Wandering Shop Stories 52

Prompt Word: Chest Minervie and Chip 40 It was dark, and a few hours after the day cruise had come back to dock. Minervie and the bartender, Gungan, had been talking since. Minervie was sitting on an unclaimed chest near a wall off North Quay. Gungan said, “Okay, okay, but then how did you know I was born on this river?” Minervie laughed, “Total guess! Your name means frog, so I took a leap to the water’s edge....

29 Dec 2025 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Stories 51

Prompt Word: China Minervie and Chip 39 Minervie found herself aboard a showboat Luana, for a river cruise from Sullivans Wharf down the Brisbane to Australia’s only man-made island. The bartender aboard the ship was playing with the patrons. Using an Chinese accent, he said, “Free Drink to the first who know … where I was born.” Three people yelled, “China” all at once, and Minervie, nursing a local whiskey just smiled, while folks tried to guess....

28 Dec 2025 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Stories 50

Prompt Word: Danish Minervie and Chip 38 #wss366 #danish (1/3) Having found her mischief easier to accomplish than she had thought, Minervie decided to take the extra few days away from Chip as a bit of a vacation. It was the beginning of summer here, where the snow was falling back home. She decided to ask at the hotel she’d booked, and walked down the stairs to the front desk. The desk man had been trying to sneak a Danish pastry breakfast, and she had essentially snuck up on him....

27 Dec 2025 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Stories 49

Prompt Word: Desert Minervie and Chip 37 “Thomas Parnell? He died.” said the professor. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Minervie said. The professor added with a bit more cheer, “They named this building after him when it was completed a few years back.” Minervie was definitely having a lot less fun with this now. Getting back to her main story, “I heard there was a pitch demonstration to see, do you…”...

26 Dec 2025 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink