Challenge 1009 Response discusses...

Eating Patients

with Dianne Majzoub

“Chipping Away” appears in this issue.

How can the kind of cannibalism practiced in the story come as a surprise to people like Dotty and Mel?

[Dianne Majzoub] Dotty and Mel are poor. They don’t move in circles that would be practicing that kind of cannibalism. Also, they get their information only from the “news” as Dotty remarks. Who owns the “news” providers? If the rich don’t want that info public, it won’t be. And it’s a new program, so word on the assessed “payments” hasn’t leaked out yet.

[Don Webb] Fair enough, Dianne! The health “insurance” program in the story is so new that Dotty and Mel are among the first to apply. Word hasn’t yet leaked out that applicants are going to be carved up for dinner.

As it stands, the story lands a satirical punch to those who might say of health insurance for their fellow citizens: “If you can’t afford it, you aren’t worth it.”

We have to be careful though, to avoid stereotyping. Not all rich people — even in the world of the story — will be cannibals, nor will they all look down their nose at health insurance for the poor. The dissidents will help get word out sooner rather than later, especially after Dotty and Mel go public and show their scars.

One would expect Dotty’s and Mel’s experience to become a public scandal overnight. However, it might have an impediment simply by being the truth. Cynics could connive to spread a “conspiracy theory” folk tale much faster. And are the medical personnel telling the truth? Are they really harvesting organs for privileged feasts, or are they secretly stealing organs for a black market in transplants?

The story and its premise offer many possibilities to the imaginations of the author and readers alike, and you’re off to a good start!