"Improbable Times" by E. Mark Mitchell

The first long form story to be featured on The Town Drunk, "Improbable Times" by E. Mark Mitchell, follows Bill, a lawyer, on the morning things begin to go…odd. When he opens his briefcase to find a trout in it, he suspects there might be a problem. When a pink brocade couch tries to kill him a few minutes later, he’s sure there’s one. Seeking the help of Greg, a friend whose genius is matched only by his inability to call Bill anything other than Binky, he discovers the horrid truth; probability is breaking down, and he and Bill are trapped in a world which changes on a quantum whim. Or are they?

Mitchell has a fine ear for dialogue, and Bill and Greg’s interactions are laconic and funny without ever seeming to try too hard. There’s almost a hint of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in The Road movies to their banter, as the two bounce from world to world with a growing sense of alarm but never outright terror. It’s a tough line to walk, and the story is in constant danger of tipping over into sub-Adamsian whimsy. However, Mitchell keeps it on track, using a nice and consistently funny set of hooks to maintain the internal logic of the story and the characters.

He’s strong on incident too, with the gradual transformation of Bill’s life nicely contrasted with some genuinely impressive action moments. The SUV versus Mongols sequence is particularly good, and the resolution to the story is consistent, sweet-natured, and provides the three eminently likeable central characters with the ending they richly deserve. Anyone looking for deep introspection is going to be disappointed, but if you’re in the mood for a story which is amusing, inventive, and most of all, fun, give this a look.