Kai's Short Story Blog

Why do the townspeople in "The Lottery" seem so willing to kill their neighbors every year? In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the reader learns that the lottery is an event, systematically solidified into society, and has been in place for decades. Every year, each village or town holds a ceremony, randomly choosing one inhabitant who is stoned to death by the townspeople. During the story the reader learns anyone in the town, old or young, is entered into the lottery. While the townspeople clearly view day of the lottery cautiously, none openly protest the proceedings except Mrs. Hutchinson who is chosen by the lottery. The final morbid scene in “The Lottery” shows the townspeople, from elderly to children, kill their friend and neighbor Mrs. Hutchison. And this begs the question: how and why are the townspeople so willing to kill one of their neighbors every year without much complaint? Although systemic change is hinted at, many of the townspeople (particularly the olde...

A retelling of Rye and Obsidian's meeting In "Speech Sounds" by Octavia Butler - told from Obsidian's point of view Rock was not surprised when he saw the bus on the side of the road. He often saw abandoned vehicles, either broken or out of fuel. By now all the cars with extra fuel had been stripped and left derelict. No, Rock was depressed and scared when he saw the bus. Depressed because he saw yet another fight brewing on the bus. Scared because he knew there would be casualties. There always were. Regardless of how he broke up the fight. Instead, Rock decided to rescue someone. To save someone and make some good with what little life there was left on earth.  As Rock made a U-turn, he saw people filing out the back of the bus. Many began walking down the road, treating the stop like the common occurrence it was. However, Rock noticed a woman standing a safe but optimistic distance from the bus, still hoping to re-enter once the fight subsided. But Rock knew someo...