Counting Months (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: David Leavitt
- First Published: 1984
- Type of Plot: Psychological
- Time of Work: 1980
- Setting: An unnamed California suburb
- Principal Characters: Anna Harrington, Joan Lensky, Greg Laurans
- Genres: Psychological fiction, Short fiction
- Subjects: Family or family life, Obsession, Cancer, Single parents or single-parent families, Singing or singers, Death or dying, Bereavement or grief, Mental retardation, Suburban life, Joy or sorrow, Christmas, Marijuana
- Locales: California
The Story
Six months before the story opens, Anna Harrington was told that she had six months to live. Now, sitting in the oncology department waiting room, she is suddenly overcome by the realization that she was supposed to be dead by now. Instead of elation, she feels only dread, for she does not interpret the fact that she is not dead as a reprieve but as a stay of execution. When her doctor praises her for keeping up an active life, she suddenly realizes what a lie she is living.
The doctor's optimism only depresses her as she leaves the hospital and drives to a...
[The entire page is 1516 words long]
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