Sometimes there's more at stake than words.

Vera's marriage has been dead for years. Board games are her only connection with her husband or friends. She seizes a chance to re-ignite her heart, but news during a game of Scrabble sends her straight to hell. Vera can't speak. She can only play her tiles.

Imagine getting a second chance to make things right.

One morning, 50-year old Rick wakes up in his 12-year old body, with all his grown-up memories intact. He knows his entire future, and has a chance to fix his mistakes, avoid his regrets. He even knows when he'll fall in love with the woman he married. But some things can't be changed.

An android walks into a church, and all hell breaks loose.

The android wants to confess his sins, be absolved, and receive communion. The dispute triggers a theological crisis that travels to the bishop, the cardinal, and finally the Pope himself. But what the priest learns is less about the android's sins, and more about ours.

Novellas

Get the Collection

Get the entire short story collection, now available in paperback and Kindle editions

This volume contains three published short stories by author David T. Wolf, all of which have received multiple five-star ratings. In addition, enjoy his short-short stories calculated to amuse, surprise, or move you. Plus, access one short story you won't find anywhere else.

• A Disturbance in the Church

• A Game of Scrabble

• Do-Over

• Great Aunt Thelma's Last Thanksgiving

• The Pits

• Alma On My Mind

• The True Story of the Pyramids

Short Short Stories

At the best of times, your twin boys are a double handful. But when the family gathers for a turkey dinner and one of the guests inopportunely expires on the sofa, the kids’ antics are almost enough to wake the dead.

A detective is hot on the trail of a lowlife who skips town with a check that doesn’t belong to him. But with the help of a stray bulldog, he tracks the miscreant down in a case of obstructed justice.

He probably shouldn’t have borrowed that Trailways bus while under the influence, but he had to get to Texas to find Alma and take back all the things he said. He loved that girl with all his pickled heart.

Reviews

A Game of Scrabble

"A heart-wrenching tale of making a bad decision. A woman in a marriage worn thin by time thinks she can find fulfillment and satisfaction in the arms of a man she once loved now sees as her savior. Two couples brought together by similarities and differences. All told against the background of a regular Scrabble game when the words they make cleverly reflect their untold emotions and hopes. The story is handled so well that even while the outcome is foreseen, it still comes as a surprise because the author makes the heroine's hopes and dreams your own. You want her to succeed. And she does, in a way, with the final word she makes on the Scrabble board. Well done."

- Harvey Jacobs

"These days, I don't spend a lot of time reading novels because I'm so busy. Short stories are a great alternative, and perfect for when I want to have a short escape between projects! A Game of Scrabble is a great read. What I really like about this story is that the author interweaves game-play with the inner thoughts of the protagonist, who is looking for some escape herself - escape from the monotony of her life, which tracks perfectly with both the mundaneness of a game of Scrabble, as well as the intensity of a competitive setting as gameplay ensues. You'll love this story!"

- Chris Finetti

"Game of moans! Wolf uses a Scrabble game as the bones of his story about the relationship between two middle-aged couples and a brief affair to forget. An easy, enjoyable read filled with uncomfortable insights."

- Bill Baynes, author of "Mission to Brimstone"

"Loved this! Being a Scrabble fan, I was at once drawn into this story. Loved the characters and the plot. A good read."

- Cheryl Kroyer

Do-Over

"Another gem from David Wolf, who also gave us Mindclone, a captivating science fiction book filled with science, clones, music, art, love, and surprises.

In Do-Over, the author does a terrific job of capturing the essence of catastrophic events from the mid-1970s to the early-2000s as Rick is re-living his new life, along with Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, the stock market, and other interesting entities. An interesting look at history as we know it."

- Kathy96

"Outstanding novella! I loved it! Do not begin to read Do-Over unless you intend to finish it, as once begun, you will not be able to put it down! It gave me total deja vu and was a refreshing change from so many "cookie cutter" stories. I would love to see more from him!"

- Dr. B.

"This story is a pleasure to read. It has an interesting premise that always intrigues me. Time travel is my favorite subgenre in science fiction. Do Over isn't exactly a time travel story but it is close enough for me. Returning to the past with knowledge of the future is classic, going back to "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court". This story is easy to read and the parallel time frames cause interesting situations for the main character. 5 stars for me!"

- Mark Schultz

"I recently read Mr. Wolf's debut novel, "Mindclone" and was very impressed with his writing. Like this short story, the novel is futuristic, touching, engaging, funny, sad and insightful. I enjoyed Do-Over because of how the author handled the material and the fact that we've all wanted to "do-over" at one time or another. I won't reveal the ending, but it's a twist that takes your breath away."

- Harvey Jacobs

A Disturbance in the Church

"What an interesting read! Lots of authors focus on robots taking over the world, but this one imagines self-aware machines searching for meaning just as humans have, and turning to one of the same answers that humans created and have clung to, even in the face of advanced scientific knowledge. The topic is an important one to consider - whether AI will ultimately result in self aware machines/clones - and will they mimic us in unintended ways? I also enjoyed the dry humor imbedded in the story telling."

- OudeisCA

"We're all familiar with the notion that if sufficiently advanced, the logic of artificial intelligences would govern the world far better than we irrational humans. The movie "I, Robot," and who-knows-how-many books explore the theme. Yet this short story is the first I've seen that asks whether androids, those masters and mistresses of logic, have souls. The tension between church doctrine and logic was superbly drawn, as were the characters. An excellent read, and for those of you, like me, whose minds twist in this direction, this story might provide a feast for thought."

- Blackrose Press

"A Disturbance in the Church is a lively, fast-paced, well-written gem. An android shows up at a church unexpectedly, requiring each of the characters -- believers and unbelievers alike -- to confront uncomfortable questions about their core beliefs. A Disturbance in the Church has sly but respectful fun with the Catholic church, as well as those who scoff at it."

- Leslie Juhn

"I loved A Disturbance in the Church. It’s a quiet but powerful story that brings faith, technology, and moral uncertainty into direct conversation. The questions it raises about the soul, sin, and belief linger long after the final page, inviting real reflection rather than easy answers. Thought-provoking, concise, and deeply engaging. This book stayed with me."

- Adams Nora