High Ground by John McGahern, 1982
The magic trick:
A seemingly perfect self-enclosed conflict that opens up into something surprising
“High Ground” sets up a perfect story-sized choice for our narrator. He’s approached by a local politician who surprises him by offering him a job he could’ve only dreamt of as a kid. It does, however, come with a few ethical strings.
So what will he do?
What a perfect conflict.
Brilliant then when the story reveals a totally different intent.
And that’s quite a trick on McGahern’s part.
The selection:
“You’re very kind,” I answered.
“Have you any idea where you’ll go from here?”
“No. I’ve applied for the grant. It depends on whether I get the grant or not.”
“What’ll you do if you do get it?”
“Go on, I suppose. I’d do the doctorate.”
“What’ll you do then?”
“I don’t know. Sooner or later, I suppose, I’ll have to look for a job.”
“That’s the point I’ve been coming to. You are qualified to teach, aren’t you?”
“Yes. But I’ve only taught for a few months. Before I got the chance to go to the university.”
“You didn’t like teaching?” he asked sharply.
I was careful. “No, I didn’t dislike it. It was a job.”
“I like that straightness. And what I’m looking to know is—if you were offered a very good job now, would you be likely to take it?”
“What job?”
“I won’t beat around the bush, either. I’m talking of the principalship of the school here. It’s a very fine position for a young man. You’d be among your own people. You’d be doing good where you belong. I hear you’re interested in a very attractive young lady not a hundred miles from here. If you decided to marry and settle down, I’m in a position to put other advantages your way.”
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