Between Gigs_Karen’s Summary
What I think this story is about:
What I think this story is about is life’s transitions, how painful such passages can be, and
how much of a struggle such a journey can be without close, human connection. It is also
about how we can be our own worst enemy, and through our own actions cut off the very
connections we need to help us adapt to change and different phases of life.
For me, this theme is held up and viewed from various angles, examined from all sides
and in different light. These layers were so enjoyable to savor while reading the story.
There is Betty’s leaving the band to open up Between Gigs, a store where she can take
things no longer needed or wanted and transition them to people who welcome them into
their lives. The items themselves are transitioning, just as the people. For those items
that don’t find their way to people who want them, they are stuck between gigs. Marge is
stuck there, too, still holding onto her prior life and being disappointed in not inheriting
the store, unable to fully move into the final stages of life without numbing herself with
alcohol. Sean must adapt to his divorce and change his addiction habit, but he too is
struggling “between gigs.” Both Marge and Sean have relied on Betty for their second
act/chance (her “matchmaking magic”), to an extent that they have become passive,
blinded to interrelations that could ease their pain and instead choosing to drown it
through substance abuse. Marge loses her final act altogether, and Sean’s outreach comes
too late for her—and possibly will set him back as well. Both show that they have
capacity for empathy and warm relations that could enrich them, but they nonetheless
remain alone to face their struggles on their own.
What is working for me right now:
The setting provides powerful symbolism, as referenced above. The descriptions are
minimal, but pack so much information, such as the simple description of the store’s
living room display—a scene of domesticity that Sean trips over twice. And here he is,
tripping up again on his second chance to be clean and sober for his daughter. The store
and its items help reveal Marge’s prior life; the market and shopping list reveal the
desperation of her present one. The setting does such wonderful heavy lifting in
revealing the story, characters and theme with such minimal expository prose. I could
see why “The Things They Carried” was assigned as a different style influence
assignment, since that story also used items to reveal character but in a very detailed,
descriptive style. (I’m looking forward to reading Catherine’s rewrite, as I enjoyed her
minimalist style very much.)
The story’s opening is engaging—right away we know a lot about Marge’s selfdestructive lifestyle, finances, inattention to work and attitude toward Sean. The style
compacts so much information in few words, simple and layered at once.
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The dialogue is authentic and true to the characters. It was enjoyable to read concrete
and everyday exchanges that worked to reveal abstract and nuanced character traits that
supported the story’s theme. The balance between dialogue and prose worked well to
reveal character and move the story forward.
The story components are crafted with integrity, working together cohesively to support
and contribute to the theme.
One thing you could try in your revision:
I felt that I knew Marge better than Sean, and think that I would have liked to know a
little more about what was driving Sean’s addiction. It seemed that it was the significant
factor in his wife leaving with his child; also, Marge knew that he had come from the less
desirable part of the family tree (loved that pruning line). So it seems likely that his
problems were not triggered by the loss of his family but were a cause of it. Perhaps
fleshing out Sean’s demons a bit more would highlight his transition/connection struggles
more, and help the reader better surmise what he might do when Marge never answers
that phone.
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