Foster by Claire Keegan
‘Foster’ was first published as a short(er) short story in The New Yorker, and later expanded into its more recent published form.
I am a huge fan of the short story form, mainly for its ability to condense into few words, sentences and chapters so much emotion, meaning and relevance. ‘Foster’ is no exception.
It is the story of a young girl (unnamed) sent off to spend the summer in rural Ireland while her mother prepares to give birth to another child she doesn’t particularly want - just another mouth to feed.
The girl spends a few life changing weeks being seen, loved and appreciated. An experience at once frightening and unsettling:
‘…..and wish I was back at home so that all the things I do not understand could be the same as they always are.’
and along the way growing, changing, and realising how she is now,
"….in a spot where I can neither be what I always am nor turn into what I could be".
In just a few short chapters Claire Keegan beautifully expresses sentiments of loss and love, of what might have been but will never be. In a day and age of loud expression, this quiet and layered story also underlines the important distinction between what needs to be said and what truly doesn’t.
Thank you to my wonderful young Irish colleague, Aoife, for the recommendation!
PS ‘Foster’ is now also a film under the title ‘The Quiet Girl’ (An Cailín Ciúin in Irish)