ID a Neil Gaiman story

Cafe Society
1

I feel like this should be very easy to find this on my own, but I’ve tried and failed, so I’m turning to you.

A few years ago, I heard Neil Gaiman reading a short story he wrote in which a man visits his elderly mother and discovers an artifact of his late father’s apparent double life as a Doc Savage-style pulp adventurer. His mother keeps trying to deflect his questions and downplay the whole thing but kept letting little details slip.

It was full of dialogue like “Of course you’re right dear. That couldn’t possibly be your father riding a pterodactyl in that photograph. Why, he always hated to fly!” Only much better, of course.

I’m almost positive I heard him reading the story on Selected Shorts, but I can’t find it on their website.

2

Perhaps adventure story from trigger warning?

Here’s a review.

And here is a reading of it:

(I haven’t listened yet so sorry if its not right)

3

“Flappy things?”
she thought for a moment.
“Pteradactyles, dear. With a P.”

4

That’s it! Thanks!!!

5

I recently listened to the audiobook of Gaiman reading The Graveyard Book and he is an absolutely great reader. Coincidentally the week I was listening to it I went to see Nick Cave and Gaiman and his wife Amanda Palmer were sitting in front of us just among the ordinary folk.