3 short stories

The three short stories I chose to read were all written by Roald Dahl. I decided on Dahl because, as a kid, I was a big fan of his work. While he is famous for his children's stories, Dahl's short stories span far beyond the pleasantries of the books I read growing up. "Beware of the Dog", which is one of Roald Dahl's most famous short stories has quite impressive history. It has adapted to film twice and was first featured in "Harper's Bizarre". The story line revolves around a crashed World War II pilot, Peter Williamson. When Williamson wakes up he finds himself in a very cozy hospital. As the plot develops, Williamson begins to notices strange things that are uncommon in the English town where he believes he is staying. When he figures out he is actually in France and the people taking care of him are actually Germans, he refuses to give away any information about his squadron. "Lamb to the Slaughter", my second choice, was probably the most interesting story I read. From the beginning of the story Mary Maloney seems like any normal housewife: cooking, cleaning, waiting for her police officer husband to return from work. After he delivers the news that he is leaving her, though, Mary murders him by bashing him over the head with a frozen leg of lamb intended for that night's dinner. Mary goes about her evening as usual, visiting the market to pick up other dinner necessities. When she returns home she places a call to the police station feigning devastation and surprise. After the police arrive and investigate, Mary, familiar with most of them, insists that they eat the meal she has prepared. As they discuss the murder weapon Mary giggles to herself knowing full well they will never find it for they have already consumed it. I was rather surprised by this story because it is so different from the other pieces I have read by Roald Dahl. Thinking back, though, the stories with which I am most familiar, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, feature a lot of dark humour, which is now seemingly fitting for an author like Dahl. "Man From the South" was the third, and perhaps most absurd, story I read. It featured a young boy, an old man, and a woman, with the key plot focusing on the old man's liking for collecting fingers. Yes, it is that weird. The narrator of the story is never introduced but watches first hand as a bet unfolds between the old man and the young boy. Should the boy win the bet, the man will give him a new car. If the man wins, however, he gets to take the boy's pinky. While the story was definitely peculiar, it was also quite interesting. I'm glad I got to read the stories, it was amusing to see a more adult side of the author I admired so much as a child.