Internal Affairs

Inspiration

Internal Affairs was originally written for Café Doom Flash Challenge number 126, in August 2008, in response to the prompt word latex. It came fourth equal out of six entries, with no votes whatsoever.

Publications

After reading the story out at the Verulam Writers' Circle, my chum Dave Weaver suggested a much better punchline, and with this duly in place, Internal Affairs was published by Flashshot on January 3rd, 2009.

Notes

This was the original punchline:

My doctor withdrew his fingers, took off the latex gloves and looked at me.

“Have you been hanging out with those magicians again?” he said.

and here's the much more succinct final version:

"Thanks doc," I said to him, wincing but grateful. "That's magic!"