THE FRUITCAKE SPECIAL by Frank Brennan
SYNOPSIS
The Fruitcake Special is the story if the effects of a perfume on men. It was accidentally created by Anna, a chemist. When Mr Amos gets a whiff of the perfume he feels he is in love with Anna and so invites her out for dinner. He does not behave like a man in love and Anna is surprised and upset. When she wears the Fruitcake perfume again, Mr Amos and a waiter become enticed and both make declarations of love to her. The situation become chaotic when a fight ensues between two men.
THEMES
Illusion vs Reality
Be realistic in life
Appearances can be misleading
MORAL VALUES
We should not be taken in flattery.
We must not be too proud of our looks.
We must not belittle other people.
PLOT
EXPOSITION – Anna creates a Fruitcake perfume and dabs on it. Mr Amos becomes intoxicated with her when he gets a whiff of it. Anna is very surprise with this sudden interest.
CONFLICT – During dinner, Mr Amos is not as attentive as he was in the morning. Anna dabs on the Fruitcake perfume in the ladies room.
CLIMAX – Mr Amos becomes enamoured and makes declarations of love to her. A waiter also makes love declarations to her. A fight starts between Mr Amos, the waiter and Sabrina, Mr Amos’ girlfriend. Anna realises it is the effects of the fruitcake perfume.
FALLING ACTION – Anna wants to find the ‘special something’ in the fruitcake but is unable to.
RESOLUTION – Anna resigns from Amos Cosmetics and she settles for the pizza delivery man, Armstrong, who has his own pizza company.
CHARACTERS
Main characters
1.Anna, the narrator
2.David Amos, owner of Amos Cosmetics
Minor characters
1.Narrator’s mother
2.Narrator’s Aunt Mimi
3.Waiter at restaurant
4.Sabina, David Amos’ girlfriend
5.Armstrong, the pizza delivery man
POINT OF VIEW
First person point of view
TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHERE
Light-hearted and humorous
Comedic and entertaining
LANGUAGE AND STYLE
Simple and easy to understand the language
