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help identify a short story for me

Started by sevendaughters, November 21, 2018, 11:30:15 AM

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sevendaughters

Hello. I read a short story the first time I was at university in 2002 that I can't remember who it is by. I thought it was Borges, but I don't think it is him, though I recall it is set in Argentina.

The basic plot is that a white/educated missionary goes to a rural poor town to educate them in the word of Christ and the love of Jesus, to show that He died for their sins.

The ending of the story is that the townspeople (or family, I can't remember) are so thankful for this blessing that they lead him out to their shed where they have erected a cross of their own for the new Jesus in their midst (in order to crucify him).

popcorn

Sorry, no idea, but hijacking this to try to find a short story I want to find too. Yeah what a prick I am.

It was a post-apocalyptic story that was circulated online about ten years ago. The only thing I remember was that it was sort of sardonically funny and involved going to an abandoned Starbucks (I think - possibly some other big franchise). It sounds a bit hackneyed but I remember the prose being really quite sharp and fresh.

Queneau

Nothing to say to you careless pricks apart from if you love something then perhaps keep hold of it, yeah?

selectivememory

Could this be it? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1971/10/23/the-gospel-according-to-mark

Edit: haven't read the story, but it seems to have the same ending as you've described, and it's by Borges.

sevendaughters

Quote from: selectivememory on November 21, 2018, 12:09:59 PM
Could this be it? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1971/10/23/the-gospel-according-to-mark

Edit: haven't read the story, but it seems to have the same ending as you've described, and it's by Borges.

yes, that's it. so it was Borges! thank you.

Keebleman

Exactly the same premise and twist was employed in a story called The Streets of Ashkelon in one of the Pan Books of Horror Stories.

Queneau

Quote from: selectivememory on November 21, 2018, 12:09:59 PM
Could this be it? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1971/10/23/the-gospel-according-to-mark

Edit: haven't read the story, but it seems to have the same ending as you've described, and it's by Borges.

How will this person ever learn if you are just going to rescue them every time? People like you make me want to be sick all over myself.