After Dinner Conversation

Besides “being in love” and procreation, what is the purpose/function of a spouse? In this work of ethical marriage fiction, Sherry’s husband knows too much about her inner thoughts, specifically, that the barista at the local coffee shop is attractive. When Sherry talks to her neighbor, they piece together that she was unknowingly given a M.I.N.D. implant, allowing her husband to read her thoughts. She confronts him and he argues communication is hard, and this makes it easier. Additionally, if she has nothing to hide, then why does she care? In response, she gets a “mind vault” installed, a place to store thoughts and memories from her husband. He finds out, and goes to even more extreme measures to make Sherry compliant.

To what extent is the person who triggers a downward spiral, as opposed to the surrounding situations that make it likely, responsible? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, an aged Jaime gets a letter from Fred, asking him to come visit before his pending death. Decades earlier Jaime courted a shy Fred at the local pool, where, after many months, they started Fred’s first homosexual relationship. After the relationship ended, Fred starting drinking more often. Years later, after decades of drinking and a divorce from his wife, he is dying. Jaime goes to visit him, but it’s too late, he is already dead. Jaime is left to wonder, to what extent was he the trigger for this downward spiral?

What ethical obligations does a buyer have to make a seller that is aware of the true value of the thing they are selling? In this work of philosophical contract law short story fiction, Mel, a long-time customer of Kathy’s, enters Kathy’s shop on one of the last days before she closes the shop down to retire. While in the shop Mel spots a rare, and very valuable brooch. Kathy clearly doesn’t understand its value and opts to give it to Mel as a parting gift. Mel insists on paying, but Kathy refuses and Mel leaves with the brooch. Mel then takes the brooch to a specialist and sells it for $35,000, but is left wondering if she owes Kathy and of the money from the windfall?

Is there anything wrong with having a nearly perfect life with a world that seems to revolve around your needs? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Jerry feels special; like the world revolves around him and meeting his needs. And his life story tends to support this. His entire life is trouble free, no economic issues, no family issues, and an early retirement. An entire life of ease. His college professor tells him he’s a solipsist, but he believes he’s just a sociopath. It hard matters. Sure, he tends to believe that those around him cease to exist when they are not around him, but that’s normal, right? Life is wonderful, without change, focused on himself, forever.

What is the essence of heaven? If you had to pick a single moment in your life to spend eternity in as your personal heaven, would you do it, and what moment would you pick? In this philosophical short story fiction, the narrator, in a semi-dream state, watches a bit of a late-night movie where the main character dies, goes to heaven, and must work with the bureaucrats of heaven to pick the moment in their lives they would like to live in forever as their personal heaven. This idea germinates in the narrator’s mind and she is forced to weight various moments in her life in an attempt to pick what her perfect heavenly moment would be.

If you know God exists, have actual proof, do you still have “faith?” In this work of philosophical short fiction, William gets a strange messages and heads over to visit his friend Thomas, who explains God came to him in a dream. Moreover, God left him proof of his existence, a floating object on a pedestal that, according to Thomas, defies all laws of physics. Thomas declares this floating object a miracle, William is less sure. Thomas says he took it to the local University to investigate and they were unable to find a cause to the floating object. Assuming, Thomas says, the floating object is a miracle, does that mean all of religion is true? Is there a heaven and hell, a God that commands, and absolute right and wrong? After additional discussion, William is interested, but still unsure. Note: This story is a part of our legacy-of-excellence program. It was first printed in After Dinner Conversation - November, 2020 issue.

Is the desire to find purpose paramount to culture? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, a priest from earth is sent to another planet to continuing the mission work of his predecessor. The planet is inhabited by “teddies” a people with a deep spiritual faith and a belief that it is only by finding and performing one’s life purpose can they serve God’s role. Those that are unable to find their purpose are willingly put to death so that, according to their belief system, they can be reincarnated and make a new attempt at finding their purpose. The visiting human religious leader is appalled by this religious belief, and the religious culture. He goes against the community by helping those that a poor and hungry.Note; This story is a part of our legacy-of-excellence program. It was first printed in After Dinner Conversation - December, 2020 issue.