writer critic (writercritic) wrote, @ 2004-09-05 08:25:00

The Orange
An orange is an orange is an orange, except when it's not. Except when it's the ruler of the world.

Such is the case in the very short and very sweet story, "The Orange" by Benjamin Rosenbaum. First printed, in Quarterly West, the small press literary magazine published at the University of Utah, and later, reprinted in the very sharp and very fancy, Harper's Magazine, this story presents the reader with a world both pastorial and technological. Through a slip of fate, a "temporary abdicaton of Heavenly Providence," an orange becomes a miraculous and wise ruler of humanity.

But life is short and it is shorter for produce. A season is all it has and being from nature, from the single branch of a Floridan tree, the orange recognizes this.

This story is about gifts; the gift of delight and wonder, the gift of wisdom and appreciation, the gift of simple times and veritable trust. Honesty and honor. High expectations and tender sympathies. Faith. And hope.

Written and posted by Pam McNew

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