The Return of Dyslexia
The story begins with the information that as a boy Reverend Robert Lee suffered from dyslexia. This was addressed in a special school and he was able to overcome the problem. The stress of getting his first assignment leading a church brings it back and that process is conveyed through the use of metaphorical machinery imagery:
“And it is clear now that sometime during that horrible night something must have gone click in his brain and stirred up in some ways vestiges of the old dyslexia that was lying there dormant.”
Vicarage Economics
One might not suspect it, but apparently even in small rural vicarages, money rules. What is the first advice the new vicar receives upon commencing his ministry? Checking out the sick or collecting food for the hungry? No, it is a letter informing him where to start: by checking in on the wealthiest and most dependable financially supporter of the church, Miss Prewt. The advice in the note even uses distinctly non-sacred metaphor to convince the new vicar of the supreme importance of this task:
“the verger hinted that if the vicar played his cards right, the lady might be good for an even larger donation in the near future.”
Miss Prewt’s Mouth
When Reverend Lee does meet this financially vital member of the congregation, she is described using a very efficient simile that immediately situates her visually in the mind of the reader. The metaphor is also highly suggestive that that it may be describing more than just here mere physical appearance. Then again, one could actually interpret the simile as not being physical in nature at all:
“The door was opened by Miss Prewt herself, a tall, thin female who stood bolt upright and whose mouth was like the blade of a knife.”
The Coming of the Apocalypse
When the dyslexia returns, it is in the form of a saying entire words backwards. This proves especially confusing during since he is a religious man whose work requires repetitive use of the word “God.” But saying “dog” instead of “God” is not too terribly embarrassing. Nor is introducing himself as Eel. Okay, saying “stink” instead of “knits” can potentially cause problems, but it is when Reverend makes an announcement about where to “park” in front of the church that situation become serious. Serious enough to give its appearance a metaphor draped in apocalypse:
“Then came the bombshell."
The Apocalypse
The actual apocalypse arrives after the bombshell. Once Reverend Lee’s dyslexia delivers an announcement containing several references to where to “krap” in front of the church, that church becomes the appropriate venue for a truly apocalyptic metaphor:
“The silence that greeted this announcement was like the end of the world and the poor vicar walked out of church with not one kindly eye looking up to meet his.”
