Reader response of "One of These Days"

Wilkin – De La Rosa

ESR 098

Prof. Maria – Jerskey

11/10/10

  

“One of These Days”

Summary:

Aurelio Escobar was introduced as a poor dentist without a degree. He was busy polishing false teeth early one morning when the mayor arrived to see him. At first he refused to see the mayor.  But the mayor, who had been suffering severe toothache for five days and was desperate, threatened to shoot him. Despite the Mayor would shoot him, Escobar was not scared at all, and he also had a gun to shot the mayor in case of the mayor attempted to. Later on the dentist lets him in, examined him, and then removed the infected wisdom tooth, without anesthesia. When Aurelio was pulling out the wisdom tooth he said "Now you’ll pay for our twenty dead men." In the end when the mayor has recovered and wiped his tears, he left, telling the dentist to send the bill. Then Escobar asked whether to send the bill "To you or the town?” the mayor replies, "It’s the same damn thing."

Part most I liked:

When Aurelio was pulling out the wisdom tooth without anesthesia, maybe he has intentionally made the Mayor suffer for something that the Mayor had made.

Part I found confusing:

When Aurelio Escobar said “Now you will pay for our twenty dead men”

Questions:

What Aurelio wanted to say when he said “Now you will pay for our twenty dead men?”

Why Aurelio did not want to attend the Mayor?

Interpretation:

This short story illustrates numerous things such as the abuse of power, and the corruption that exist among many political leaders.