Review: Another Reason Not to Shop at a Convenience Store
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 6, 2014
Often, when reading a short story, I will be disappointed that the author did not choose to make the story longer, to allow for more character development or a more intricate plot. However, with Robert S. Wilson's "Born to Kill," I had the opposite reaction: despite an intriguing premise and interesting locale, the story ran out of gas before I could finish its 20 pages.The story is set at a convenience store with a long, unruly checkout line. After dealing with the usual assortment of cranky customers, Jerome, the clerk. finally snaps. This proves most unfortunate for the customers, because, in the same manner as Carrie at her prom, Jerome has some powerful telekinetic abilities, which he uses to silence a couple of the customers permanently and frighten the rest into submission.As the police surround the store and Jerome, with the aid of his ability to barricade the door with some heavy counters and freezers, prepares for a siege, the story had a number of interesting possible ways it could have proceeded. Wilson actually chooses to concentrate on two themes, first, establishing a bond of sorts between the clerk and one of the customers, a slacker named Jared who seems to have a similar background as the clerk (minus the psychic powers). Then, as the story approaches its end, Wilson shows us the inner workings of Jerome's mind, which reveals a most traumatic childhood.It is at this point, which, thankfully comes close to the end of the story, that the tale comes unhinged. There's nothing particularly new in what we learn (anyone who has read Carrie has come across pretty much the same stuff, albeit described in a far more interesting manner by Stephen King). Wilson's telling is rather perfunctory, which leads to a fairly ridiculous climax and a "surprise" final ending that leaves readers cold. It's not that the last few pages couldn't have been effective; it's just that the way Wilson allows them to unfold is rather clunky.That's a shame, because the ending tarnishes what had been a gruesomely effective tale of a sadistic psycho with the ability to creatively wreak havoc using his mind. In fact, many readers may empathize with, at least the first portion of his rampage. Jerome starts out by venting the justified frustrations many similar retail employees face in a highly over-the-top and permanent fashion. And when Jerome goes completely bonkers and starts toying with the other customers, the results have the same fascination stories of this often have."Born to Kill" is a decent 20-page story that would have been a considerably better 17-page story. Still, after reading it, the next time you're in a checkout line, you will probably hesitate just a little bit before you say something nasty to the cashier. After all, you never know what may happen next.