Challenge 1140

Racketeering Galore

In Charles C. Cole’s The Faun Who Spoke for the Team: How does the faun approach Avery indirectly? Why does the elf skulk about?
In Joe Avery Loses a Case, how does the story invert the implied moral of the original frog and princess tale?
In Michael J. D’Alfonsi’s The Bookie and His Friend: The bookie Marcus agonizes at length over his friend Raymond’s gambling debt. Does Marcus conclude by demanding immediate payment even though he knows that Raymond cannot make it? What is Marcus going to do to Raymond? How else could Marcus salvage his reputation as a bookie while accommodating Raymond?
In Felix Lilly’s The Garden Where Our Names Were Thorns: The flowers identify emotions, but does everyone fully understand their meaning? Do the flowers also indicate the cause of the emotions?
In Laura O’Meara’s Unforeseen Processes: Cassie takes vengeance on Prof. Kettering for his self-centered mismanagment of her laboratory. What crime does Cassie deliberately commit in the process?
In Adam Stone’s Everything Is Terrible: What is the dramatic function of the space aliens? For what dramaatic purpose might they not be refugees from a distressed country on Earth?
In Sandra Crook’s A Damsel Undistressed: Why is Josie the only “damsel” to confront the “monster”? Why do all the others self-sacrifice while the village society in general meekly offers up damsels in what amounts to a self-inflicted protection racket?