Sarah Layden's story, "13 Things Your Mail Carrier Won't Tell You" appeared today in Booth. It's laid out exactly as the title suggests--13 numbered things from one's mail carrier. And while the 13 items may appear to be random, I believe they tell a story--the story of the mail carrier. The first section is:
It’s not about the dogs, but control. That you should learn to tame the untamed. That to let your pit bull ride shotgun is one step removed from handing over the keys. Barking, fine. That can be controlled. As can you.
Of course, I thought, a mail carrier would certainly be commenting upon dogs right off the bat. And that end, "As can you," seemed almost ominous.
It's followed by suggestions to invite the mail carrier into your home, but then a warning that the one time the carrier has been invited still cannot be spoken of even 20 years later. There's commentary on junk mail, and what goes on inside our homes, and tattoos, and the lack of books being delivered compared to days past (obviously not my mail carrier sharing these 13 things).
Again, I think Layden has actually done an interesting job listing these ideas out as separate "things" but doing so in a way that has created a fully realized person in the mail carrier. We know the thoughts rolling around in their head, what they think about our houses, our landscapes, our animals, their boots, their thoughts on the lonely, and more. A very well done story.
Comments