Last week’s winning story is Paper Crosses by J Ian Manczur.
I chose this story because of its strong use of juxtaposition. On the one hand, we see the apparent emptiness of “an essay and a check” and some simple paper crosses. Who does this pastor think he is, playing around with these useless credentials and empty symbols? And then on the other hand, we have the pastor’s incredible willingness to “forgive what the dead never could”. That offer of forgiveness is truly noteworthy, and is way more meaningful than the paper crosses themselves.
And yet, naturally, perhaps, the prisoner is a skeptic.
Well done, Ian!
My take on it is that the “pastor” is a fellow inmate who sent off for his credentials and that his “forgiveness” was as hollow as his ordination.
That’s part of the beauty of a story like this one. The emptiness or meaningfulness of the forgiveness depends so much on the recipient’s (and the reader’s) perspective. It really gives you a lot to think about as a reader.
Tim and Jeff, I am humbled by your kind words.
The pastor seems to be another inmate as suggested, if all he can put together are paper crosses. From my perspective we can’t really know the motives of the pastor as he may well be fulfilling the needs of the prisoners as he sees them (desperate times) and in so doing satisfying his own, although the prisoner in this piece certainly has reservations. The so called pastor could be suffering from a mental illness as prison authorities would likely screen letters/essays (for the purposes of being ordained) and jump on anything that might adversely affect the running of the prison. They should also be in a position to supply a real pastor if needed.
I get the impression there is a bigger story to tell here, and ‘yes’ it made me think.