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I wrote this story in the summer of '98, I believe, as a sort of warm-up for my first novel, Prodigal Sons.
This story is a favorite of mine, just for the great interaction between the two characters, and what happens at the end. Thanks to an excellent suggestion from Marcy Rice, an editor at the News and Observer, to make the story a sort of "oddball xmas story," this story is one I'm really, really proud of.
"Comfort and Joy" was first published in the Raleigh News and Obeserver's Sunday Reader in December 2002.
| Comfort and Joy Two things, and two things only, kept Lew Zimmerman from quitting his job at the toy factory. The first was driving Marty Thier to and from work. The second thing that kept Lew from quitting was his desire to get under Marty’s skin during their fifteen-minute trip through their sleepy hometown before and after work. So far, after over two years of riding together, Lew hadn’t even come close to denting Marty’s round, peaceful exterior. On a cold mid-December morning at half past six, Lew pulled up in front of Marty’s parents’ house with a warm box of a dozen donuts resting next to him. He looked through his mostly-frosted-over windshield at the peaceful midwestern streets around him, grinned, and pressed the horn of his ancient Malibu. When Marty appeared in the doorway, Lew cranked up a heavy-metal version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" on his car stereo to accompany Marty on his way down the sidewalk. Good morning neighbors, Lew thought, grinning madly. I bring you hard-rock tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
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First published at: |
