They’d fed Aunt Susan to a horse in Central Park when she was only fifty

September 1, 2013 10:01 AM

The Tribal Rite of the Strombergs (SLNewYorker)
posted by Lexica (16 comments total)

"Ta" does not mean goodbye, it means "thanks". /grumble

I enjoyed this, "“Eat my weakened body,” his father said. “For I have become too old to live.”"
posted by arcticseal at 10:32 AM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]

Shortened "Ta-ta!", not your "corr blimey missus two biscuits?" Thanks.
posted by boo_radley at 11:02 AM on September 1, 2013

I really enjoyed this one; there's something almost Borgesian about it.

Simon Rich, previously.
posted by griphus at 11:03 AM on September 1, 2013

"Ta" does not mean goodbye, it means "thanks".

I did not know this! Ta!
posted by leotrotsky at 11:18 AM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]

Of course, the hilarious thing is that most older people can't afford to ever retire or leave work or have to take any kind of entry level job just to make ends meet, making it harder for everyone in a economy that's fundamentally stalled in place.
posted by The Whelk at 11:46 AM on September 1, 2013

Simon Rich still looks 14*, but he's 28 or 29 (Wikipedia can't make up it's mind) and besides SNL & cute NYkr things writes enjoyable novels too.

*Not just in pictures lit just-so; in person, too. [they let him out of New York occasionally]
posted by morganw at 11:53 AM on September 1, 2013

This all just hits a little close to the bone. Except the AOL account.
posted by bearwife at 12:08 PM on September 1, 2013 [2 favorites]

I don't know if it's because I'm teaching some Shirley Jackson stories this semester but this reminded me vaguely of "The Lottery." He's writing for the New Yorker, so...it's probably not unintentional. Less sinister and more humorous though--Old Man Warner would not approve.

Thanks for the NPR link, morganw--I like Simon Rich's writing and I didn't realize he'd written novels as well. And yes, he does look like he's 14.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:18 PM on September 1, 2013 [3 favorites]

My first thought was "Oh, come on, if this was an accepted practice, there would be taboos and rituals and loopholes, and all the children would be terrified of excelling or asking anything from their older relatives," and then I realized I have been reading too much dystopia lately.
posted by emjaybee at 12:18 PM on September 1, 2013

Of course, the hilarious thing is that most older people can't afford to ever retire or leave work or have to take any kind of entry level job just to make ends meet, making it harder for everyone in a economy that's fundamentally stalled in place.

So I take it you're not enjoying Labor Day weekend?
posted by deathpanels at 12:41 PM on September 1, 2013 [2 favorites]

This is really very good. Thank you.
posted by 256 at 1:22 PM on September 1, 2013

2nd-ing the Jackson/Lottery vibe, but by way of...who knows...Pynchon, DFW, something like that.
posted by hwestiii at 1:45 PM on September 1, 2013

I simply saw the title and wondered why the New Yorker was running a piece on the interpersonal dynamics of carburetors.
posted by Punkey at 2:01 PM on September 1, 2013

Jackson/Lottery by way of James Thurber.
posted by miss patrish at 3:26 PM on September 1, 2013 [2 favorites]

Jackson/Lottery by way of James Thurber.

Yes, that's it.
posted by hwestiii at 4:46 PM on September 1, 2013

By way of twee-ass Wes Anderson.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:20 AM on September 2, 2013