Claim OwnershipJe Ne Sais Quoi: Absurd Short Fiction
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Bravo, you’ve found it. Deadpan humor in witty, unrelated, non-sequitur short stories not
devoid of literary merit and seared with absurdity. A ”Catcher in the Wry” vibe.
Since you’re here, we might as well tell you: Muffy Drake has been honored by the National Audio
Theatre Festivals, known as the Sundance of Audio Fiction. That’s right, Muffy Drake has been
presented with several Gold Medals - and even a Platinum in 2023. And while we’re boasting, let’s
mention our short stories have been published in entropy2, Reflex Fiction, Friday Flash Fiction,
Bath Flash Fiction (3 rd Prize, October 2019), the Boston Literary Magazine and elsewhere.
But for Absurd Short Fiction with friction, Muffy Drake is where it’s at. Welcome! If you like tongue-
in-cheek humor, you’re in for a treat. One at a time, once a week. By the way, the French call
tongue-in-cheek “pinch without laughing”. Because - get this - Muffy Drake is based out of
Paris.
Xavier Combe is a freelance translator and conference interpreter who teaches at the
University of Paris X and has worked on French public radio for over 35 years. He has
published 2 non-fiction books in French (one of them has won a prize) and quite a few op-
eds in the French press. Sociolinguistics, not funny at all. If you want a laugh don’t go there.
Jim Hall is a 2-time Peabody award winner for his work with a investigative team and the other half
of Muffy Drake that’s based in the US. That’s right, Muffy Drake is a team of two who do the
writing, narration, voicing, soundscaping and original music.
The French have a saying: “Humor is the last bulwark before despair” (strange, yes, but it
sounds better in French). We at Muffy Drake believe humor is the best medicine.
So we humbly recommend you subscribe and download one MD a week. And if you enjoy
what you hear, feel free to share with, well, one or two million of your closest friends.
Website: muffydrake.com
Contact: muffydrake@gmail.com
devoid of literary merit and seared with absurdity. A ”Catcher in the Wry” vibe.
Since you’re here, we might as well tell you: Muffy Drake has been honored by the National Audio
Theatre Festivals, known as the Sundance of Audio Fiction. That’s right, Muffy Drake has been
presented with several Gold Medals - and even a Platinum in 2023. And while we’re boasting, let’s
mention our short stories have been published in entropy2, Reflex Fiction, Friday Flash Fiction,
Bath Flash Fiction (3 rd Prize, October 2019), the Boston Literary Magazine and elsewhere.
But for Absurd Short Fiction with friction, Muffy Drake is where it’s at. Welcome! If you like tongue-
in-cheek humor, you’re in for a treat. One at a time, once a week. By the way, the French call
tongue-in-cheek “pinch without laughing”. Because - get this - Muffy Drake is based out of
Paris.
Xavier Combe is a freelance translator and conference interpreter who teaches at the
University of Paris X and has worked on French public radio for over 35 years. He has
published 2 non-fiction books in French (one of them has won a prize) and quite a few op-
eds in the French press. Sociolinguistics, not funny at all. If you want a laugh don’t go there.
Jim Hall is a 2-time Peabody award winner for his work with a investigative team and the other half
of Muffy Drake that’s based in the US. That’s right, Muffy Drake is a team of two who do the
writing, narration, voicing, soundscaping and original music.
The French have a saying: “Humor is the last bulwark before despair” (strange, yes, but it
sounds better in French). We at Muffy Drake believe humor is the best medicine.
So we humbly recommend you subscribe and download one MD a week. And if you enjoy
what you hear, feel free to share with, well, one or two million of your closest friends.
Website: muffydrake.com
Contact: muffydrake@gmail.com
82 Episodes
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True Story: The Mona Lisa didn't always reside in the Louvre. Before that, Napoleon hung her on a wall in his bedroom.
Nightly, he would drink himself to sleep with a bottle of 1958 Chateau Lafite, while pondering the intersection of podcasts and art, music and literature.
He concluded: The Wine was Time out of Mind and it was simply best to fall asleep while reading a good book.
Mona smiled...;)
Written & Narrated-Xavier Combe Soundscape Design-Jim Hall
In this Bonus story-Muffy Drake continues to offer clues as to the direction we are headed with our Audio/Fiction.
Could it be while riding a Valiant 750 XTS-GODIVA STYLE?
Stay tuned. We still have a WHALE of a story to tell you. And remember:
You can tune a motorcycle, but you can't Tune-a-Fish...
Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe
Sound design by Jim Hall
The Paris Bureau of Muffy Drake offers our sincere apologies. We've been away for some time maintaining Radio Silence and trying to catch a really Big Fish. When the time is right, we'll have a WHALE of a story to tell you.
Until then, check back in right here for clues as to what's been going on and where the Big MD might pop up next. We truly hope you stick around and take the bait.
Hook---Line---and Thinker...
Muffy Drake follows up PROVERBS #1 with PROVERBS (2). We take a further Deep-Dive into all things Proverbial. You know, "Never feed a Canary Catnip and expect that ball of string to get played with..."
True Story: Hans Geiger could count to 1000 in German/English/French/Aramaic to name just a few.
He would make a Birthday Cake out of a Cuneiform clay tablet, with carefully inscribed wedges to depict the age of the recipient. He could also whip up a mean Root Beer Float for these occasions.
Written & Narrated by Xavier Combe
Sound design by Jim Hall
In this short story, Muffy Drake explores PROVERBS. You know, old adages like:
"Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas."
But, if only you could lie down with fleas and wake up with puppies...
There was once a Master Storyteller named Joe. This short story is dedicated to his memory...if we can be Frank with You.
The saga of the lonely concession stand worker concludes at the Sunset Drive-In.
"Can you just rememberrrrrr...how Wonderfullll... those Hot Dogs tasted last summer, hot off the grill, or maybe you were like me, and took that pack of 12 weiners and threw them on top of the engine of a hot running automobile and drove to Sacramento where everyone knows that's where you find the best condiments..."
A concession stand worker at the Sunset Drive-in, desperately wants you to come on in for the delectable Hot Dogs. "It's ten minutes until the Inauguration" so, hurry up and get out of your car and enjoy what has been prepared for you with all the fixens...
Sunset Drive-In will be told with two installments. Look for the "conclusion" to "Part one" when we've sold enough of those Delicious Hot Dogs.
Are you a wrench, or a lug nut? Do you do the tightening, or...are you tightened?
Karl finds himself stuck smack-dab in the middle of this Human Equation as he attempts to find the Life/Work balance we all dream of, without losing his Humanity...
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hopefully, MD submits a story to start the year out on the right foot with webbing...
"Catcher by the Pond" is about love/loss/grief/ducks. Why a Duck? Good question.
If you Peek in history, you will find the Duck running like a chicken with its head cut off to get away from some crazed chef chasing after it with Mandarin Sauce.
If you Peek into this story, you will find none of that...
Jim Morrison is buried in Paris at the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery. Across the street from the final resting place of the Lizard King, you can witness a romantic affair...if you know where to look.
Muffy Drake presents: Two Kiwis-A Fruitless Love Story
MORDVIN is a story about Mother Tongue, you know, the first language you learned as a child to communicate your thoughts. This is very important if you grow up to speak five languages, including Ancient Aramaic.
MORDVIN begins like this: "My wife and I both teach at M.I.T. She's a Senior Researcher and Professor of Molecular Biology."
MORDVIN ends like this:
"Me llamo Diego (my name is Diego). Mi papa y mi mama (my parents) no entienden nada (don’t understand anything). Son ignorantes (they’re ignorant). Lo peor (the worst) es el arte (is art). Son nulos (they’re hopeless). Para la navidad (for Christmas) he pedido un glockenspiel (I asked for a glockenspiel). Ay (lemme tell you) la vida no va a ser fàcil (life isn’t going to be easy)."
What happens in the middle? Kind of strange, sounds like a muffled "Poo-tee-weet" with glasspacks...
The Blues can be lethal...if administered in a high enough dose.
This is a Cold Hard Fact. One instrument can deliver death with such guile, you'll die where you're standing with a smile on your face.
"Lethal Blues" explores this rare phenomenon that transpires only after midnight and in the company of a True Blue Assassin...
"Diego" is another installment of: I.S.O.T.T. (I'm sitting on the toilet...)
We've already visited a Franz Kafka nightmare in the "Rest Room" and island hopping on Hiva Oa French Polynesia, and last weeks "Andrew Irvine."
Now, we tell the story of Diego. Muffy Drake hopes with all earnestness, this experience will be Music to your Ears...
You've probably never heard of the British Mountaineer Andrew Irvine, but who hasn't heard of Mount Everest? Over 300 people have perished attempting to reach its summit.
Irvine was George Mallory's climbing companion in 1924 for their historic ascent.
Some would say Andrew Irvine peaked at 22, but did he?...
Written & narrated by Xavier Combe-Soundscape design by Jim Hall
You've probably never heard of Andrew Irvine. Who hasn't heard of Mount Everest? Over 300 people have perished climbing to reach its summit.
Andrew Irvine was one of those who heard and answered that Siren Song of the mountain. A mountain 29,031 feet tall. The world's tallest.
What compels someone to risk it all, just to get high. Higher than most will ever be...
Written & narrated by Xavier Combe-Soundscape design by Jim Hall
Mother Earth waits on Father Time to fix the leaky roof. He is simply out of his element and lost up there. Years of neglect have made the home inhabitable.
She's waited long enough and takes charge. Is that a hammer and nails and shingles she's carrying? Or, the keys to a Bulldozer?
Storm clouds brew in the distance. It begins to rain...
In this Special Edition of Muffy Drake, everything old is new again. You will discover the longest train ride home is shortened by a seatmate with lots of stories to tell.
Best to listen to this podcast while sipping a vintage 1948 Chateau Mouton Rothschild from a Dixie cup. Don't forget the Velveeta Cheese and Ritz Crackers. This Franco-American Alliance forged in the 1970s, will thank you!
We began this partnership when the world was Young and Rust Never Slept.
With love,
...from Paris to Pocatello, Pocohontas, Marlon Brando and me.
"Let us endeavor to live that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry." -Mark Twain
In "My Neighbor's Funeral" the undertaker is indeed sorry, sorry that Muffy Drake takes a sardonic look at their industry. Lots of $$$ buried underground.
"Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust, a ten thousand dollar coffin...rust, rust...rust."
-Choppy Waters
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