Stories by Gerry Gaffney

A selection of short stories written and read by Gerry Gaffney. Listen and subscribe on:

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1. Aberystwyth

Published 20 November 2023

Line drawing of a magic mushroom

An entrepreneurial young man returns to London from Aberystwyth with a bag full of magic mushrooms. But first there are the small issues of quality control and preparation for market. Some things go wrong.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Aberystwyth (11 minutes)

2. Altona

Published 6 December 2023

Line drawing of a set of switches

An ordinary day at work has a deep impact on a young man who will later translate his experience into a work of art.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Altona (10 minutes)

3. Ruth

Published 18 December 2023

Line drawing of a burning car

Jimmy is down on his luck and out of money. His girlfriend has left him. A chance to earn some quick cash leads him to embark on a dubious exercise that may not end well.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Ruth (9 minutes)

4. Monivea

Published 1 January 2024

Line drawing of a dolmen

Damian returns home to Ireland to visit his dying father, and they share a final road trip.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Monivea (8 minutes)

5. Driving to Zagreb

Published 17 January 2024

Line drawing of a grand piano

Sometimes you have to stop digging. A young man in London gets sucked into a fabricated story that sees him sink deeper and deeper into a pit with no apparent exit.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Driving to Zagreb (14 minutes)

6. Albert

Published 24 January 2024

Line drawing of a toaster

A chance encounter leads a young man to share a London flat with an older gentleman. They develop a strong bond, but what might be a minor breach of trust leads to a schism that may be beyond repair.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Albert (12 minutes)

7. Away

Published 5 February 2024

Line drawing of a rubbish skip

‘There is no away’ is an environmental mantra. In this story humans have apparently found a way to really dispose of our unwanted junk. Being an allegory, there is of course a downside.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Away (23 minutes)

8. Kilkee

Published 16 February 2024

Line drawing of a casserole dish

A frosty relationship between a young woman and her mother-in-law cools even further in a time of misfortune.

Read on or listen to Gerry read "Kilkee" (8 minutes)

9. Shoes

Published 29 February 2024

Line drawing of a pair of shoes

In a strife-torn Sydney, a young man tries to buy a pair of shoes for his dead brother.

Read on or listen to Gerry read "Shoes" (9 minutes)

10. Fingers

Published 13 March 2024

Line drawing of a hand patting a dog

Managing pets and children, especially teenagers, can be challenging. The Instagrammable children of others may not be picture-perfect in real life.

Read on or listen to Gerry read "Fingers" (8 minutes)

11. Pillow Talk

Published 30 March 2024

Line drawing of a neural network

A story of trust, suspicion and jealousy. And the easy trap of enabling an AI to reinforce your preexisting beliefs.

Read on or listen to Gerry read "Pillow Talk" (8 minutes)

12. Sex Work

Published 17 April 2024

Line drawing of a gin-and-tonic

Jimmy is down on his luck and out of money. The prospect of sex work may offer a way out. Or not.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Sex Work (10 minutes)

Rabbitgate

Published 30 April 2024

Line drawing of a rabbit

Preventative maintenance has a particular importance for dog-owners if the pet next door is a rabbit. If you’re going to cover up an unfortunate incident, you need to make sure you know what’s really going on.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Rabbitgate (9 minutes)

14. Cartel

Published 14 May 2024

Line drawing of a pedestrian signal

A young man meets the girl of his dreams, but she is due to leave for her home country. An un/fortunate accident extends her stay.

Read on or listen to Gerry read Cartel. (12 minutes)

15. The Dispensary

Published 23 September 2024

Line drawing of a vending machine

Imagine a society in which artists - even mediocre ones - are supported financially and emotionally. They have an assured market and ongoing work. But there is a cost.

Read the story or listen to Gerry read it. (10 minutes)

16. Swept Away by the Storm

Published 16 October 2024

Line drawing of a river in flood

A former politician who helped block climate action seeks shelter in a community struggling to deal with the consequences of extreme weather.

Read the story or listen to Gerry read it. (14 minutes)