Brigid by Mary Lavin, 1944
The magic trick:
Hinting at domestic comedy before shifting its tone definitively toward something else entirely
Mary Lavin serves us up a memorably sad story today.
The story begins with an argument between husband and wife about what a drag the husband’s invalid sister, Brigid, has become on the family. It’s serious, for sure, but also played for some comedy.
When the husband goes missing shortly thereafter, any sense of comedy leaves the story immediately.
It’s a gripping and impressive change in tone.
And that’s quite a trick on Lavin’s part.
The selection:
“Quit that,” said the woman. “ Can’t you see you’re raising ashes?”
“What harm is ashes?”
“I’ll show you what harm,” she said, taking down a plate of cabbage and potato from the shelf over the fire. “There’s your dinner destroyed with them.” The yellow cabbage was lightly sprayed with ash.
“Ashes is healthy, I often heard said. Put it here!”
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