Exchange Value

Exchange Value: Short story by Charles JohnsonThis story by Charles Johnson explores the theme that wealth brings power. Two brothers break into the apartment of an elderly, reclusive neighbor. The woman, who has been living in squalor, lies dead in bed. In her living room are cash and other valuables worth over a million dollars, which they quickly move to their own apartment. The younger brother looks forward to the better life money will bring. However, he is overruled by his older brother, who suffers the same strange reluctance to spend any of it as the old woman had. Other themes include hoarding, paranoia, isolation, poverty.

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Armistice

Armistice: Short story by Bernard MalamudThe major themes of this story from Bernard Malamud are violence, ethnic cleansing, war, racism, and compromised morals. Increasing tension between Jewish grocer Morris and German small-goods provider Gus mirrors unfolding events in Eastern Europe in the lead up to France’s surrender in World War Two. Morris, who witnessed the violent Russian pogroms against his people, is concerned the same will happen in France. Fascist-leaning Gus believes the invasion is justified because of France’s poor treatment of Germany following World War One. However, neither party feels strongly enough to terminate their business relationship for fear of losing money.

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Zita

Zita: Short story by Arturo B. RotorThere are two Zitas in this romantic coming of age story by Arturo B Rotor. The first is the woman who caused a broken-hearted young man to seek solace teaching on Anayat, an off-the-grid Philippine island of broken cliffs and coconut palms; the second, an adolescent Anayat schoolgirl who he agrees to teach how “to be a lady”. As sometimes happens, schoolgirl Zita develops a crush on the teacher. When he leaves in the hope of reconciling with his former love, she comes to understand something he once told her. Themes: unrequited love, alienation, depression, teenage infatuation.

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The 400-Pound CEO

The 400-Pound CEO: Short story by George SaundersIn George Saunders’s typical over-the-top style, this story uses dark humor to address themes of bullying and body shaming. Despite the indignation of being stuck in an unrewarding, distasteful job and suffering constant humiliation from colleagues, the 400-pound narrator remains calm and optimistic about the future. Things change when “a lifetime of scorn” boils over and he commits murder. In prison, his hope is replaced by misery. Although most of the story has a satirical tone, it ends on a philosophical note, questioning the existence and fairness of God. Other themes: isolation, sadism, animal cruelty, atheism

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Her Mother

Her Mother: Short story by Anjana AppachanaThis story by Anjana Appachana describes an Indian mother’s feelings of anguish, grief and betrayal upon reading the perfunctory first letter home from her younger daughter who has travelled to America to complete a Ph.D. Much of the story involves her thoughts on how best to reply. These range from ranting about personal care and the dangers of American life, providing “chatty” family news and encouraging her to find and marry a suitable Indian man, and confronting her about her abrupt decision to leave in such anger. Themes include tradition vs. westernization, independence, marriage and gender roles, double standards, self-pity.

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Beggar My Neighbor

Beggar My Neighbor: Short story by Dan JacobsonIn this story by Dan Jacobson, a white South African boy is confronted by the cruel realities of racism when a charitable decision to give food to two black street children gets out of hand. As the children approach him with increasing frequency, his attitude towards them changes from pity and condescension to contempt and hatred. In an epiphany that comes in a dream, he realizes that they hate him just as much as he does them, and simply want to be treated with dignity. Themes include poverty, compassion, vanity, fantasy, social class, racism, humanity.

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Birthmates

Birthmates: Short story by Gish JenLife for Gish Gen’s Chinese-American protagonist is not looking good. A salesman in a dying industry, he has recently divorced due to different “perspectives” on racism at work and his inability to grieve over his wife’s two miscarriages and a medical termination. Upon arrival at a sales convention, he finds that he has booked into a welfare hotel where playful children assault him the following morning. The kindness of one of its residents and a lost job opportunity cause him to finally face the loss of his wife and “child”. Themes: paranoia, self-esteem, alienation, loss, grief, cultural differences, racism, desperation.

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The Last Lovely City

The Last Lovely City: Short story by Alice AdamsThe city in this story from Alice Adams is San Francisco. An attractive young woman invites an aging, recently widowed doctor to a party where he encounters people who bring back unpleasant memories from his past. After fantasizing about a potential relationship with the woman, he learns she is an investigative journalist looking for a story. Disenchanted, he decides to move to Mexico to care for his ailing mother and help in two charity clinics he has established there. At least I more or less understand the corruption there, he argues. Themes: love, grief, memories, loneliness, hope, corruption, guilt/shame, selfishness.

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