In this story by H. E. Bates, a man sent to prison for killing a love rival in a jealous rage returns to the scene of the crime. His intent is to confront the woman they were fighting over, who was once his fiancé. As he knocks on her door he has a premonition that if she opened the door he might not be able to restrain himself but would rush straight at her and kill her. Fortunately for him, the person who opens it is a pleasant surprise. Themes: passion, jealousy and rage, choices and consequences, alienation and loneliness. More…
The Princess of Nebraska
In this story by Yiyun Li, a pregnant Chinese graduate student has traveled from Nebraska to Chicago for an abortion. The father, a former “dan” actor, is still in China and not returning messages. Accompanying her is a Chinese activist, who was the dan actor’s boyfriend before fleeing the country. Both are still in love with the actor, and the activist would prefer she keep the baby to lure him to America. In the closing paragraph, her resolve appears to weaken as the baby begins to move. Themes include repression vs. freedom, loneliness, sexuality, identity, choice vs. consequences. More…
Witness for the Prosecution
This classic crime thriller from Agatha Christie is better known for its screen and theater adaptions than the short story upon which they are based. There is no Hercule Poirot type detective here. The man charged with finding evidence to free a prisoner he is convinced was wrongly arrested for murder is a dogged solicitor. Things look grim when the man’s wife agrees to testify against him. Fortunately, a letter delivered the day before the trial leads to critical evidence that frees the man. Strangely, the solicitor is unlikely to be happy with the outcome. Themes: justice, deception, betrayal, perception. More…
Storyteller
This story by Leslie Marmon Silko retraces the life of a Yupic Eskimo woman up to the point she is jailed for murder. The story deals with the effects of “Gussick” (American) miners and traders on traditional village life, the way the village community supports her family of eccentric outcasts, how her sexual molestation by her grandmother’s partner drives her into the arms of American miners, and her quest for retribution against a Gussick storekeeper who sold poisoned liquor to her parents. Themes include cultural loss, exploitation, alienation, community, revenge, and storytelling. More…
The Baby (The First Thing the Baby Did Wrong)
This story by Donald Barthelme may be confronting for some readers because it appears to make light of an example of child abuse. Through exaggeration and humor, Barthelme leads us to his central theme: the coming of a baby can change the whole dynamics of family relationships. Most parents like to think that they are the ones in control. However, all too often they find themselves dancing to their child’s tune. By the end of the story, this baby has totally turned the tables. Some might even say that it has been guilty of a form of parental abuse! More…