Three Skeleton Key

Three Skeleton Key: Short story by George ToudouzeLast year we featured Leiningen Versus the Ants, a story in which 400 men try to fight off an army of killer ants. In today’s tale by George Toudouze, three men are trapped inside an isolated lighthouse, surrounded by a horde of starving rats. One of the men is prone to panic and loses his mind when the rats break in to the lower part of the tower. The other two remain calm and, although a serious breach of duty, agree on a desperate course of action that saves the day. Themes: man vs. nature, fear, calmness under pressure.

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Clean Sweep Ignatius

Clean Sweep Ignatius: Short story by Jeffrey ArcherJeffrey Archer has come up with an almost unimaginable scenario. Nigeria has a new Finance Minister, Ignatius Agarbi, who decides to clear up his country’s reputation for corruption! He does such a good job, without so much as a breath of scandal, that the country’s President commissions him to find out the names of all ministers and government officials with money hidden away in secret Swiss bank accounts. Diligent as always, Ignatius devises a seemingly foolproof plan to find out just how serious Swiss banks are in maintaining their code of privacy. Themes: corruption, creativity, honor.

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Anxiety

Anxiety: Short story by Grace PaleyIn this story from Grace Paley’s activist period, an elderly woman worries about everything from the imminent destruction of the world to the well-being of two children being walked home from school. A father’s shortness with one of the children prompts the woman to call him out. She begins with the alarmist suggestion that people should enjoy life less and think more about the coming doom. She then elicits the cause of the man’s anger (wounded pride), which seems petty compared to the issues she has just raised. Themes: anxiety, global threats, fatherhood, child innocence, adult indifference.

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The Kugelmass Episode

The Kugelmass Episode: Short story by Woody AllenThis Woody Allen story includes elements of fantasy, science fiction and farce. Kugelmass, bored with his “oafish” wife, wants a lustful extra-marital affair with no commitments either way. His wish seemingly comes true when a failed magician offers him a chance to seduce any woman from world literature. His first choice begins well, but ends badly; his second proves disastrous. The story is a cutting satire of America’s 1970s ‘Me’ culture. Themes include psychological well-being, marital relationships and casual sex. Ironically, instead of “having” the affair he wanted, Kugelmass spends the rest of eternity running from hairy, long-legged Spanish “haves”.

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The People Could Fly

The People Could Fly: Short story by Virginia HamiltonReinterpreted folktales that include events from recorded history play an important part in cultural renewal by helping later generations relate to their heritage. This African-American example from Virginia Hamilton packs a lot into just 1200 words. Its major themes are slavery, cruelty, suffering, Free-dom, and hope. Freedom comes when Toby’s magic words rekindle the forgotten ability of some slaves to fly. For readers not into the supernatural, flying could also be a metaphor for running away or even death. Hope comes in Toby’s call to those left behind to wait for their chance to run.

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Saboteur

Saboteur: Short story by Ha Jin (aka Jin Xuefei)This story from Ha Jin begins with what appears to be a simple shakedown attempt by two corrupt Chinese policemen. The victim, who should have known better, attracts the attention of onlookers (who do nothing), resists arrest (a bad move) and challenges their station officer’s authority (bringing a weekend locked up in miserable conditions). When forced to “confess”, he faces loss of his reputation, job and wife. On release, he morphs from victim to villain. The original trumped-up charge was sabotage; his act of revenge is more like biological terrorism! Themes: police brutality and abuse of power, injustice, capitulation, revenge.

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The Color Master

The Color Master: Short story by Aimee BenderIn this folktale-like story by Aimee Bender, a group of artisans skilled in making fine clothing and footwear receive several difficult commissions from a king. The story is a loosely based prequel to the fairy tale Donkey Skin, in which a princess demands three dresses of seemingly impossible color (the sky, the moon and the sun) to avoid having to marry her father. In the process of directing the work, the dying Color Master anoints a successor and, in instructing her to put anger into the creations, saves the princess. Themes include artisanship, succession, faith, unnatural love (incest).

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Korea

Korea: Short story by John McGahernDespite the title, this acclaimed story from John McGahern has almost nothing to do with Korea. Set in Ireland, a father opens up to his teenage son about his traumatic experiences during the War of Independence. He was clearly scarred by them, and may have suffered what we now know as PTSD. The son is about to leave school, and the father encourages him to consider emigrating to America for a better life. The son later learns that what the father is really hoping for is a better life for himself. Themes: war, father-son relationships, desperation, betrayal, coming of age.

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