I still can’t seem to get enough T.C. Boyle, so for this week I read two more short stories from his collection, ‘After the Plague.’
The first story I read was ‘Termination Dust’. The travel agency Ned and his partner, Peter own in Alaska organized a fund raiser. 107 women “of all ages, shapes, and sizes,” came from Los Angeles to be auctioned off as dates to the highest bidder. It is said that in Alaska, there are two men for every one woman.
Ned fell instantly for Jordy and enjoyed conversing with her, until Bud came and interrupted. The three of them sat down and ate together with Ned trying to be civil to Bud for Jordy’s sake. After dinner the bidding begun and soon Jordy was being auctioned off. There was a bidding war between Ned and Bud but Bud won. Ned just couldn’t go any higher and he couldn’t figure out where Bud got that kind of money from.
The next morning Ned went to find Jordy but she had left the hotel. A friend of hers told Ned that Jordy went with Bud to his cabin and that she would be back in time to catch the plane the next day. Ned knew that there was no way that Bud would get her back in time, if at all. Ned drove all day with urgency to rescue Jordy from the lying and manipulative Bud.
This is another demonstration of T.C. Boyle’s fertile imagination and excellent writing skill. I recommend this story.
The next story I read was ‘Killing Babies’. When Rick gets out of rehab in California he goes to live and work with his brother, Phillip in Detroit. He must keep out of trouble for the next 6 months or face jail time. Phillip is a doctor who lives with his wife and children in a really nice house.
Rick and Phillip have never been close but Rick decides he will make the best of the situation. He is to work at Phillip’s clinic as an entry level lab technician. Mostly menial tasks such as cleaning test tubes and taking out garbage, etc.
When Rick and Phillip drive up to the clinic the first day there are a bunch of protectors outside. It turns out that abortions are performed at the clinic. None of the workers inside the clinic, including Phillip want to talk about the protesters with Rick. On another day, the protesters are outside Phillips house.
I won’t say anymore for risk of giving out spoilers. This story has the far reaching consequences that I have come to expect from the expert writing of Boyle. I highly recommend it no matter what side of the abortion issue you are on.
Like I said last week, if you haven’t read anything by . T. Coraghessan Boyle, what are you waiting for? Go now, be sure to start with Chicxulub, here.
If you would like to participate in Short Story Mondays or just find out about some great short stories, go to John of The Book Mine Set. He has a short story review every Monday and a place for you to link your short story reviews. Come join in the fun!
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