A gifted child transforms a community with her cooking, and a neurotic meets his match.
“‘Find the chef,’ the groom called. ‘To the kitchen!’, the bride said. ‘To the kitchen!’ the crowd chanted. Like a horde they rose to their feet and surged towards the Amerigos, wearing dangerous smiles.”—David Schickler, “Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear.”
A gifted child transforms a community with her cooking, and a neurotic meets his match.
David Schickler, an alumnus of the Columbia University MFA Writing Program and the author of KISSING IN MANHATTAN among other books, is well known for his tales of unexpected love and grace in unlikely settings. In the first story on this program, “Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear,” a family catering business veers into the surreal, and a gifted child proves that home cooking really does have special properties. This delicious tale was read at Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount, in Lenox, Massachusetts, by SHORTS host Isaiah Sheffer.
The Schicker tale is all about food, and for dessert we present Miranda Mellis’s short tale about a bizarre psychotherapist, “The Doctor of Mental Health.” It is read with just the right touch of peevish bemusement by the actor and humorist David Rakoff, author of Don’t Get too Comfortable and Fraud and a contributor to “This American Life.”
“Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear,” by David Schickler, read by Isaiah Sheffer
“The Doctor of Mental Health,” by Miranda Mellis, read by David Rakoff
For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space
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Comments [2]
I love love love “Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear,” by David Schickler. The story appeals to me at a personal level.
Thanks a lot for presenting the same.
People with Problems
Listened to this story at least 6 times when on itunes. As it is no longer listed how can I get a copy....not only is the story great, the narrator was fantastic.
Thank you
Dear Louise:
Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately, we are able to offer our programs in digital formats for only limited times, but but some individual stories are made available on cassettes or CD anthologies; please see our website, www.selectedshorts.org. for information about these.
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