever, finds it necessary she fly cross-country to tend family matters. Unfamiliar with and uneasy about air travel, she recruits Ms. Leslie Bowerman, girls’ Phys Ed instructor at the local high school, to accompany her through the big city airport. As recounted by Ms. Bowerman, Widow Clifton, were she of less stout material, would have been nonplussed by the big city. Ms. Bowerman is amazed at Widow Clifton’s pluck and reserve.
General Fiction, *Humor; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” October 21, 2023”; 996 words, ≈ 3 minutes reading time; MA: politically incorrect.
Favorite Insults No. 6 – Pastor Remley
Humorous anecdote. We overhear Pastor Remley chatting with Edward Dillworth after Sunday service. Edward’s concern over his high school daughter’s current infatuation with a college lad dominates their conversation. Pastor Remley does his best separating youthful ideals from character, hiding hurtful opinion. In the end, Edward goads the good pastor into a statement that while polite, succinctly defines the pastor’s personal opinion.
*Humor, General Fiction; spwilcenwrites 3/18/2024 “Fiction” “Humor”, unexposed; 1058 words, approximately 6 minutes reading time.
Favorite Insults – No. 8 – Cletis
Flash anecdote. An unintentional insult earns a man a sound pounding at the hands of an irate husband. Care to learn the particulars?
General Fiction, *Humor; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” October 20, 2023; 998 words, ≈ 5 minutes reading time.
First Aid Station
Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction. In service to an intergalactic conglomerate, your first outpost is as medical associate serving a remote star system’s odd lifeform. Fortunately, an old hand is there to walk you through your first encounter.
*SciFi and Speculative Fiction; spwilcenwrites 10/7/2021 “First Aid Station – October 7, 7E5”; 534 words, approximately 4 minutes reading time.
Fishing Buddies
Flash fiction. Short tale of two older gents on a fishing trip with a bit of dark twist.
Dark Fiction, *Published Elsewhere; February 26, 2021 in The Chamber Magazine ; 100 words, less than 2 minutes reading time; NSFW for language and reference to violence.
Flashback
Short story. Time travel is an interesting concept. How will non-travelers interact with travelers? Will it make a difference if whether you trace forward of backward in time? It could be confusing. Here’s an example.
*SciFi and Speculative fiction; spwilcenwrites 4/29/2021; 200 words, under 3 minutes reading time. Author’s notes for anyone confused are an additional 200 words.
Full Circle
Flash anecdote. Gent has to cool his heels waiting for his dinner companions. Strikes up a conversation with the barman, who offers a drink on the house if he can’t guess the gent’s preference. An interesting back-and-forth…
*General Fiction; TheProse 7/7/2020, spwilcenwrites 10/5/2022; 648 words, approximately 6 minutes reading time.
GeoCheating
Humorous conversational anecdote with speculative fiction twist. Ever know you were not speeding but get pulled over and find yourself arguing against an infallible “radar”? Here’s a “workaround” worth considering. She’s an App Developer who’s found a way to ply her skills to her advantage.
*General Fiction, Humor, Sci-Fi and Speculative fiction; 298 words ≈ 3 minutes reading time; exposed by spwilcenwrites “GeoCheating – February 9, 2021”.
Going Home
Flash fiction. Two service buds. One is suddenly mustered out of the unit location. This is presented in two versions. Either way, this is flash fiction. Two versions, both 100 words. The first is “conversational” where the reader is left to fill in the blanks. The second is “vignette” or “narrative” where character is not as well developed, the story somewhat less intimate. Which do you prefer?
*Noir(Military); spwilcenwrites 11/29/2020; 100 words (in either version) reading time less than 1 minute each.
Grandfather Was a Fisherman
Short story. Grandfather and grandson talk of work, growing old, family, and dying. Listen to the words carefully you will hear that grandfather hopes his grandson can change what should be changed.
*Children, International flavor(Italy); spwilcenwrites 4/4/2022; 596 words, approximately 6 minutes reading time.
Grocery Checkout
Humorous anecdotal conversation. Sights, sounds, and people make grocery shipping interesting. People, if one is tuned-in, entertain with their conversations, even when you are not party to the exchange.
*Humor, General fiction; spwilcenwrites “I Meet Some Interesting People – July 17, 2022”; 324 words, about 2 minutes reading time; Triggers: none.
Health Assessment
Humorous conversational satire. Old folks annually suffer what is called a “Health Assessment.” Most old folks meekly put up with the cattle herding frustrations involved: repetitive questionnaires, inane, insulting, and redundant oral interviews, lab tests not necessarily specific to present complaints and ailments, and “medical” staff like as not equally perturbed by the absurdity of it all, one of the better examples of American healthcare stupidity, inadequacy, and waste. We overhear a conversation between one old dude, for the sake of anonymity identified as “Mr. Kowalsky,” who we’ve snooped on in the past, as he takes his annual best shots at the hapless PA finalizing his “assessment.”. Trying to actually address issues he feels important that are ignored by the Medicare Carnival, he is, as the whole of the healthcare facility’s staff knows, brash and outspoken.
General,*Humor; 1481 words, approximately 8 minutes reading time; spwilcenwrites “Fiction,” exposed by spwilcenwrtites “It’s That Time of Year Again – March 16, 2024”; MA: mildly offensive language, opinion, and innuendo.
Help A Guy Out
Short story. A mugging goes a bit off.
*Noir(Cops and robbers); spwilcenwrites 3/25/2022; 783 words, approximately 7 minutes reading time; NSFW/MA for language, infidelity, and sexual innuendo.
Horse Show
Conversational anecdote. The wife suggested we go to a horse show. You know, just “pop over to the horse show, watch a bit, then pop back.” Only this wasn’t just down the road a piece, not an afternoon diversion. As it turns out…
*Humor; 320 words, spwilcenwrites 10/8/2020; less than 3 minutes reading time; mildly NSFW for old guy thoughts.
Il Leone e il Topo
Short story. “The Lion and the Mouse” in Italian.
Children, *Foreign Language(Italian); spwilcenwrites May 6, 2021; about 631 words, approximately 6 minutes reading time; PA Parental Advisory: elements of natural savagery.
Il Nonno Era Un Pescatore
Short story. “Grandfather Was a Fisherman” translated to Italian.
Children, *Foreign Language(Italian); spwilcenwrites 3 aprile 2022; approximately 600 words, 6 minutes reading time.
Immigration Interview
Short Story. Immigration difficulties are not a new social phenomenon. Immigrants, since scribes began writing accounts we now call “history” have faced scrutiny when they reached the borders of nations they wished to make their new homes. Here’s the account of one immigrant. You might recognize him from his explanations of his work history.
*Humor; spwilcenwrites 4/7/2022; 775 words, approximately 7:15 minute reading time.
Inflagranti Delicto
Flash fiction. A shamus tries to convince a prospective client he cannot handle her case because, well, he has his reasons. One of those “don’t you hate it” noir flashes that lets you fill in the blanks to fit your experience and expectations.
*Noir; spwilcenwrites 9/5/2022; 495 words, apprximately 4 minutes reading time; MA infidelity and genderbend innuendo.
The Interview
Conversational flash fiction. Everyone has been to “the interview.” A dance the interviewer and the interviewee perform, either party in a given instance with feelings ranging from nervous dread, through excited anticipation, to boredom. Often the dance is pure insanity. Such is the case here – insanity.
*Humor; 2019, 4/29/2020 and 6/21/2020 spwilcenwrites; 517 words, approximately 4:30 minutes reading time.
It Might Go Something Like This
Humorous suppositional interview. I suffered through a rash of “let’s interview this ‘author’” blog posts in late 2020. After a good laugh [for reasons you might expect] I imagined how such an ‘interview’ would go if some unfortunate blogger [or literary journalist] were to interview me following the same cookie-cutter format.
*Humor, Conversation; 1748 words approximately 9 minutes reading time; originally published on spwilcenwrites, “Interview – December 15, 2020”; MA for language and gender and social inappropriateness.
Kiss Off
Flash Conversation. An unexpected telephone call starts with an unfamiliar voice. Slowly what it’s all about fits itself together. Our protagonist is not ready to “pick up where we left off” for reasons I’m sure you understand.
*General fiction; spwilcenwrites “Kiss Off -April 19, 2021”; 601 words, approximately 4 minutes reading time.
Motive
Conversational flash noir. Three acts, or scenes, if you prefer; late night radio drama perhaps, requiring not much longer than a break for a call-sign announcement, a Brylcreme advert, and a PSA for a change in municipal curbside garbage collection schedules. In flash format, much more tease rather abandons the idea of “flash.” Du jour: cops, a true crime writer, and homicide.
General, *Noir; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” 3-15-2024, exposed on spwilcenwrites “Up For a Little Flash Noir – March 17, 2024”; 500 words, a scant three minutes reading time; MA only because it’s noir.
Negotiable Therapy
Flashy humorous conversation. Generic or brand? Twice a day or maybe once until we see how the med affects us? We negotiate our meds more than we realize. How about when the new med has terrible side effects we’d rather not deal with?.
*Humor; spwilcenwrites November 2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Take the Pill – November 19, 2024”; 259 words, less than 1 minute reading time.
Knight Errant and Noble Lady
Flash conversation. A brief encounter between two famous figures from the past separated by six-hundred years, differing cultures, and individual improbabilities. Each respectfully considers the other mysterious.
General fiction, *Twisted Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends; originally exposed on spwilcenwrites “For a Cause – July 13, 2022;” 338 words, less than 2 minutes reading time.
The Lion and the Mouse
Short story. Over the years, good, solid fables have been weakened and made inaccurate by the telling and retelling. Such is the case of “The Lion and the Mouse.” It is time to set the record true.
Children, International flavor(Italy), *Twisted fairy tales, fables, and legends; spwilcenwrites May 6, 2021; 631 words, approximately 6 minutes reading time; PA Parental Advisory: elements of natural savagery.
List Ethics
Anecdotal Humor. While everyone uses lists occasionally or religiously, there are rules in play. One list aficionado off-handedly offers-up his methodic madness paradigm.
*Humor, General fiction; spwilcenwrites 12/5/2022; approximately 1000 words and 8 to 10 minutes reading time.
Mano a Mano
Conversational vignette. Grandpa is called to task for doing something he’s been warned he is not to do. Grandson William is indirectly involved and further, also watches as Grampa breaks that rule. Later, William not present, Gram politely gets in Grandpa’s business about the whole of it.
*General fiction, Humor, Conversations, Flash; spwilcenwrites 9/20/2023 in “Fiction”, exposed by spwilcenwrites in “Recent Fiction Additions – September 25, 2023; 365 words, ≈ 2 minutes reading time; call this one “GP.”
Matter of Principle
Conversational anecdote. We eavesdrop two old gents, Archie and Walter. Archie, as in the past is not completely comfortable with his hearing aids. Walter pays the price in frustration.
*General; spwilcenwrites 2/27/2024 in “Fiction,” exposed by spwilcenwrites “Archie and Walter – February 27, 2024”; 493 words, ≈ 3 minutes reading time; mild language.
Obsolesced
Flash Speculative Fiction. “Gender.” Maybe it gets to the point it’s no longer relevant. Maybe it gets to the point there is no argument over what gender one identifies with because there is only one gender.
*SciFi and Speculative Fiction, Dark Fiction; spwilcenwrites 3/14/2021; 100 words, less than one minute reading time.
Overheard at City Hall
Conversational vignette. Conversation between two gents waiting for City Hall offices to open reveals one gent one of those gabby types, the other much less so.
General fiction, *Humor; spwilcenwrites “Sparkling Conversations 2/3/2023”; 290 words, less than 3 minutes reading time.
Overheard in the Pressroom
Conversational anecdote, light political humor, satire. We chance upon a Washington, D.C. press conference already in progress. Senator Wallet (R-KY) pays too much attention to a female reporter because the Senator is a letch and the lady is not bad looking. Questioner/respondent roles almost reverse.
*General fiction; spwilcenwrites 9/16/2023, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Overheard – September 17, 2023”; ≈ 900 words, 5 minutes reading time; MA: Opinion, politics, language, unseemly gender reference.
Preghiere di Natale
Storia breve. Una storia piccola di Natale.
Children, *Foreign Language(Italian); published on spwilcenwrites 12/12/2021; 226 words, approximately 3 minutes reading time.
Quarter to Two
Conversational short story. A bud of mine and I coffee at the same place a lot. Because he doesn’t hear well, conversations at once are frustrating and interesting.
General Fiction, *Humor; TheProse 6/26/2020, spwilcenwrites 12/17/2020; 874 words, approximately 4 minutes reading time.
Redress
Humorous, flashy conversational/narrative anecdote. Social equality is all about the numbers. Common sense has nothing to do with it. Social? Yes, and gender or sex depending on how you call what it is what it is. We’re talking gender, ethnicity, and economic standing here, and that in social theatres without exception, all must be treated equally. Where there is a question of strength, ability, agility, intelligence, height, weight, bra size, genetics, ethnicity, politics, religion, and bank balance, everyone should be properly represented. Proportionally according to at-large demographics to start with, sure, but the end goal is “equally.” That’s the key. Wave of the future. Believe it. *Humor; exposed by spwilcenwrites “Redress – for October 19, 2020”; 900 words ≈ 5 minutes reading time; NSFW for sundry violations of sociopolitical correctness.
Reduced Staff
Flash fiction. Corporate says to cut back $750,000 in every region…
*General Fiction; spwilcenwrites 12/2/2020; 100 words, 1 minute reading time.
Reunion
Conversational Flash Fiction. Two old buds have an informal, long-time-no-see reunion. It is not what it at first seems.
*Dark Fiction; spwilcenwrites 12/2/2021; 100 words, approximate 1 minute reading time.
Revisions to the Master Plan
Flashy conversational humor. Dad-blamed to-do lists, necessary evils for some of us male-types, can be so frustrating. Turns out a good deal of that frustration is easily dispensed with, to-do lists in the process becoming beneficial in ways you might not expect. All you gotta do is stick to a few simple rules.
*Humor; first appeared on spwilcenwrites “Revisions to the Master Plan – March 22, 2022; 496 words ≈ 3 minutes reading time.
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Flash narrative conversational vignette. Two gentlemen retired to an assisted care facility relax one late afternoon on a deck overlooking a lake. We overhear their conversation, wishing for a smoke and recalling ‘back in the day.’
* General fiction; 242 words, 1 minute reading time; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” 03-02-2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites ”Flash Fiction – March 3, 2024”; Triggers: Language, drugs, sex, and violence. Horror (politicians are mentioned).
“Roger and Larry” Two older dudes we eavesdrop on frequently. Follies and foibles as you would expect of “old dudes,” with occasional smatterings of philosophy, free advice, and light-hearted poking at society and each other.
Bad Boys, Babes, and Bikes
Conversational Humor. Roger is practicing his guitar with plans to become a “bad boy” musician. Larry thinks Roger can do just fine with the “babes” without becoming a bad boy.
General, *Humor; spwilcenwrites “Roger and Larry – February 2022, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Roger and Larry – February 20, 20222”; 281 words, 2 minutes reading time.
Inscrutable
Conversational Humor. Larry wants to update some plumbing. Roger visits to work out the details. The gents are always poking at each other. Let’s listen-in.
*Humor, General fiction; spwilcenwrites “Roger and Larry – July 25, 2022”; 264 words, 1 minute reading time.
Labels
Conversational exchange with meaty social overtones. Rodge is a mite confused on where he stands socially. Larry helps him sort it all out.
*General fiction, Humor; spwilcenwrites “Roger and Larry – March 7, 2021”; 714 words, approximately 4 minutes reading time; exposed on spwilcenwrites by “Roger and Larry – March 7, 2021”; Advisory: politically and socially charged content.
Questions
Conversational exchange with meaty social overtones. Roger and Larry started discussing the recent Roe/Wade upheaval. They ended-up with more questions raised than answered.
*General fiction, Humor; spwilcenwrites “Roger and Larry – June 26, 2022”; 742 words, approximately 4 minutes reading time; Advisory: language, politically/socially charged content.
Village Festival
Conversational Humor. A recent conversation between locals Roger and Larry. Larry missed the latest annual Village Festival. Roger brings him up to speed.
*Humor, General fiction; 7/17/2023, briefly exposed by “Hidden Works July 17, 2023” on spwilcenwrites; 593 words, approximately 3 minutes reading time; advisory: somewhat politically incorrect content.
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Searching for the Cure
Humorous Conversational Anecdote. The television show “People Need to Know” is taping. Harbin Factminder is not the sharpest nose in the news business, but he gives it a solid go. He’s interviewing doctors Swartz and Lipscombe from ED&GA Labs of Meccabuc Pharmaceuticals. The three of them have the director, Giselle, pulling her hair.
*Humor, General fiction; Originally exposed in spwilcenwrites “Searching for the Cure – August 7, 2020”; 845 words, under 4 minutes reading time; MA: Political (pick your party) digs.
Self-diagnosis
Humorous conversational anecdote. Luther feels a “bit off” and discusses it with his buddy George. Were it not for the fact that George and Luther are buds, this might be categorized under “Mini Insults” or “Favorite Insults.”
*Humor; 10/5/2021, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Self-diagnosis – October 5, 2021”; 303 words, reading time about 2 minutes. Triggers: none.
Side Effects
Conversational Flash Humor. A new prescription is written for the old dude. His doc counsels him on an unpleasant side effect. Not to worry, the good doc has also prescribed something to address that issue. But…
General fiction (doctors, etc), *Humor; spwilcenwrites 4/3/2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Side Effects – April 6, 2024; 213 words, less than1 minute reading time.
Stargazer
Flashy episodic Science fiction. Episode I: Wyeth Country is experiencing a rash of Homicides. That’s what Sheriff Watson suspects. Wyeth County has no homicide experience. Union City Homicide detective Bardsden is on loan to give Wyeth Country a hand with the case. Episode II In a hidden twist, the FBI takes over from Detective Bardsden.
*Science fiction, Noir; exposed on The Prose Episode 1 5/15/2020, Episode II 5/29/2020, both episodes on spwilcenwrites “Episodic Science Fiction – June 15, 2025; Episode I 494 words, 3 minutes reading time, Episode II 586 words, 4 minutes reading time.
Surveillance
Conversational flash fiction. Ruben’s first day in the field. Working a spousal infidelity surveillance. Somebody was in for a surprise…
Humor, *Noir; spwilcenwrites 2/28/2021; 100 words, less than 1 minute reading time.
Surrogate
Conversational humor. A mortal talks with God on behalf of a friend in need of divine intervention. The exchange goes far afield.
*Humor, General fiction; ten original ‘episodes’ May through September 2009, spwilcenwrites “Surrogate x” December 3, 2020 through January 19, 2021; 10 episodes of 500 to 1400 words each, reading time 3 to 8 minutes; Triggers: language, sacrilege, politically incorrect.
Survey Followup
Conversational humor wrapped around a nugget of flash fiction. Carl Watts “Sparky” Wadsworth survived his annual physical which included, as always, sixty-seven pages of questionnaire teasers ranging from “what in ccs, what was your urinary output last Wednesday?” to “What is your average cranial follicle density per cm2?” A few days later, Carl got a telephone call from the doctor’s office. A transcriptionist needed clarification on an answer or two to complete the survey. We got to listen in…
General (Medicos), *Humor; 1858 words, ≈ 10 minutes reading time; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” “Humor” 3/27/2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Surprise Cameo – April 2, 2024”; MA: language and innuendo.
Sundry Wildlife
Conversational anecdote. Once again, we overhear Roger and Larry. This time we catch them in the Capstone Diner over early morning coffee.
*General fiction, Humor; spwilcenwrites “Fiction” 3/30/2024, exposed by spwilcenwrites “Roger and Larry – April 4, 2024; 924 words, approximately 5 minutes reading time; MA: Language, sexual innuendo, tree-hugger unfriendly.
Sweatbands
Flash anecdote Not everyone wears that thingy around their forehead as a fashion statement. They do serve a purpose. I mean if one is prone to sweat, or as the ladies do, “prespire.”
*Humor; spwilcenwrites 8/18/2020; 372 words, 3 minutes reading time
Technology 2023
Flashy, humorous, conversational vignette with a splash of speculative fiction. With Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and virtually everything “automated” what is the world coming to? Will all this reach into the simplest parts of our daily lives?
*Humor, Speculative Fiction; spwilcenwrites 3/15/2023 Linked from “A Flashy Vignette – March 15, 2023”; 708 words, about 8 minutes reading time.
The Tower of Arlives
Flash conversation. Woe besetteth the Fortnite kingdom. Liege lord and vassal alike terribly put upon by a long-running conflict, imperiled by the bows and swords of the Days. Finally cometh a Fortnite scion wise enough to see this conflict put asunder.
General fiction, Humor, *Twisted Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends; originally exposed on spwilcenwrites “The Tower of Arlives – April 13, 2022”; 500 words, approximately 3 minutes reading time.
Triple Noir
Flashy Noir. For those who like noir but aren’t always happy with the way a piece ends – this is for you! You can’t write your own ending, but you don’t have to “settle” if the good guy – bad guy wrap doesn’t suit you. We’ll take three shots [is that a pun?] at it. One of three might be to your liking. All three are exactly 100 word flash.
*Noir; originally revealed in spwilcenwrites, “Take Your Pick – November 6, 2021”; 3 twisted accounts of the same scenario, exactly 100 words each, approximate reading time one minute each; NSFW: violence, language.
Two Day Rule
Conversational vignette. A neighbor looks to pilfer a chunk of two-by-four from his neighbor’s just-in-case scrap bin. They chat not only of the economy of ever-handy scrap piles they both keep, but also of times past both good and melancholy. The elder neighbor enlightens the younger on the powerful “two-day rule.”
*General fiction; spwilcenwrites “Two Day Rule” 2/18/2021; 867, 9 minutes reading time.
Ugly Duckling
Conversational vignette. Jackson the fuel delivery man overhears a heart-to-heart conversation between Granddaddy Quince and Deb, Quince’s granddaughter, the lass he raised after an accident took Deb’s parents from her early in life. Jackson, pulled into the conversation by Quince, practices a brief foot-in-mouth.
*General fiction, *Humor; spwilcenwrites links to the bit of flash in “Overheard March 30, 2023:, 590 words, less than 5 minutes reading time.
Wardlow and Spencer
Narrative/conversational short story. Wardlow and Spencer weren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. Nice enough fellows, but both of them a few cards short a full deck. Constable Pilcher recounts a recent encounter with them at a local convenience store.
Humor, *International Flavor(Canada); 2020 spwilcenwrites, blogged 8/10/2022; 998 words, 9 minute reading time.
Wardrobe Malfunction
Flashy humorous conversational vignette. Been there, done that. All set to go and your Sigoth notices a horrendous wardrobe mismatch. That must be fixed. One does not approach wardrobe remediation haphazardly, but with meticulous care, devoting all the time necessary.
*Humor; spwilcenwrites “Wardrobe Malfunction – August 4, 2022”; 299 words less than 2 minutes reading time.
Wellness Check
Flash humor, speculative fiction. A cantankerous old dude (could “cantankerous” be anything other than an “old dude”?) once again suffers through the governmentally mandated “old guy” medical parody called ‘Wellness Check.’ The gent, usually socially inappropriate, is this visit quite tame by comparison. Perhaps because they threw a new lady doc at him?
General, *Humor, SciFi(Speculative Fiction); spwilcenwrites “Fiction” October 22, 2023; 185 words, ≈ 1 minute reading time; MA: scatalogic/sexual subject and language
What are the Odds
Conversational anecdote. Someone chuckles, “Yeah, like what are the chances that will happen?” Or the truly clever one in your group mutters, “Sure, when hell freezes over!” Tick-tocking through the world, time presents a bajillion “common” events every day. Reckon if you’re in the right place during one random tick, a common occurrence takes place on your watch. Seems peculiar to you. Not so much to someone else.
*General fiction; revealed by “Happenstance April 4, 2023” in spwilcenwrites; 500 words, less than 5 minutes reading time.
A Word of Advice
Flash, conversational anecdote. In the backyard. At the Big Boy Toy Emporium. Seated around the table at Sunday dinner. In someone’s garage or in the office at the Co-op. We’ve all been sucked into conversation with or overheard the arrogant dude who in all situations knows the best way to go about things – anything and everything. Annoying at best. Maddening the third or fourth time. Downright frustrating when you endure this kind of advice at every turn. One day, someone worked up the nerve, spoke his mind…
General fiction/*Humor; first exposed by spwilcenwrites, April 19, 2023, with a link from “Free Advice – April 19, 2023”; 370 words give or take. Less than 5 minutes reading time; contains mildly adult language.
Ramblings 