"Death by Scrabble" by Charlie Fish (story reading)

After I recorded this, I was astonished to find how many acted-out or animated versions already exist on YouTube. I watched all of them. I think. If I didn't miss any out, not one of them is entirely satisfactory and true to the original story.

After seeing the other versions I decided I would not try to illustrate this reading. I'm willing to take the author's word for it - that the sequence of words can be spelled out in the course of a scrabble game - and concentrate on the psychological interplay. It doesn't help the story along to show the words on the board.

In every version I watched important points were left out. The story was sacrificed and the action became merely a sequence of events.

There was the Bee his cousin Harold swallowed which stung him in the throat causing it to swell and choke him to death; which caused him to wish a similar fate on his wife. If you leave that out and don't mention that he dies by choking on a tile with the letter B, then where are the Poetic Justice and Just Deserts, devices which are crucial to the plot? Yet not one of the versions I saw mentioned the Bee.

The whole point of the story is that the outcome wasn't an accident. His wife was as aware all along of what was happening. In fact, she started it with the word JINXED. That's why she sat and watched him die so dispassionately and triumphantly after playing DEATH which was her coup de grace. And yet - she doesn't - in most of the versions I watched.

(Actually I don't think it's possible to fulfil the instructions to the letter, because I can't see how to get the N of SIGN to fall on a triple-letter square. If you can see a way to do this, please tell me how...)

My two year old daughter joined in any game Scrabble with her own version, if we didn't manage to fend her off. She just threw herself on the board and Scrabbled about with both hands making it impossible to continue. If she succeeded in circumventing our best efforts to prevent her from ruining the game, we had no choice but to declare her the winner.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Death
• by
• Scrabble
• Tile
• for
• Murder
• Charlie
• Fish

[GDATERRY]

Wow. I've never come across this short story before, but it was quite the read. I'd say you did an excellent job. I don't know why but I really can't help but sympathize with the man...

[SpokenVerse]

@GDATERRY Fine, but to be on the safe side we need to look in your freezer and dig up your patio.

[vudu8ball]

Very clever piece.

[hypernessrules]

Smart.

[DumblyBrilliant]

Great job Charlie and a great story.

George

[gothikpoet]

Man, I haven't read this story in what seems like forever! Great job at reading this.

[MrMizari]

2:10 is the funniest thing ever! Lol

[theamazingsupergirl]

read perfectly! you really found the right mood and feel.

[jaharkta]

Rated "MMM" for macabre!

Nice job, SV.

[Idlinfarm]

Wonderful! I'll favorite this one.

[sonofwalt]

Oh heavens, this is amazing. The facing of the fantasy we probably all have had. Nicely done as always.

[greyhoundfriend123]

You are so clever and I like your humor. I also appreciate your notes on the videos, it seems I always learn something. On this one I totally missed the B and bee connection. Great selection too, thanks!