A Scrap of Time

A Scrap of Time: Short story by Ida FinkOver the years we have published several “holocaust” stories by Ida Fink. This is the title story of the book from which they came. A woman who had watched as men from her Polish village were rounded up and ostensibly taken away to labor camps reflects that, for those traumatized by war or disaster, time is not measured in months and years but by actions and events. Sadly, there are far too many people in the world today forced to measure time in the same way. Themes include childhood innocence, fear, deception, self-delusion, atrocity.

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Just Before the War with the Eskimos

Just Before the War with the Eskimos: Short story by J. D. SalingerIn this coming-of-age story J. D. Salinger Salinger Ginnie, a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl’s outlook on life changes after visiting a controlling classmate’s home to collect money owed for shared cab fares. While waiting, she meets the girl’s older brother who appears bitter at the world after dropping out of college, being rejected for military service, and spurned in love by Ginnie’s sister. Later, she meets his effeminate, possibly gay best friend. After the visit, she no longer wants the money and asks if she can return that evening. Themes include alienation, rejection, resentment, connection, awakening.

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Everything Is Nice

Everything is Nice: Short story by Jane BowlesIn this story by Jane Bowles an American woman living alone in a Moroccan hotel is befriended by a Moslem woman who appears to know a lot about her movements. On the pretext of taking her to a wedding, the Moslem woman leads her to a dimly lit room where a group of other Moslem women ask probing questions about her life and presence in the city. Uncomfortable about the personal nature of the questions, she rudely refuses their offer of refreshments and abruptly leaves. Themes include women’s independence, identity, isolation and loneliness, cultural division.

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Busy Lines

Busy Lines: Short story by Patricia GraceThis story by Patricia Grace paints a poignant picture of an elderly widow who has lived alone for fifteen years. She comforts herself by imagining her deceased husband as a star that, along with the stars of other loved ones who have died, watches over her at night. She has given away most of her belongings and lives a spartan but contented life, ever watchful for visitors who never come and listening for a telephone that never rings. As the story ends, she “wakes” to find herself surrounded by dancing stars. Themes include independence, ageing with grace, contentment, loneliness.

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The Tale

The Tale: Short story by Joseph ConradIn this story by Joseph Conrad, a man tells his lover a tale about an English naval captain (who she later deduces to be him) racked with guilt over a decision made at sea. While sheltering from fog, he encountered a trading ship that he became increasingly suspicious of being a privateer supplying fuel to enemy U-boats. The ship’s papers were in order, and he had no legal basis for seizing it. Nevertheless, he found a way to send it and all on board to their doom without firing a shot. Themes include duty vs. morality in war, guilt. Themes include duty vs. morality in war, guilt.

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The Delicate Prey

The Delicate Prey: Short story by Paul BowlesThis controversial story by Paul Bowles is not for the squeamish. Two leather merchants and their nephew set off across the Algerian desert to sell their wares. After several days a stranger fearful of bandits in the area approaches and asks to accompany them. One night, the stranger lures the merchants away from camp on the pretext of going hunting. He ambushes and shoots them, then tortures and kills the youth. The crime is discovered when the stranger tries to sell their distinctive leatherworks. Tribal justice is swift and brutal. Themes include greed, deceit, extreme violence, vengeance.

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Mahesh / The Drought

Mahesh / The Drought: Short story by Sarat Chandra ChattopadhyayThis story by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay highlights the plight of the rural poor in colonial India. After years of drought, a landless Indian farmer lives on handouts, sharing what little he and his daughter have with Mahesh, his beloved bull. After the starving animal escapes and raids his cruel zamindar’s garden, the poor man is severely beaten and given a heavy fine. Angry and frustrated when Mahesh later breaks a pitcher of precious water, he does the unthinkable. Themes include poverty, social injustice (exploitation and deprivation), devotion/human-animal bonding, the potential devastating effects of nature on rural communities.

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Old Woman Magoun

Old Woman Magoun: Short story by Mary E. Wilkins FreemanIn this story by Mary R. Wilkins Freeman an old woman takes drastic action to prevent her granddaughter’s father from trafficking her to settle a gambling debt. The girl’s mother had died shortly after she was born. Wary of the shiftless, hard drinking men of the town, the grandmother had raised her in sheltered isolation. Now fourteen and innocent to the ways of the world, her father demands that she be handed over. Desperate, the grandmother turns to nature to “spare” her. Themes include patriarchy and gender roles, over-protectiveness, alcohol abuse, human trafficking, innocence, piety, love, despair, mercy killing.

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