#120 Relief- Peter Ho Davies
O. Henry Award Story Friday!
I read the first sentence and it’s a story about flatulence.
Then I look again at the story title, Relief, and groan. Is this really a story
about farting? And for the most part I guess it is. There are many topics one
might take on while writing a short story, I guess something as ubiquitous a
gas would eventual make it into one.
However, the title is a double entendre of sorts, or maybe a
triple one actually. The senior officers are gathered at dinner when Lieutenant
Wilby makes his social gas-gaff. The men are gathered round and telling war
stories. When Lieutenant Chard is asked someone facetiously how it felt being a
hero.
“I would have to say, principally, the sensation is one of
relief. Relief to be alive after all…but also relief to have learned some truth
about myself. To have found I am possessed of – for want of a better
word—courage.”
Chard continues to expound on his bravery and reveals
himself to be a blowhard. Wilby offers his comic “relief” (yes I went there),
and we are left wondering was Wilby’s fart the real flatulence or was it what
just can out of Chard’s mouth?
Wilby’s final relief comes when the room shares stories of
their own public farting, and it becomes a bonding point between fighting men.
All except Chard of course:
“Now that man…mark my words—has never farted in his life.
It’d break his back to let rip now.”
Funny story.
No comments:
Post a Comment