Today, I'd like to propose impressions about a short story, called "concentrate", found in a book written by Pete From : "dry rain".

Mr. Fromm is a north American author, living in the Midwest, Montana (I believe).

Missoula, Montana

He's mostly known for his autobiographic "Indian Creek Chronicles" (a pretty good book, by the way), but has been writing some excellent shorts stories from the mid-90's to the 2010's.
For some time now, he has evolved into novel productions, which are quite fine (most notably "If not for this") but I still consider his short stories to be his best artworks. Just to put things into perspectives, some critics called him the Chekhov of the great plains - what a great compliment !

So let's talk about this "concentrate" short story (and maybe making you want to discover it).
It is indeed a tale I read a few years ago, but which struck me in such a way, that I often think about it, up to this day ! Then, I found the book in my personal library and read it again.

Un beau spoiler en image

As Fromm writes with much stylization, I felt it important to catch it in the original version, so I ordered a bunch of his books from public libraries in the US…

And that was worth it. This is phenomenal : in only a few paragraphs, he conveys in a very light touch a whole atmosphere, situation and drama of the main protagonist.
Let's share the introduction, as an example :

I get up earlier and earlier it seems, now that Tom's doing so much out-of-town work. I make him breakfast and maybe we'll talk a little, but mostly we're just barely awake. Before I know it he's kissing me good-bye and he's out the door. The kids are still asleep and most people would probably go back to bed then themselves, but I pour myself another cup, pinch my cheeks to keep myself awake, and use that rare time to think.

The only other time I get is while the kids are down for their naps, but some days I'm so worn-down by nap time all I can do is sit and listen to the air conditioner, wheezing and grumbling before settling into the same old routine. Shakes the whole wall when it starts. No wonder the tornadoes always blow these places wide open, when the big houses aren't touched at all. Boy, but I'd like to see one of those golf-course mansions bust open. Just imagine all the wonderful things that'd get scattered around.

Can you feel what's at stake here ?
To me, the first paragraph shows the situation of this young couple, while the second one sets the social tone. And all of it, in a lively and truthful tone !

By a connection to the character and her appreciation of life, we can relate to her issues, struggles and hopes. It resonates.
In the mean time, we can feel all of the inaccessible American dream. Out main protagonist longs for the big idea that would change the whole thing. She's thinking hard (and we feel she's quite bright), hoping to find the way out for her family. She's really hoping that she will impress her partner, who he's working his ass out - instead of just waiting the whole day long and feeling useless.

I'm absolutely certain that it corresponds to A LOT of peoples' life (like millions).

If we had witnessed it through a documentary, for instance, it probably wouldn't have moved us this way. We might have understood a couple of things, but it would surely remain on the mental side of it, instead of the profound emotional resonance.
Of course, there are a couple of good examples : for instance, French journalist Florence Aubenas conducted an experience, where she would pass for an under-graduated, middle aged woman, in order to see how she might get her way out… And of course, she could not ! It lasted for about 6 months, and that was like a fucking nightmare.

Such testimony is very interesting, because it allows us to understand the social issues of our time. Moreover, it's also nice to have something to talk about in dinners or at parties, and feel intelligent, but honestly, there's hardly anything truly emotional.

On the contrary, thanks to Fromm's writings and thanks to his lively writing style, we truly get into the life of his characters and directly empathize. In this short story, we do feel her pain, her weariness, as well as share her hopes of success. When her whole "great idea" obviously collapses, we also feel a bitterness - and that's what it's about too ! empathie. De fait, dans cette histoire, nous partageons les peines de la jeune femme, ses lassitudes, mais aussi l’énergie de l’espoir. SPOILER : Quand sa grande idée foire lamentablement, nous ressentons aussi son amertume, et c’est un peu le point.

So once again, literature can make a difference.

I strongly advise you to discover Pete Fromm's writing, beginning with his short stories : "dry rain", "blood knot", "Night Swimming"… Then his novels : "If not for this", "A job you most certainly wouldn't know how to do", etc.
https://www.addall.com/books-in-order/pete-fromm/

Did you know his writings ? How do you feel about them ?

Have a great week !

V.

PS : his style inspired me a short story on my own, which then became a radiophonic thing, and then turned into a short movie : " A Kurt To Be" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAGka7LPwz4