This story by Toni Morrison explores the relationship between two women of different race who meet as eight-year-olds in a children’s shelter and become reacquainted at several points in the future. In addition to conflicts that arise as their lives move in different directions, both remain haunted by recollections of the ill-treatment received by a disabled kitchen-hand who worked at the shelter. An unusual aspect of the story is that although a major theme is racism, we never learn the ethnicity of the two women. Other themes: friendship, alienation, prejudice, disability, parenting, memory. More…
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The Man Who Lived Underground
This is the shortened, anthologized version of this Richard Wright title, not the recently released (2021) novel. Having said that, it is still a very powerful story. An innocent man, tortured by police into confessing to murder, escapes and takes refuge in the sewers and basements of an unnamed city. As he struggles for survival, uncertainty and sensory deprivation cause him to lose touch with reality. He comes to believe that all men are inherently evil and, unable to go on, decides to face his guilt by handing himself in. Themes: guilt vs. innocence, isolation, identity, racism, police brutality. More…
Souvenir
This story by Jayne Anne Phillips focuses on the almost sisterly relationship between a young graduate student (Kate) and her fifty-five-year-old widowed mother who is diagnosed with a potentially fatal brain tumor. Kate’s anguish over her mother’s condition is compounded by moral concern over her older brother’s decision not to disclose the unpleasant prognosis of scheduled brain surgery. As Kate struggles to cope with the possibility of losing her mother, the mother eases her pain by reminiscing about their good times together and making a comforting admission. Themes include alienation and loneliness, death and the fragility of life, motherhood. More…
How Suan Became Rich
In this Tagalog folktale from the Philippines, a rich man (Pedro) gives a friend (Suan) a post so that he can build himself a house. Pedro becomes unhappy when Suan’s new house is bigger than his. He asks Suan to return the post, which he can’t do or the house will fall down. Pedro takes Suan before the king to get the post back. On the way, Suan experiences further problems. He accidentally kills someone and breaks off a carabao (buffalo) tail. However, thanks to the wise king, Suan keeps the post and becomes the richest man in his village. More…
The Elevator
In this story by William Sleator, a timid twelve-year-old who is bullied at school and ridiculed by his father for his weakness faces two fears alone. Always uncomfortable in elevators, his first challenge is the old, creaky three-person elevator in the apartment block they have just moved into. His second fear is a fat woman with a piggish look who stares at him uncomfortably when they meet in the elevator and seems to be stalking him. The latter fear appears justified. Themes include agoraphobia (fear of being trapped), paranoia, facing one’s fears, parental insensitivity.