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1. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
Kolby Granville

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2. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
Lise Halpern

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Does a triumphant marriage require love? In this philosophical short story, Donna wed her high school sweetheart, nurtured three splendid offspring, only to find herself gradually adrift in emotional detachment from her husband. With her spouse laboring in a distant city, their encounters dwindle, and when they do occur, separate beds are the norm. Amidst a supportive yet ardor-deficient matrimony, Donna crosses paths with Chris, a local carpenter. An unconventional connection sparks, ultimately propelling her into an affair. The eventual decision to divorce her husband for the sake of newfound love sees her embracing Chris, a man deemed less conventionally attractive and materially successful. This choice ignites fury within her children, who lay blame on Donna for the divorce.

3. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
M.C. Schmidt

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Are you duty bound to stop a dubious transaction? In this tale of philosophical short fiction, Ann Marie, a freshly anointed notary’s first client is an elderly woman endeavoring to relinquish her dwelling to “Father,” the enigmatic figurehead of a cult. Ann Marie declines the notary job, as the deed transfer requires both an attesting witness and the beneficiary—neither of which is present. She recounts this incident to a friend. This leads her footsteps to the aged woman’s abode, where a serendipitous encounter with the woman’s son ensues. She leans he has emancipated his mother from the cult’s influence and has forcefully put her into a de-programming facility. However, a looming choice weighs upon him: the possibility of selling her home to fund her transition into a long-term care facility, for her own good.

4. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
Thea Swanson

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What would society be if women were independent of men’s influence? Within this philosophical short story, Marlee is encouraged by her doctor’s counsel to stop her long-standing use of birth control pills—medication she has taken since the age of 19. This decision unveils a novel perspective as Marlee navigates the urban landscape through fresh eyes. Struck by epiphany, she questions the compulsion to engage in detached intimacy to bolster her husband’s self-esteem. A broader realization dawns upon her—how many times has she intertwined with men merely to seek their validation? Perhaps for the first time in her life, she confronts the inquiry: why does she require men’s presence at all? Conventional norms dictate women’s reliance on men—for their financial prowess, protection, and for procreation. However, emancipated from these societal pressures, Marlee’s introspection leads her to ponder the fundamental necessity of intimate relationships with men.

5. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
Penny Milam

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Is it moral to end your 14-year-old daughters’ pregnancy against her will? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Megan’s father is divorced. 14-year-old Megan visits her father on weekends. One weekend she begs to go to the local farmers market, only for her father to find out her real motive, to visit a Senior in her High School running a wild honey stall. Her father takes the hint, and gives them time to socialize. For the next few weeks Megan cancels her weekend visits. Only on the fourth weekend does she confess the truth; she is pregnant with the Senior’s baby, and intends to keep it. Her father is furious, but realizes his fury is pushing his daughter away. Instead, he decides to allege his support and provide her with prenatal vitamins, which are really an abortion pill. He feels he has saved her future, but someday he knows she will learn the truth.

6. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
Deborah Serra

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Do you owe others your continued living? In this philosophical short story fiction, Danny opens a disturbing letter from his elderly sister. He immediately rushes to his car, his wife chasing after him. He frantically drives to his sister’s house as his wife, in a panic, reads the letter that prompted Danny’s urgency. It is a letter from Danny’s sister saying goodbye. At 70+ years old, she is bored with life and is ready to die. She isn’t sick, she is simply choosing non-participation. Danny argues it is selfish for her to end her life, while his wife is more understanding. His wife argues that a life without purpose might not be worth living, and that it’s not selfish to end your life when you are ready to do so. Danny and his wife arrive at his sister’s door and Danny attempts to break it down while his wife tries to calm him, and explain the letter is postmarked four days ago. His sister is already dead.

7. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
Mark Braidwood

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Should we know the story of the lives of those who produce the products we purchase? Do we have an obligation to only buy ethically sourced goods? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Jack Benson gives his child a prototype toy from his company as a Christmas present. When they check the toy battery compartment, they find a sad poem written in Chinese. Jack decides to fly to China and visit the factory where the toy is produced. He pays an employee to read the poem over the factory floor loudspeaker. A woman on the factory line stands up in acknowledgement, then humbly returns to her work. Later, after the shift, she slips him a book of her writings, presumably, expressing more thoughts and emotions about her life.

8. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12
Charles Williams

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At what point is a discussion a debate; at what point is it undue pressure? Is all unwanted pressure a kind of manipulation and violence? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, the narrator is invited by his father to go duck hunting as part of their bonding time. The narrator wants to spend time with his father, but expresses ethical concerns about hunting ducks. The father asserts hunting is a natural part of human evolution. The debate continues as the narrator decides to go on the hunt, but is undecided if he will pull the trigger. The story ends with father and son in the blind just at the moment before the narrator must decide if he is going to pull the trigger.

9. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12

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10. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 12

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11. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
Kolby Granville

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12. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
Liam Kofi Bright

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Can you verify the surrounding world is real? In this work of René Descartes inspired philosophical short story fiction, death has come for a rational philosopher at his beach house. The Philosopher recognizes the figure as death, but insists the most likely scenario is that Death is a hallucination, a figment of his imagination. Death attempts to convince the philosopher of his authenticity through various means, but is unsuccessful. Even after showing the Philosopher his “true form” the Philosopher is not convinced, saying, “No isolated event, no matter how favorable the circumstance and how unable to otherwise explain by reference to an identifiable flaw in my person or reasoning capacities, could suffice to outweigh a lifetime’s worth of counter evidence.”

13. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
Mark Bessen

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Are drags shows modern minstrel shows for straight party girls? Can defense of values be compromised for special occasions? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Hannah is getting married and off to Miami for a girl’s weekend bachelorette party. Her longtime gay friend Kyle, is not invited. Hannah’s mother has budgeted $100,000 for the wedding and bachelorette party on the condition Kyle not be invited. Hannah’s wedding is her special day, the money will make it perfect, so she has her bridesmaid (who should have been Kyle!) message Kyle, last minute, to uninvite him. Of course, she supports, gay rights, but not at the cost of her special day. While in Miami the over-the-top bachelorette group goes to a gay night club, then for mimosa and a drag show the next morning to recover. Kyle tried to contact Hannah to talk to her about her reasoning, but she refuses to pick up the phone, so he flies to Miami and confronts her at the drag show about being a fair-weather liberal, in spectacular fashion.

14. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
Michael Shainsky

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If connections and experiences make us happy, why do we buy things? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Nikolay runs a tour company in Uzbekistan. When his employee gets sick, he must take a group of American tourists to see a local walnut tree in a small village, then to Lake Urungach for photos. Their bus breaks down in the small village and they are forced to spend the day there while waiting for replacement transportation. A tough situation becomes festive when they decide to have a BBQ by the town walnut tree. Beer becomes wine as the day winds on and, eventually a traditional band comes out to play and keep them company. As it gets dark the power in the small town goes out so they decide to build a fire to continue their drinking and revelry into the night. Steve, an unhappy lawyer on yet another vacation meets Sevara, the beautiful Cambridge educated daughter of the village elder and is forced to wonder if its too late to start the type of life he wishes he’d always been living; a life full of simple joy, instead of acquisition. Finally, the replacement bus shows up and the tourists (many of which are now too drunk to walk) are sent home to their hotels.

15. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
Lissa Muir

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What human values would you deny to save your life? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, a group of families are on vacation touring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater when they hear gunshots. While most are confused, one attuned man realizes the danger and quickly gets the children safely into the basement. The remaining group is then confronted by men with guns looking to sort out, and kill, everyone who are not Christian. They are, they say, trying to bring America back to its true values and roots. An offended black man confronts them, but they assure him, they aren’t racists, they are good Christian men. They kill a Jewish man, who makes clear while he believes Jesus was a good man, but not the son of God. The narrator’s husband is then picked next and asked to confirm his Christian faith. His wife knows he’s an atheist and tries to will him to lie. Instead, her husband confesses both his Canadian citizenship and his lack of Christian faith, and is killed. Shortly thereafter police snipers show up and show the gunmen dead. The families are safe, but the narrator must now explain to their two children in the basement, that their father is dead.

16. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
Ken Nordstrom

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Can race neutral facts/policies causes racist outcomes? In this philosophical short story fiction, Victor is fresh out of college and has applied for a prestigious internship at an insurance company. While at the interview, Deion, a seemingly more qualified classmate is also waiting to interview for the same position. Victor decides to ask his friend’s father, who works at the company, to put in a good word for him. However, he discovers the friend’s father is actually quitting the company because the data for the actuarial underwriting causes African Americans to always have a higher insurance risk rating, and the associated premiums. A few days later Victor is offered the job, but is left wondering if the company’s underwriting policy is racist and if he only got the job over Deion because the company discriminates against hiring people of color.

17. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
E.L. Tenenbaum

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It is wrong act without reason? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, a young boy is born for the first time in 1,000 years into the “Great Sky Of Reason.” Unlike those around him, he laughs, smiles and plays, even when there is no reason. His parents find him confusing and give him to the Great Purveyors at the Great Observatory of Reason. In time, under their constant training, he learns reason and discipline. He no longer smiles as he understands all conclusions simply follow from their logical causes. He is eventually appointed to the Great Observatory where the Purveyors look over earth and the actions of all its inhabitants. From above, they sprinkle emotions that encourage reason on humans at just the right moment. Empathy, understanding, reflection, in moments when they are most needed. After some time, the young boy (now a young man) comes to question the logic of influencing humans towards a path of reason. At first, he simply stops sprinkling emotions on them. Later, he goes about destroying the store of emotions the Great Observatory has, thus making it impossible for others to influence humans as well.

18. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11
Deb Rogers

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How do the friends your child makes change their life outcomes? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, two suburban families and their daughters (Tamara and Kate), live next door to each other. However, over time, Tamara’s parents, William and Beverly, get mixed up in a drug scheme. Things go wrong and William’s daughter, Tamara, is put in prison while their father, William, makes a deal to stay out of prison. The narrator blames them for their own daughter, Kate’s, current issues. Years later, when William is sent to hospice and the house is empty, the narrator breaks into their house to find and steal the left over money from the drug deals from time past. He plans to use the money to help his own daughter (Kate), whom he believes has a right to that money for the harm of their negative influence on their daughter.

19. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11

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20. After Dinner Conversation: Volume > 4 > Issue: 11

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