In this post: A depressing holiday story with a happy ending.
Category: Fast Fiction + Short Story Collection
Ramiah Recommended?
No. But if you do read it, stay 'till the end.
When I think of Thanksgiving, and thereby, stories about Thanksgiving, I think about largely happy things. Lots of food. Spending time with family. Overall happy times, right?
Well, this story is not a happy time.
We follow Mrs. Robb, an old woman living alone the night before Thanksgiving. Although this story is short, a good chunk of it is just depressing. In example:
She had always been looked up to by her neighbors as being independent, but now she was left, lame-footed and lame-handed, with a debt to carry and her bare land, and the house ill-provisioned to stand the siege of time.
Like, this is not what I signed up for.
Anyway, during the course of all this sadness, we find out details about Mrs. Robb: She is admired in the town for her handiwork in her garden; she has a jealous neighbor who wants to take her property; and (most important to the story) she takes in an orphan boy and treats him like her own son.
Well, this son has left home to try and make it big and Mrs. Robb is alone again, in her house, suffering in the cold because she is too old to warm up her house. Very sad again!
This story ends on a cute note when her orphan son, John, comes and surprises Mrs. Robb for Thanksgiving, sharing how he has become a big success and will take care of her now.
Again, it ends sweetly but the struggle the readers have to go through to get there... not worth it.
It can ruin a Thanksgiving jolly mood for sure! Read it for yourself here and tell me what you think.
Ramiah Reflects
(nothing this time, folks!)
Ramiah's Re-read When
Re-read when:
You want to get into a more somber Thanksgiving mood
You want to skip to the end for a sweet story
You're feeling bittersweet and want a story to match
Check out my other posts and book notes here.
Until next time!
Montana Houston
