MUTE: A Short Story by Stephen King: Reviewed

Though Stephen King is notorious for writing huge novels, some of his best stories are the short ones. "MUTE" is his newest short story, recently published in the December edition of Playboy Magazine.

"MUTE" is about a traveling salesman, Monette, who sits in a confessional for the first time in many years telling his story of the ending of his marriage.

Since it is a short story, about nine pages, it is hard to entice without giving too much away, but I will try. A running theme in King's books includes that of a traveling salesman. From, "The Stand" where a highway patrol officer infects a traveling salesman to "The Shining", Winifred's father was traveling salesman, to "Thinner", and "Chattery Teeth" the thread of traveling salesmen is wrapped.

This is King's second story where a traveling salesman is the main character. In, "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away," a short story in "Everything's Eventual", the main character Alfie Zimmer is a despondent traveling salesman who is considering suicide. He spends the evening reviewing his book of graffiti phrases found during his travels.

Not surprisingly, King's father was a traveling salesman who left the family when King was very young.

In "MUTE" Monette sits on the confessor's side of the booth, and cannot help re-reading a little sign during his confession which reads, "For all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." He explains that he hasn't confessed in years, and then tells his tale.

He discovers his wife of 26 years is cheating on him with teacher that she works with. What truly upsets Monette about this is not only is she cheating, she shows no shame, embarrassment or regret. Another kick to the kidneys is the fact that both she and her lover have been embezzling thousands upon thousands of dollars from the Maine Board of Education, to support their unusual addiction: collecting undergarments. Again, without shame or regret, she shows him an entire spare room stacked with corsets, pantyhose, garter belts and oodles of panties.