Short Story Review: "The Greeter" by Stefan Bourque

Stefan Bourque's short story, "The Greeter," is available on his website, www.darkwriter.com as a free download. You can download it here.

Horror author Stefan Bourque dabbles in political issues in his recent short story, "The Greeter." Set in the year 2060, Bourque paints a bleak picture of what life in the United States is like for the aging population, and it is not a pretty sight. With Social Security a thing of the past, the invention of Lifetime Mortgages and an expected lifespan of 118 years, most elderly folks find themselves living lives of poor caliber, despite the amazing advances often enjoyed by those living in a capitalistic society.

Stefan Bourque pokes fun at the freedoms and pitfalls of a capitalistic society and creates a perfect storm using current events to create a futuristic, what-if world. A world that has seen World War III, and the abolition of cigarettes. A world where an aging population is taxing the government to its limits.

"The Greeter" follows the plight of two life-long friends, Trevor and Franklin, as they commiserate together to land a coveted job at a large corporation known as Swag-mart. Both men view the job as their ticket out of their deplorable government-subsidized life and they vow that if one of them gets the job, the other one is welcome to share in the spoils. But is their life-long friendship strong enough to withstand the siren call of capitalism?

The characters in "The Greeter" are personable and lovable, and you will want to laugh and cry with them. You will share their pain and their joy as this sordid tale unfolds to a most unexpected ending. Once again, Bourque does not fail to surprise and delight his readers with a perfect twist at the last minute, befitting of the current times taken to an extreme.