"The Gathering" is a witty golf-themed story by M.N. Wiggins published on Once Upon a Crocodile. It's a serial story about a group of "OAPs" (old-age pensioners) embarking on their yearly sentimental golf outing.
But this year, things are different. One of the OAPs, nicknamed Cookie Jim, has a vendetta against his golfing gang. He wants revenge.
I don't know how many installations of this serial story the e-zine intends to publish. There have been three so far, which means I can't provide a critique of the story's ending yet.
I decided to review the part I've read anyway because M.N. Wiggins' story is funny, suspenseful, and free for you to read.
Length: 20+ minutes
Genre: Humor
General Impressions
Q. How's the hook?
Cookie Jim bakes cookies on the daily, selling them to college kids as they head across campus to their classes. In the story introduction, we see him baking up something scrumptious while chatting at his brown-and-black dachshund in a small apartment.
This first-person story hooks the reader by talking about homemade chocolate chip cookies. If you're hungry or have a sweet tooth, that may be all the incentive you need. But if not, you'll probably be hooked by paragraph 5, when Wiggins reveals the story setting.
The hook establishes some fast facts about the main character, including his occupation and life situation. There may be some symbolism here. Even in his old age, Cookie Jim is a servant to students. He's someone they "use" for a quick high.
We're swept quickly into the meat of the plot, which amps up as Cookie Jim attends the week-long golf gathering with his old school associates. He refers to the group as The Magnificent Seven, or the Seven.
Q. What made me want to keep reading?
Cookie Jim feels no warmth or sentimentality toward his old classmates. On the contrary, he's pissed at them. The plot thickens: What did these old geezers do to make him so mad?
Through colorful flashbacks, the reader gets a front-row seat to a string of Cookie Jim's bad memories involving the guys, who are named Greg, Sonny, Lance, Hal, Billy Jack, Bobby Joe, and Booger.
For example, we see those hoodlums throw a drunken Cookie Jim into a swimming pool with a live crocodile. A struggle for his life ensues. Someone films the struggle for the viewing enjoyment of Jim's fellow teenage classmates.
Through colorful present-tense dialogue, the reader sees that the Seven still verbally abuse Cookie Jim in his old age. Nothing has changed. He's still "serving" as entertainment fodder for the "popular" guys.
What is Cookie Jim's motivation for attending the golf gathering?
That's the question that made me want to keep reading.
Q. What did I think of the plot?
As the plot develops, Jim's motive for attending the golf retreat becomes increasingly clear.
In Part II, the reader gets an inkling.
In Part III, Cookie Jim's endgame is crystal clear.
How many more installations of this serial tale will follow? I'm not sure. I was bummed when i realized there's no Part IV yet, but I'm assuming Once Upon a Crocodile will eventually publish the rest.
Q. Did I enjoy the main character?
Did you watch Jim Carrey's 1996 comedy, The Cable Guy? Did you resonate with Carrey's character ... his hilarity, his patheticness?
If so, this story is for you.
In fact, I'd venture to say that Jim Carrey could play Cookie Jim if this short story were ever turned into a movie. He's in his sixties now, just like Cookie Jim.
If not Jim Carrey, maybe Bill Pullman. He's quite skilled at portraying sad, put-upon main characters.
Q. How was the writing style?
M.N. Wiggins writes realistic, snappy dialogue that simultaneously advances the story and fleshes out the characters.
Most of the paragraphs are short, which readers tend to appreciate. When occasionally a paragraph is a bit longer, it's easy to read because of all the surrounding white space.
Even though I'm not a golf fan or a man in his sixties, I'm pretty excited about this author and this story. I'll be watching Once Upon a Crocodile to see how it ends. Actually, I think I might know how it ends, but I'm excited to find out if I'm right ... and to see how Wiggins ties up each character thread.
Let's talk about "The Gathering" by M.N. Wiggins in Once Upon a Crocodile. Leave your comment below!