That Evening Sun (Go Down)

That Evening Sun (Go Down): Short story by William FaulknerIn this story by William Faulkner, a man recalls his parents’ callous indifference to the fate of an African-American woman who had washed the family’s clothes for many years. The woman makes extra money by allowing white men to “visit” her at home, and thinks her violent husband is planning to kill her for carrying a white man’s child. One night, she panics and tricks the family’s three children into staying with her. When their father takes them home, we are left wondering if she will survive the night. Themes: coming of age, racism, sexual exploitation, violence, fear, inhumanity.

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One Thousand Dollars

One Thousand Dollars: Short story by O. HenryThe twist ending in this O. Henry story has most readers believing that, after receiving an inheritance of $1,000 from an uncle and canvassing various options, the protagonist sees the error of his spendthrift ways. He then tells his uncle’s ward, who he loves and was left very little, that the money was left to her. And later, despite his profession of love being rejected, he contrives for her to receive an additional $50,000 to which he becomes entitled. Is this a story of selfless sacrifice, or could there be a further twist? Themes include change, deception, selflessness, generosity, love.

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City of Specters

City of Specters: Short story by BandiIn 2013, North Korean writer Bandi reputedly smuggled seven stories, including this one, out of the country. Although unverified, the stories provide a valuable insight into the fear and repressed lives of North Korean citizens. In this one, ‘unpatriotic behavior’ by a two-year-old child results in banishment of a senior bureaucrat and his family to the countryside. Earlier, the child had suffered a fit in its mother’s arms. In most countries, she would call for a doctor. Here, we are told that had a doctor happened to be at hand, the incident might well have ended in disaster.

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Zero Hour

Zero Hour: Short story by Ray BradburyThis chilling story by Ray Bradbury involves an inattentive mother, a feisty seven-year-old girl, and her imaginary friend Drill. Throughout most of the story, the girl leads her friends in a construction game following instructions she receives from Drill. Her mother later learns that groups of children across America are playing the same game. Its name is “Invasion”, and for her the climax comes in a single word: Peekaboo. The major theme of the story is complacency. The mother senses something is wrong, but doesn’t act until too late. Other themes include human smugness (We’re impregnable!), childhood innocence/impressionability, manipulation, fear.

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Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry

Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry: Short story by Elizabeth McCrackenIn this story by Elizabeth McCracken, a homeless woman with no family has spent her life traveling the countryside and staying at the homes of people she says are distant relatives. Now in her eighties, she visits a young couple claiming to be the niece of the man’s great-grandfather. While there, she forms an unlikely attachment to a neglected, undisciplined young boy living nearby. When the truth comes out and it is time for her to leave, she considers taking the boy with her. Themes include homelessness, deception, family, loss, connection.

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The Totara Tree

The Totara Tree: Short story by Roderick FinlaysonThis light-hearted story from Roderick Finlayson is set in 1930’s New Zealand. A small Maori community is in conflict with the Pakeha (white European) authorities who plan to cut down a sacred tree to build new power lines. An old woman climbs the tree and refuses to come down. After an initial confrontation, the authorities depart for the night. This leads to a drunken celebration, which causes a house-fire that threatens the tree. When rescuers discover that the old woman in the tree has died, one of them comes up with a foolproof plan to save the tree.

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A Night in the Hills

A Night in the Hills: Short story by Paz Marquez BenitezThis story from Paz Marquez Benitez deals with something many people caught up in a routine job or coming to a crossroads in life go through… dreaming of escape to an alternative, seemingly more appealing lifestyle. City-based Gerardo has always dreamed of living in the countryside. Recently widowed, he accompanies a friend to inspect some newly opened public land. After a single night in the jungle, he decides that life “in the hills” is not as appealing as he had imagined. Themes: imagination (the grass is always greener), city vs. country life, discontent, enlightenment, acceptance.

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The Decapitated Chicken

The Decapitated Chicken: Short story by Horacio QuirogaIn this story by Horacio Quiroga a loving couple has four sons, each of whom soon degenerates into idiocy. The couple become bitter and resentful, each blaming the other for their sons’ congenital imbecility. When a daughter is born who does not share the condition, the parents ignore the boys, leaving them in the care of a servant who brutally mistreats them. One day the boys watch as the cook decapitates a chicken. Fascinated by the sight of blood, they later imitate the act with the only small ‘animal’ available. Themes include mental illness, despair, rejection and neglect, cruelty, violence.

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