Gazebo and I Could See the Smallest Things by Raymond Carver

 Gazebo and I Could See the Smallest Things by Raymond Carver

Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E

Gazebo

In this short story we have an unhappy couple.
Not exactly miserable, but far from exulting.

-          I can't stand it anymore, says Holly
-          I am moving to Nevada

To which her partner, Duane replies with reassurances and the an expression of his affection.

When they arrived at the motel they now mismanage, they were a happy couple.
The pay was good and they had all incidentals covered, electricity, food.

Even now, they use an apartment to make love, or something like it, with recriminations included.

Juanita is partly to blame.
A Mexican maid, that would probably support the Trump theory that a big wall is needed.
For look what this Latino has done to the mirth of this native couple.

I am joking of course, but the Donald being so close to the Oval Office is no jocular matter.

Duane was not the one to hire Juanita, Holly did.
She did her job, in the first period address in him with mister.
Then she switched to his first name and one day, as she was cleaning and Duane fixing something in the bathroom, the two ended up having sex.

To the immense chagrin of Holly.
To top that, there is alcohol and a culture of devil may care.

Holly is keeping the books, but she has been doing a lousy job lately.

She is sometimes overcharging and at other times taking less than she should.

Duane has stopped painting where and when it was needed and does not fix what needs repair.

They are on the way out.



I Could See the Smallest Things


There are three characters in this tale:

Nancy, Sam and Cliff

Nancy is married to Cliff, while Sam is their neighbor.

Sam is a widower who calls Nancy to show her something.

He is very concerned and upset with...slugs.

-          There are so many of them
-          Look!

And he uses some pesticide to kill them.
He pours that poisonous substance on top of one.

And albeit exaggerated, I felt bad for the creature, realizing nevertheless that we need to draw the line somewhere, unless we embrace Buddhism.


Mosquitos, bacteria, flies and others need to be exterminated...I guess.

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