Today We Hit by Megan Abbott, 2007
The magic trick:
Making a surprising choice to focus on the quiet, more mundane moments of a character’s crazy life
Today’s story takes to Wall Street Noir.
It imagines the details behind Casper Holstein’s numbers racket in the 1930s. To be honest, for a mobster running numbers, this is a pretty dull story. There aren’t any murders, bribes, or narrow escapes from police. Instead, it’s a quiet conversation between Casper and his girlfriend about his new idea and what their future might hold. So it’s not particularly exciting. But I guess in that, there is something to cheer. The obvious choice for a mob story would be to lean on the tension and thrill. This emphasis on the quiet look behind the scenes is more surprising and original.
And that’s quite a trick on Abbott’s part.
The selection:
“It’s all so simple,” he added, almost a whisper, as if to himself. “And yet someone needed to think of it. And now they have.”
“I’d never play those odds,” she said, her breath slightly fast.
“You wouldn’t,” he smiled. “Not you. Nor me, my girl,”
He flicked one of the coins with the tip of his finger. It flipped over on her belly, sending a wave of soft heat all the way up to her nostrils. He flicked another, and then one more.
“But lots of fine, warm, striving folks would,” he said. “For a promise.”
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