Fagen's Fruit single work   short story  
Issue Details: First known date: 1989... 1989 Fagen's Fruit
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Fagen was born in the same hour as the protagonist in a factory town; Fagen is humpbacked, wall-eyed, and intellectually disabled. His parents never recover from the shock of his birth, and die one after the other.

As time passes, the town deteriorates: the swamps flood, the factories grow, grain becomes scarce, and the townspeople's health suffers from the emissions. Fagen lives in a plot of land, uncared for; the protagonist's father tries to bring him food. A strange plant grows near Fagen.

The bailiff breaks Fagen's legs, then as the plant continues to grow, tries cutting the plant and throwing poison on them both. It is futile; the plant grows a rancid-smelling fruit. Fagen dies and the fruit's smell spreads throughout the town till it rots.

Affiliation Notes

  • Writing Disability in Australia

    Type of disability

    Walleye (exotropia), humpbackedness, unspecified intellectual disability.

    Type of character Primary.
    Point of view First person.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Last amended 20 Mar 2018 12:00:05
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