In this flash story, Fredric Brown explores the use of black magic to solve a marriage problem. Mr and Mrs Decker have decided on a divorce. Love has turned to hate, and the break-up is not friendly. The biggest issue they need to agree on is the financial settlement. Mrs Decker wants half of everything; Mr Decker thinks this is too much. She knows voodoo, and tells him she could use it to kill and him and get everything if he didn’t agree. This leads to an all-or-nothing bet where, if her voodoo doesn’t kill him, he keeps it all.
Original Text / PDF (360 words)
very good book
What is the orientation of the story?
The ‘orientation’ of the story is contained in the opening paragraph. It describes Who (Mr and Mrs Decker), When (after returning from a trip to Haiti), Where (back home) and What (a potentially acrimonious divorce) the story is about.