Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover

In my quest to get to 52 Episodes this year, I have decided to try to do a few day-of "Holiday Specials"... starting with this one! This story, which concerns a horror film buff who gets more than he bargained for in a self-storage complex, is authentically scary (or tries to be, at least insofar as this weird randomized storytelling form allows.) Hope you enjoy it, and Happy Halloween!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 8/13/26. This one's set in a (decidedly ahistoric and pastiche-like) gold mining camp in the very early 20th Century. Into this hardscrabble community comes an Eastern city slicker, purportedly searching for his famous hermit father, the semi-legendary Old Man of Spider Hill. At first the camp is skeptical of his intentions, but in time they become inspired by the young man's tireless and uncomplaining search for his missing (and mythical) pa. Winter brings with it multiple reversals of fortune; will the camp survive the reckoning?

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on August 6th, 2026. In the waning days of the Ed Bashir Show, a junior talent booker tasked with assembling the venerable host's final panel feels a self-destructive impulse to tank the whole assignment. He waffles between wanting to do a good job and wanting to do a provocatively bad job, and struggles mightily with both endeavors. He has a bit of a breakdown by the end of it, but perhaps he'll come out better on the other side.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 9/10/26. In this one, an absurdly handsome and charismatic waiter causes unexpected problems for a consortium of restaurateurs, including their de facto leader, who since his second divorce has been really going through it. The latter man suffers a heart attack but comes through it a better (or at least less internally conflicted) sort of person.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/27/26. In this one, a hapless fellow finds himself a loser in Vegas, despite utilizing what he thought was a elegant and foolproof system for beating the House (at roulette, of all things.) In a desperate attempt to make something of his last few hundred dollars during the last few hours in Sin City that remain to him, he enjoys (and endures) multiple haymaker-caliber swings in fortune. This is kind of a weird one for multiple reasons, but if you like sweaty, hungover protagonist introspection and/or ambiguous endings you'll probably dig it!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 9/1/26. This is one of the ones I wrote in the mini-legal pad, but unlike others from that set this one expanded nicely in the typing phase (so no double feature this week). In this story, a professional photojournalist heads to Yearning, Montana in pursuit of a lifelong dream. He strives awkwardly to make inroads with the locals, including an attractive but acerbic coffee shop proprietress and an old lady hermit-type who seems content to dwell in a junkyard on a hill outside of town. The photojournalist suffers some expensive and embarrassing losses and reversals, but by the time the story ends he seems to have changed for the better, and/or found some inner peace (maybe.)

Apologies in advance for character name inconsistencies and the kind of bizarre, quasi-witchy voice I picked for the old lady at the end. I forgot she had dialogue and didn't really think ahead, which I hope is more fun than obnoxious. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Patreon link in case anyone wants to keep tabs on the big (not that big) update I plan to get out tomorrow, as mentioned during the outro of the episode:

https://patreon.com/AndyHoover

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/15/26. In this one, a waitress throws her hat in the ring for a promotion to management. She doesn't get the job but learns a lot from the man who does, a coworker she had initially feared and despised. He's clearly turned over a new leaf; will the mental wellness tips and tricks he shares with our protagonist help her deal with unexpected new tensions in her relationship with her increasingly-preoccupied food vlogger boyfriend? This one's a sort of shaggy, relatively grounded character piece. Not much of a hook, and arguably not much happens, but I like this one. Enjoy!

This episode consists of two weirdly similar Solitaire Stories I wrote in July. The first one only took about 14 minutes so I decided on the fly to double up this week (partially to make up for the travel-related late release of this episode.)

The first story (Story #136, written 7/22/26) is called "The Ballad of Lazy Mike". In this one, an IT professional known somewhat unfairly as Lazy Mike finds unexpected employment at an internet café. At first he finds this work a bit beneath him, and in time he becomes known -- somewhat unfairly, again -- as Angry Mike. It is the story of the rise -- and perhaps the very beginning of the fall -- of Lazy/Angry Mike.

The second story (Story #134, written 7/17/26) is titled "The Last Hurrah of the Impressive Reflexes". In this one, the hard-working frontman of a hard-working local rock and ska band befriends and recruits a drummer. He then suffers through the kind of drama one might expect to befall an overbooked rock and ska band. Will he persevere and soldier on, or will he accept the sad fact that his best skanking (and management) days are behind him?

This is the story I wrote on 7/16/26. From my synopsis notes: "Our protagonist seeks to flip a piece of real estate following a number of ambitious aesthetic improvements. The tile guy goes overboard, which leads to multiple clashes and an eventual (sort of) catharsis." This one is a bit shorter than most as it was a one-page (rather than a two-page) story variant, though it expanded to an (almost) normal length during the typing phase. I ended up quite liking it! (Though note I have a bit of a cold, so this performance might be a bit more lethargic than most.) Enjoy!

This is the story that I wrote on 7/10/26. In this one, an elementary school teacher, disappointed by the contents of an unearthed time capsule at his school, decides to take another run as the project... so as to do right by the schoolchildren of his day, and of the future. However, the teacher's unexpected feelings towards his own planned, "meaningful" contribution to the second capsule gives him second thoughts. Is he pointlessly sacrificing present contentment for some nebulous future benefit? (Also, it's Hawaiian Shirt Day, which doesn't help.)

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/9/26. In this one, a well-meaning but neurotic and somewhat aimless grandson of a famous mayor navigates high society during the city's benefit-and-gala season. He also must manage the fraught-but-loving relationship he enjoys/suffers with his semi-retired firecracker of a mother. These two challenges intersect and synchronize, first in a frustrating way and then in a restorative one.

Some dodgy pronunciations in this one! No cussin' though, save a "hell" at the very end. Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/2/26. In this one, an entrepreneur, recently separated from his wife, attempts to take advantage of an exploitable gap in the convenience-store-gas-station market outside of Verylong National Park. The whole thing seems like a slam dunk, until it doesn't.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/1/26. In this one, a demolitions man looking to go the extra mile for his new employer develops a major crush on a bank teller and becomes a skilled hobbyist florist in a bid to impress her. The bank in question is a historical location known for its unconventional architecture, but it is not immune to armed robbery, as our protagonist unluckily discovers.

An introverted farmer hears an explosion out in his father's old apple orchard. He investigates and ends up rescuing a beautiful astronaut, at significant cost to his health. The astronaut does not forget his kindness, and some time later the farmer is summoned by her to Houston, where he may had a minor-but-significant part to play in a top-secret mission.

A quiet and observant young reporter on the death-defying daredevil beat is dispatched to cover the retirement of one of the all-time greats of the trade. She's not alone in this journalistic pursuit, and must outwit a better-positioned rival in order to secure the relevant scoop for herself. And then there's the mercurial daredevil himself, who has one final, highly dangerous stunt up his filigreed and rhinestone-studded sleeve... will all his guests survive the big BBQ celebrating his retirement? Turns out it's a legitimate question!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 6/5/26. In this one, a lady scheduled to testify against a dangerous mobster has been granted witness protection and been secreted away to an unusual mansion in the desert to hide out until her presence is needed in court. Unfortunately, the bad guys have discovered her whereabouts, and they are closing in fast. Will her hunky federal bodyguard and his small security detail be enough to protect her, or was this large and isolated house perhaps a fatally foolish pick for a quote-unquote "safe" house? Find out here! (The title is kind of a spoiler, I guess.)

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/27/26. In this one, an aspiring rodeo clown follows her dream, develops a bit of a crush, and then suffers a career-altering workplace injury. Not necessarily as downer a story as this synopsis would suggest, but not a purely feel-good affair either, despite a slightly above-average allotment of jokes (several of them dumb.) Probably best viewed as a sweet (but rough-edged and somewhat ambiguous) coming-of-age story. Enjoy!

This is a bit of an experimental one; I wanted to see how the Solitaire Stories system works when applied to a single "climactic" fight scene. In this one, a character known as the "Young Duke" squares off against his childhood friend, who is now a notorious (but perhaps heroically justified) "Outlaw". Who will emerge victorious from their rooftop clash?

Be forewarned that this one has a somewhat (semi-comic) gore moment (of the sort one might expect in a closely-described life-or-death swordfight). It also has some grammatical confusion -- I kept switching between past and present tenses -- which, for a certain subset of listeners, might gross them out even more.

On the whole, I'm not sure I'd call this "successful"... but I like the idea of applying the Solitaire Stories technique to more narrow purposes (scenes vs. stories,) and this was a fun (for me) attempt to do so. Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/21/26. In this one, a young man recently hired by a lumber transport company tries to get in good with his bosses, a father-son team from whom he learns a great deal in a short time. Unfortunately, his sense of loyalty and morality is strained by a bone-headed scheme, and he soon finds himself an accomplice to a stupid sort of crime. Will his beloved, departed grandmother's advice see him safely through this crisis with his honor intact? Or is it all too late already?

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/14/26. In this one, an ambitious corporate lady commits to an idea-generating solo retreat in the wild and mysterious Banjothorn Swamps. So as to get a good feel for the region, she (or her company) engage with Angler Bros. Swamp Tours, LLC. Due to circumstances (i.e., the cards,) she ends up with the "wrong" brother... but he ends up being the right brother (in a way.) Enjoy!