Review: Excellent Study in Human Behavior
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 23, 2012
A quick reading short story that portrays perceptions of how people's unique characters develop, using contrasting personalities of siblings, the owners of a family's stationery store that has a seemingly unreasonable part-time employee turnaround.  The brother with obvious personal conflicts and difficulty conversing with strangers is responsible for hiring, while the outgoing, positive brother overlooks obvious concerns in an effort to think positively.  Comparable circumstances of negative influence have two different interpretations by the subjects, one believing herself to be the victim of an identified, known stalker and the other imagining himself the victim of an unidentified and unknown oppressor--their individual interpretations and outlooks driving decisions that affect their economic security and personal safety. The story pushes the reader to think about how real and imagined insecurities impact upon lives and actions of individuals and community.  The story encourages a study and discussion of the pervasiveness and influence of mental stability--and whether the author's perception of possible defects in every person is realistic.  Be prepared to look beyond the plot and recognize that every person's actions, character and perceptions are arguably unique interpretations and reflections of repeated, common influences.  Well worth reading and examining.