'Romance at short notice is her speciality' is how the short story 'Open Window' ends. This is by Saki (a.k.a ) H.H.Munro. I sometimes wonder whether this applies to all the writers too.
The idea of a story making a story at the last sentence has always appealed to my own romance. There are many such stories. What stands in my mind though are a few. Like, 'Open Window' , 'There are no snakes in Ireland' , 'The Verger' .....
Verger is the best of its class though. I am tempted to give a synopsis of the story.
" I can tell you that Sir , said Mr Foreman , a little smile on his still aristrocratic features. ' I would be verger of St Peter's, Neville Square. "
This is how the story ends. Now to the synopsis.
Mr Foreman is a verger in St Peter's church. The authorities suddenly spring up a rule that all Vergers should be literates. Foreman is not though. But the church is pretty keen. It is clear that, he either becomes a literate in 3 months or he leaves.
Time comes and Foreman hasnt even made an attempt and on the day of reckoning, he has no choice but to leave. With a heavy heart he quits the place he has worked for 12 years. Crestfallen , he decides that he has no future thereon.
He walks down the street and looks for a cigarette for comfort. And he doesnt find a single shop. It strikes him as a flash that he has a window open afterall and decides to set up a shop there.
Soon this shop grows into a chain and in 10 years, Foreman becomes a rich guy. His Bank Manager seeing so much funds in his account, suggests that Foreman should invest in some securities for better returns. After much persuasion , Foreman agrees and asks the manager to prepare the papers. The manager obliges and brings it for Foreman to sign them , which Foreman has learnt in these 10 years. He insists that the manager reads that out for him to know what's written.
The manager is surprised and asks Foreman why he should. He replies that he doesnt know how to read or write.
The manager then asks, ' And you mean to say that you've built this important business and amassed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds without being able to read or write ? Good God, man what would you be now if you had been able to? '
Now, go back and read the beginning and read the answer. :))
" I can tell you that Sir , said Mr Foreman , a little smile on his still aristrocratic features. ' I would be verger of St Peter's, Neville Square. "
And this story is by Somerset Maugham , one of my all time favorites.
The idea of a story making a story at the last sentence has always appealed to my own romance. There are many such stories. What stands in my mind though are a few. Like, 'Open Window' , 'There are no snakes in Ireland' , 'The Verger' .....
Verger is the best of its class though. I am tempted to give a synopsis of the story.
" I can tell you that Sir , said Mr Foreman , a little smile on his still aristrocratic features. ' I would be verger of St Peter's, Neville Square. "
This is how the story ends. Now to the synopsis.
Mr Foreman is a verger in St Peter's church. The authorities suddenly spring up a rule that all Vergers should be literates. Foreman is not though. But the church is pretty keen. It is clear that, he either becomes a literate in 3 months or he leaves.
Time comes and Foreman hasnt even made an attempt and on the day of reckoning, he has no choice but to leave. With a heavy heart he quits the place he has worked for 12 years. Crestfallen , he decides that he has no future thereon.
He walks down the street and looks for a cigarette for comfort. And he doesnt find a single shop. It strikes him as a flash that he has a window open afterall and decides to set up a shop there.
Soon this shop grows into a chain and in 10 years, Foreman becomes a rich guy. His Bank Manager seeing so much funds in his account, suggests that Foreman should invest in some securities for better returns. After much persuasion , Foreman agrees and asks the manager to prepare the papers. The manager obliges and brings it for Foreman to sign them , which Foreman has learnt in these 10 years. He insists that the manager reads that out for him to know what's written.
The manager is surprised and asks Foreman why he should. He replies that he doesnt know how to read or write.
The manager then asks, ' And you mean to say that you've built this important business and amassed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds without being able to read or write ? Good God, man what would you be now if you had been able to? '
Now, go back and read the beginning and read the answer. :))
" I can tell you that Sir , said Mr Foreman , a little smile on his still aristrocratic features. ' I would be verger of St Peter's, Neville Square. "
And this story is by Somerset Maugham , one of my all time favorites.
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