John Carmody's Later

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Have you ever had any regrets about ignoring small things and events in past? If not, then you are not familiar with John Carmody, one of the characters of the moving short story, Later, written by Michael Foster. Filled with simple language, setting and characters, and ordinary-life facts, Later is telling story of a father who had not taken his daughter seriously and now has lost her ,in which it have been very successful in delivering its message of taking care of every small thing in our lives.
The story begins with John's recalling a memory of his lost daughter, Marge, in which he refused to read a story for her. She insisted politely but the only answer she got, was “later". All his future plans and obsessions about work and stockholders …show more content…

Marge, Mr. and Mrs. Carmody and a “half-drunken punk kid who had careened down the street in a second-hand car and who was now in jail on manslaughter charges" are the only characters according to story. Mrs. Carmody is ready to go to Marge's funeral however John still thinks about that non-significant conversation happened 2 or 3 weeks ago between him and Marge. The polite and honest way that Marge used to ask him to read a fairy tale of her book, now affects him. She put the green covered book down on the stool at his feet and now she is gone; although, her father is holding the book and it is really late now.
The story tries to show the undeniable worth of moments and the presence of our darlings in a very touchable way that everyone can feel it, I believe. The language and the selection of words are very simple. The plot and theme of story is something that can happen to all people with growing thirst of money and job for parents these days. Considering all of these small but brilliant elements in story, regret of what you shouldn't have noticed before, is completely felt within the storyline.
Overall, later is one of the realistic short stories carrying out an everyday message for all of us who are so busy with our plans and dreams. What would YOU do if you were asked to read a story in the middle of your office report and calculations of business?

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