Short Story #76: Period Piece by Robert Graves

Title: Period Piece

Author: Robert Graves

Summary

The narrator has been invited to a weekend away for a tennis tournament and relaxing.  However, in contrast to the other guests, he and his friend seem to lack in their life achievements and adventures.  Initially, this isn't a problem until rain ruins the tournament and leaves then engaging in conversation and a competition for who has the best response to the question of what is the most thrilling moment of your life.  People share different exploits, but the winner is Mungo, the narrator's friend.  He explains that his most thrilling moments in his life is when he and his wife had (and continue) to have sex.  This instantly wins him the award.  Wen his wife inquires what he did to win the trophy, he tells her that he told them that his most thrilling moments are every time he kneels at church and thank their blessings.  The wife is embarrassed by this remark and the next day, when everyone is looking at her admirable, she explains that they have only ever done it three times.  

Reflection

The story's punchline made me laugh.  The contrast of what the friends believe and what the wife believes is so far apart in some regards, but yet equally close given how many people speak of their sex lives and their religious lives as thrilling.  

Short Story # out of 365
Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)
Date Read:  3/16/2014
Source:  The Shout and Other Stories by Robert Graves. Penguin Books, 1978.

For a full listing of all the short stories in this series, check out the category 365 Short Stories a year.

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