Story of the Month – “Nanny”

I’ve decided to do a new feature by the 7th of each new month.  As you can guess, I highlight a short story that makes an impression on me.  The story may not have been published in that particular month or the previous month – the only qualification is that I read the story after the previous Story of the Month.

The first short story I’d like to highlight is “Nanny” by Jane Chirgwin.  It was published in Volume 10 Issue 1 of The First Line.  You can purchase the individual issue for $3.50 or get a year’s subscription for $12.  (Sorry – there doesn’t seem to be any excerpts posted anywhere for you to read it online.)  The thing I love about The First Line is that all of the stories begin the same but they usually go in completely different directions after that.

“Nanny” is about a robot programmed to function as a nanny but who is so much more than that word or function.  The label is limiting but the robot’s programming allows her to be adaptable to her environment.  Nanny’s programming tells her to correct grammar but the status or situation may make her think better of it.

While most of the adults at the mine are busy with their jobs, Nanny and three adults supervise twenty-three children in a playroom.  Activities are age appropriate; for example, older kids learn about science while younger kids learn their colors.  The details Chirgwin provides makes life at the mine seem like it is the near future.

As with many good stories or tales, an outside force sets events in motion that could result in change or growth for the main character.  In imaginative ways Chirgwin takes the ordinary and turns it around.  Ultimately it’s the humanity in Nanny that made the story special to me.

3 comments

  1. I think this is an awesome idea…I may steal it.

    In other news, you’re blog is all updated and I’ll email soon. I hope.

  2. I kind of stole the idea myself! I saw on Jason Sanford’s blog he had a category for story of the week but I don’t think he does it weekly. Originally it featured stories from StorySouth and then switched to Fantasy and Science Fiction stories he likes.

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