Ordeal by cheque answer

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Ordealbychequeanswer

“OrdealbyCheque”byWurtherCrueisastrangelittle“story”thattellsthelifeofafamilythroughaseriesofcheques.Therearenowordsofinterpretationorexplanation,andwearelefttomakeourowndecisionsaboutthemeaningofthecheques.Wecanmakesomeeducatedinferences,solet’sdoso.Thechequesbeginwithreferencestoababy.

Theyaremadeoutforbabyclothes,toadoctor(presumablyfordelivery),andtoatoystore.Theaccountowner,LawrenceExeter,beginsadding“Sr.”tohisname,soweknowthatthebabyisasonwhoisnamedforhisfather.Thenextsetofchequesareschool-related.Oneofthemistoamilitaryacademy,suggestingthattheboymayhavegotten

himselfintosometrouble,forwhichhisparentsbelieveheneedsfurtherdiscipline.Thefatherseemstobuyhissonacar,aCadillacnoless,butonlyfourdayslater,hemakesaoutchequetoarepairshop.Juniorhasalreadyhadanaccident.Thereareseveralchequesmadeouttoyoungwomenforlargeamounts,suggestingthatJuniorisaladies’

manwhoisfindingplentyoftroublewithlovers,andhisfatherispayingthemoff.

Thefatherseemstobuyhissonacar,aCadillacnoless,butonlyfourdayslater,hemakesaoutchequetoarepairshop.Juniorhasalreadyhadanaccident.Thereareseveralchequesmadeouttoyoungwomenforlargeamounts,suggestingthatJuniorisaladies’manwhoisfindingplentyoftroublewithlovers,andhisfatherispayingthemoff.

ApparentlytheyoungmanalsospendssometimeinFrance.Hisfatherbuyshimahouseatonepoint,andthesondecoratesitlavishly,withhisfatherfootingthebill.

Thefatherseemstobuyhissonacar,aCadillacnoless,butonlyfourdayslater,hemakesaoutchequetoarepairshop.

Juniorhasalreadyhadanaccident.Thereareseveralchequesmadeouttoyoungwomenforlargeamounts,suggestingthatJuniorisaladies’manwhoisfindingplentyoftroublewithlovers,andhisfatherispayingthemoff.ApparentlytheyoungmanalsospendssometimeinFrance.Hisfatherbuyshimahouseatonepoint,andthesondecoratesit

lavishly,withhisfatherfootingthebill.Junioralsoseemstohaveexpensivetasteinclothingandgiftsforhisladyfriends.Thechequesarealsomadeouttolawyersperiodically,sotherearelegalproblems.Apparently,Juniordoesn’tlivetoseethirtyyearsold,forthelastchequesintheseriesaretothehospitalandthemortuary.Hisfastlifehas

caughtupwithhim.Nowlet’sthinkforamomentontheonionanalogy.Theonionanalogycanactuallyrefertoafewdifferenttechniques,butsinceconflictstandsattheheartofthisstory,we’llusetheonionmodelthatrelatestoconflictanalysis.Ontheouterlayerisawhatapersonclaimstowant,theirposition.

Theaccountowner,LawrenceExeter,beginsadding“Sr.”tohisname,soweknowthatthebabyisasonwhoisnamedforhisfather.

Thenextsetofchequesareschool-related.Oneofthemistoamilitaryacademy,suggestingthattheboymayhavegottenhimselfintosometrouble,forwhichhisparentsbelieveheneedsfurtherdiscipline.Thefatherseemstobuyhissonacar,aCadillacnoless,butonlyfourdayslater,hemakesaoutchequetoarepairshop.Juniorhasalreadyhad

anaccident.Thereareseveralchequesmadeouttoyoungwomenforlargeamounts,suggestingthatJuniorisaladies’manwhoisfindingplentyoftroublewithlovers,andhisfatherispayingthemoff.ApparentlytheyoungmanalsospendssometimeinFrance.Hisfatherbuyshimahouseatonepoint,andthesondecoratesitlavishly,withhis

fatherfootingthebill.Junioralsoseemstohaveexpensivetasteinclothingandgiftsforhisladyfriends.Thechequesarealsomadeouttolawyersperiodically,sotherearelegalproblems.Apparently,Juniordoesn’tlivetoseethirtyyearsold,forthelastchequesintheseriesaretothehospitalandthemortuary.Hisfastlifehascaughtupwithhim.

Nowlet’sthinkforamomentontheonionanalogy.Theonionanalogycanactuallyrefertoafewdifferenttechniques,butsinceconflictstandsattheheartofthisstory,we’llusetheonionmodelthatrelatestoconflictanalysis.Ontheouterlayerisawhatapersonclaimstowant,theirposition.

Theaccountowner,LawrenceExeter,beginsadding“Sr.”tohisname,soweknowthatthebabyisasonwhoisnamedforhisfather.Thenextsetofchequesareschool-related.Oneofthemistoamilitaryacademy,suggestingthattheboymayhavegottenhimselfintosometrouble,forwhichhisparentsbelieveheneedsfurtherdiscipline.

manwhoisfindingplentyoftroublewithlovers,andhisfatherispayingthemoff.ApparentlytheyoungmanalsospendssometimeinFrance.Hisfatherbuyshimahouseatonepoint,andthesondecoratesitlavishly,withhisfatherfootingthebill.Junioralsoseemstohaveexpensivetasteinclothingandgiftsforhisladyfriends.Thechequesare

alsomadeouttolawyersperiodically,sotherearelegalproblems.Apparently,Juniordoesn’tlivetoseethirtyyearsold,forthelastchequesintheseriesaretothehospitalandthemortuary.Hisfastlifehascaughtupwithhim.Nowlet’sthinkforamomentontheonionanalogy.Theonionanalogycanactuallyrefertoafewdifferenttechniques,but

sinceconflictstandsattheheartofthisstory,we’llusetheonionmodelthatrelatestoconflictanalysis.Ontheouterlayerisawhatapersonclaimstowant,theirposition.

HereJuniorwantscarsandwomenandfancythings.Beneaththeexternal,however,liethetrueinterests.ForJunior,theseseemtobewealth,status,andsex.Atthecenteroftheonion,wefindaperson’strueneeds.

Inthiscase,whatJuniormayreallyneedisdiscipline.Hisfatherkeepsbailinghimoutoftightspots,butJuniorneedstostandonhisowntwofeetandhandlehisownproblems.Startyour48-hourfreetrialtogetaccesstomorethan30,000additionalguidesandmorethan350,000HomeworkHelpquestionsansweredbyourexperts.Get48Hours

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JoineNotes©2023eNotes.com,Inc.AllRightsReservedTheshortstory“Ordealbycheque”wasoriginallypublishedbyWutherCruein1932asaseriesofchecksthatcanbeinterpretedasastory.Belowismyinterpretationofthechecks.Father’sSonLawrenceExteterstoodanxiouslyinline,theheftyboxproppedskillfullyonhishipwhilethe

peoplemovedsteadilyforwardinthelateAugustheat.Whenhefinallyreachedthecashier,heheavedtheboxupontothecounter,abeamingyetexhaustedsmileonhisface.Thecashierofferedacourtesysmileforhim,obviouslyusedtotheexcitedfacesofcustomers,asherangupthepurchase.“$148.50,”thecashiersaidasthecashdrawer

dingedopen.HewatchedwithdulleyesasLawrenceExeterpulledouthischeckbookandwiththickpenmanshipinscribedtheamount.

AsExeterhandedthecheckover,thecashierofferedonelastlamesmilebeforereturningthepackage.Lawrencetookitgratefully,andwithasmileonhisfaceexclaimed,“It’saboy!”Heattachedthebluecribtohishipagainashewalkedout,thecashierunfazedasyetanothernewparentapproachedthecounter,eachbeamingfacethesameasthe

last.

Theyearsfollowinghisson’sbirthseemedtopassinquicksuccession.FrombuyingLawrenceExeterJr.atoyplanetonewCadillac,theboywantedfornothing.Hegrewupinspoils,inwealth,receivedthebesteducationavailable,andasLawrenceExeterSr.watchedhissonachieveandachievemore,hefeltagrowingpaininsidehimself.His

businessoftenforcedhimoverseas,andashetraveledmoreandmoreoften,therelationshipbetweenheandhiswifebecameestranged,tosaytheleast.Theybarelyspoke,barelytouched,andwiththisexcuse,hefoundsolaceinthearmsofanotherwoman,onewhohepaid,butformidableenoughtobringhimpeace.TheParisnightshespentwith

herwereexpensiveones,filledwithflowersandwine,andeachdayhefoundhimselffallingharderforher,somuchsothatleavingParisforHollywoodfeltunbearable.Andso,withhissonfarawayatStanfordandhiswifehardlycaringeitherway,heboughtMissWindsorahouseinthestates,withthebestfurnishingavailableandallthelovehe

couldafford.HesatwithMissWindsoronecoldNovemberevening,sippingaredwinebyaroaringfireasasmalltapsoundedatthedoor.Atfirst,Lawrencecouldn’tdiscernwhetherthetappingcamefromthesteadyrainorthedoor,butheleftMissWindsorbythefireashewenttothedoor.Uponopening,hesawhissonthere,drenchedtothe

bone,ablankexpressionencompassinghisfacethatquicklymorphedintooneofcoldness,ofhatred.LawrenceJr.madeaquickmotiontoturn,buthisfathergrabbedhimbyhissoppingcoatsleeveandpulledhimintothehouse.“Whatareyoudoinghere?”LawrenceSr.hissedasMissWindsorstoodfromthecouchatwhichshehadbeensituated,

herglassofwinetiltingslightlytostainthepurewhitecarpeting.

“Ineededtoseeformyself,”theboy,mannowreally,saidasherippedhisarmoutofhisfather’sgrasp.“TherewererumorsthatyouandMom…Ididn’twanttobelieveit,buthowcouldyou?Howcouldyou?”herepeated,hisyoungfeaturescontortingwithhisemotions.“Idon’texpectyoutounderstand–”“DoesMomknow?”Lawrencehesitated,

watchingthetearswellupinhisson’seyes.MissWindsorwasstillstandingbythefire,ahalf-amusedexpressioncoloringherface.Shesippedfromherglass.“Iexpectshedoesbynow,”hesaidquietly.

“We’veneveractuallydiscussedit.”LawrenceJr.shookhisheadindisgustandturnedagain,thistimewithnoonetostophim.“Son,please,”hisfatherbegged,instinctivelyreachingfortheonlythinghecould–hischeckbook.“Idon’twantyourmoney.”“Please.”Lawrencescribbleddownanamountonthecheck,hisdesperationblindinghim,and

hemadeanattempttothrowtheflimsyslipofpaperathisson,whowatcheditflittertothefloorathisfeet.“Pleasetakeit,”hewhispered.Lawrencebentdown,onehandonthedoorknob,ashepickedupthecheck.

Hiseyeswidenedinsurpriseashestaredattheamount—$200,000.Hetuckeditcarefullyintohisjacketpocketandleftwithoutanotherword.Thenewsofhisfather’saffairhadleftLawrenceJr.broken,disgusted,andhequicklyfoundsolaceinthesamewayhisfatherhad–inthearmsofParis.Thepassageoftimeleftnobearingonhim,between

thenightsofdebauchery,ofdrinking,oflove,thethreeyearssincehelastsawhisfatherflewinaFrench-speakingparadise.Butsoonerratherthanlater,hewasthrustbackintoreality.Aseriousgamblingerrorhadlefthimdrunkonenight,wanderingthestreetsofParis,andhebumpedintoabeautifulyoungwoman,herflaxenhairshininglike

goldintheshimmeringmoonlight.Heheldhertightlybythearmstorightbothhimandherastheycollided,herclearblueeyesfilledwithapalpablefear.“Excuseme,miss,”hemanagedtomumbleinclumsyFrench.“Didn’tseeyouthere.”“It’salright,”shesaid,hervoicewashingoverhisearslikeanoceantide.Shewasgrippinghisarms,stilla

littleunsteadyfromtheircollision.“Youarelovely,”heheardhimselfsayashereleasedher.Sheflushedathiscompliment,notmovingfromtheirpositiononthestreet.

“WoulditbealrightifIwalkedyouhome?”Shehesitatedasecond,herwarinessapparentonherface,butsomethingclickedinher.Shenodded.“Quite.”Theirengagementwasfast,theirmarriagefaster,andtheirdivorcependinghardlyafter8months,herpregnantbellyoftenthecenteroftheirfighting.Theconsensuswasthatthebabywastobea

girl,andinthedivorcesettlement,Lawrencecutacheckforanunbornchild,unofficiallychristenedMarieWheatenExeter,for$175,000.Inthatmoment,hebegantowonderifhisexodusfromhisfatherwastrulyanexodusorabecoming.TheweeksthatfollowedlefthimasdrunkandrecklessashisfirstweeksinParis.Hehadreturnedto

Hollywood,withlittlemoneyandnowhereelsetogo.

Hisgamblingdebtslefthimpoorandunkempt,andinonedrunkenmoment,hewrotealastchecktoaMr.PeterVentizziforahorseracehehadlost,hishandwritingsloppy,hissignatureunrecognizable.Heclamberedintohiscarfromthebarwherehehadlostthebet,hisfingersslippingovertheclutch,speedingoutoftheparkinglotandbarely

makingit50feetbeforeslammingheadfirstintoapole.Hehadneglectedhisseatbelt,andheflewthroughthewindshield,andashelaybleedingonthegrassoutsidethebarwherehecouldheardistantscreamingandcrying,hestaredatthemoonandimaginedaflaxengirlbeneathit,tendingtohiswoundsandkissingthememoriesaway.Lawrence

Sr.rushedintothehospital,screamingforthedoctor,foranybodytohearhim.Tohelphim.Hisson,theyhadsaid,hadbeeninjuredbadly,mightnotmakeit,maybehislasthours.

Hedidn’tknowwhatwashappening,couldn’thearanyonewhowastalkingtohim,couldonlyyellinhissadness,inhisdespair,asthesamedoctorwhohaddeliveredhissoncametotellhimthathehaddied.LawrenceSr.satslumpedinhischairatthemortuary,hischeckbooklaidoutinfrontofhim.Themorticianwassayingsomethingtechnical,

somethingconsoling,somethingindifferent.Lawrenceinterruptedhim.“Howmuch?”Themorticianstoppedhisramblingandstatedtheprice.“$1,280.”Lawrencewrotethenumberlightlyonthepaper,hisfingersshakingashesignedhisname.LawrenceExeter.