Death in the Family

deathinthefamily.jpg

Honourable mention in the 6th Annual Geist Literal Literary Postcard Story Contest.

Dog died Tuesday.

Buried him Saturday cuz Addie couldn’t come ’til then. Reef bitched that we always wait for Addie. But we couldn’t have Dog’s burying without music. We agreed on that.

It was the best funeral. Dog looked good, considering. Couldn’t hardly see where the bullet went in but Reef said pull up his head and look at the back and you’ll see. The funeral man told Reef to stop and he did but that guy better watch where he parks.

Dog knew not to disrespect a guy. That’s what got him there in that box. But I think it would’ve been better if he crapped his pants in the van instead of making a run for the house—cuz Manny seen him. If he’d stayed in the van with Reef and the guys and crapped his pants instead, Dog would’ve seen Manny first and bust a cap in his ass, that’s for sure.

Addie sung “My Heart Will Go On” which is a bullshit song but Dog always liked it so I guess that was all right. And then “Hail Mary.” Later on, Reef and Addie had a real bitchup when Reef said we shoulda had the Tupac CD and Addie got all pissed and threw some stuff around. Then we went for Chinese buffet and Reef made her laugh when he stuck chopsticks up his nose. It was all good.

Next week we go fix Manny for sure.

Comments (39)

Comment Feed

loved it - so much, in few

loved it - so much, in few words.

pat irwin lycett more than 12 years ago

A delight to read - the

A delight to read - the concise lines - "It was the best funeral." "Next week we go fix Manny for sure." As others have stated, the words of this story were chosen well! Good one.

Tony more than 12 years ago

Entertaining, but truth be

Entertaining, but truth be told I was sidetracked at the getgo by the thought that there must really be a dog...

islander more than 12 years ago

Such authentic voices you

Such authentic voices you use. These broken young people sound so world-weary, their innocence lost or never even experienced. Poor tragic souls. Well done.

Heather O more than 13 years ago

The life of this piece is in

The life of this piece is in the voice and the vernacular: the characters themselves are utterly insensate to what's going on in their lives, including the violence. The lack of horror - or even grief - is what keeps this feud running. Strip away the fun of the language, and it reveals a barren moral landscape. The power of such a brief story is the larger tale that's not being told, only guessed.

F. Ford more than 13 years ago

Great , just love it .

Marisa more than 13 years ago

Thanks!

Ruth more than 13 years ago

Captured me with the first

Captured me with the first line.
Read it three times and saw more in it each time.

Adele more than 13 years ago

Powerful words tickle my

Powerful words tickle my spine. My spine's itchy.

Danielle more than 13 years ago

GREAT. Very well written.

kerry more than 13 years ago

I love the dialect. I can

I love the dialect. I can hear the voice clearly. Very Well Done!!!

Keith more than 13 years ago

Humans adapt to any

Humans adapt to any environment. Brilliantly written.

sharonedge more than 13 years ago

I love the ominous

I love the ominous matter-of-fact-ness of this piece. "...he did but that guy better watch where he parks." Brilliant execution. A show-stopper.

Deepam more than 13 years ago

Nicely done.

Robin Hood more than 13 years ago

Wow, and what family did you

Wow, and what family did you come from? You always amaze me Mom that you can use a vanicular and take on a persona so different from your own. I definitely hope to read more some day.

Lex more than 13 years ago

The voice is not convincing,

The voice is not convincing, it seems to hover, the grammar is sometimes low and then insightful.

Cathy more than 13 years ago

This one tops my list! Story,

This one tops my list! Story, image, voice, attitude...What a punch from so few words! "Addie got all pissed and threw some stuff around." Love it.

Carla more than 13 years ago

The vernacular & brevity

The vernacular & brevity really suit this story. I wouldn't choose this as the winner myself, but a solid entry.

Laurie more than 13 years ago

How wonderfully absurd that

How wonderfully absurd that "My Heart Will Go On" was Dog's chosen song.

And that god-awful situation of trying to fight off Nature's call in the worst way.

Was a real crap-shoot, waddn' it!

Loved it!

Arlene more than 13 years ago

Ruth, amazing story. What an

Ruth, amazing story. What an imagination you do have! And what a dialect! Sounds like some of my southern cuzzins!

Karen Cole more than 13 years ago

Gonna get my banjo to play

Gonna get my banjo to play while I read this again and again! Bravo. Ruth ~~!

John S more than 13 years ago

Ruth, always a wondrous

Ruth, always a wondrous adventure to read your stories. The only thing better is hearing you read one!

sam777 more than 13 years ago

What a gem, Ruth -- well

What a gem, Ruth -- well done!

Heidi Croot more than 13 years ago

A perfect little gem that's

A perfect little gem that's both rough-cut and highly polished! This is when you wish the postcard story form wasn't short at all, but ran on for pages and pages, just so we could read more!

Georgina more than 13 years ago

Hey Ruffie this is awesome!!!

agnes more than 13 years ago

Ruth, this is why you're my

Ruth, this is why you're my hero.

Dorsey more than 13 years ago

Ruth, awesome short

Ruth, awesome short story!
Loved the voice's.

Rose more than 13 years ago

Awesome voice!

Barbara Hunt more than 13 years ago

"pull up his head and look at

"pull up his head and look at the back and you'll see"
holy smokes, you got my attention now ...

Collette more than 13 years ago

Ruth,
I don't know who or

Ruth,
I don't know who or what is quirkier, you or your story. Where did that voice come from?

Such an effective economy of words between the stark opener and dark closer.

I have to assume this was a fun piece to write (not that that makes the process any easier). I can see an entire book written for these characters. Great accomplishment.

Mary McIntyre more than 13 years ago

It is said that in a short

It is said that in a short story every word counts. Man, it is so true here. So much unfolding and revealing but no word wasted. When I grow up I want to be a word in a short story cause every one is important.

Vicki more than 13 years ago

The language puts me in the

The language puts me in the van wishing Dog had 'bust a cap' in Manny's ass. The vernacular is so believable that I stayed for the funeral and then had dinner. A great piece that makes me want to read more.

Theresa more than 13 years ago

Chinese buffet and chopsticks

Chinese buffet and chopsticks up the nose will soften any woman's heart...

Noelle more than 13 years ago

"Addie got all pissed and

"Addie got all pissed and threw some stuff around" - love the understatement in this story. The voice carries all the subtext right there in the accent in plane sight. Brilliant, funny and what the f'!

James more than 13 years ago

Like the development of our

Like the development of our understanding of Dog throughout the piece. I think the best part (of many wonderful parts in such a short piece) is the incredible voice - which in a few short paragraphs sketches a whole other - very dark - world.

Sue more than 13 years ago

Cool story. My favourite

Cool story. My favourite line: "Dog looked good, considering." I laughed out loud.

Dorothy more than 13 years ago

The language is believable

The language is believable because it never resorts to cliched slang or over pronounce vernacular. Instead it's strength is in the words left out.
Manny better run, trouble is comin' his way.

'John' more than 13 years ago

Fix that Manny!

Jenn more than 13 years ago

Poor Dog. Edgy yet

Poor Dog. Edgy yet believable.

Bronwyn more than 13 years ago

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