‘Over There’ by Julie Hecht

Over There by Julie Hecht, 1998

The magic trick:

An outspoken narrator who doesn’t speak directly about her story’s main ideas

This story is an interesting little study in opposites. The narrator is outspoken almost to the point of being brash. Her storytelling voice is that of someone who thinks her point of view is pretty funny and occasionally is correct in that notion.

It’s ironic because the story she tells stays mostly detached from its key ideas. This is a story of grieving for a father; the story of feeling disconnected at home and in the community. She mentions enough about these issues to make it clear to the reader but never addresses them head-on.

It’s a great balance between sad and funny; said and unsaid.

And that’s quite a trick on Hecht’s part.

The selection:

My neighbor came over to me and said, “Merry Christmas.” I smiled and leaned forward to give her a kiss. I had never given a kiss before. I’d never gone over there on Christmas Day before. I’d always thought there was a formal religious meal going on until she told me that people just come and go all day.

“Sit down,” she said. I sat down and then she sat down in an easy chair across from me. Others were gathered around the table. Then the introductions began. I showed them my cranberry bread and told my story. I summed it up. I’ve learned that people don’t have much attention span.

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