short story - The Fruitcake Special by Frank Brennan

synopsis

The Fruitcake Special is the  story if the effects of a perfume on men. It was accidentally created by Anna, a chemist. When Mr Amos gets a whiff of the perfume he feels he is in love with Anna and so invites her out for dinner. He does not behave like a man in love and Anna is surprised and upset. When she wears the Fruitcake perfume again, Mr Amos and a waiter become enticed and both make declarations of love to her. The situation become chaotic when a fight ensues between two men.

themes

- Illusion vs Reality

- Be realistic in life

- Appearances can be misleading

moral values

- We should not be taken in flattery.

- We must not be too proud of our looks.

- We must not belittle other people.

characters

main:

Anna

David Amos

minor:

Anna'a mother

Aunt Mimi

waiter

Sabina

Armstrong

point of view

First person point of view

plot

EXPOSITION – Anna creates a Fruitcake perfume and dabs on it. Mr Amos becomes intoxicated with her when he gets a whiff of it. Anna is very surprise with this sudden interest.

CONFLICT – During dinner, Mr Amos is not as attentive as he was in the morning. Anna dabs on the Fruitcake perfume in the ladies room.

CLIMAX – Mr Amos becomes enamoured and makes declarations of love to her. A waiter also makes love declarations to her. A fight starts between Mr Amos, the waiter and Sabrina, Mr Amos’ girlfriend. Anna realises it is the effects of the fruitcake perfume.

FALLING ACTION – Anna wants to find the ‘special something’ in the fruitcake but is unable to.

RESOLUTION – Anna resigns from Amos Cosmetics and she settles for the pizza delivery man, Armstrong, who has his own pizza company.