Fair Extension
Encyclopedia
Fair Extension is a novella
by Stephen King
, published in his collection Full Dark, No Stars
(2010).
Streeter selects Tom Goodhugh, his best friend since childhood, whom he has secretly hated for years. Streeter has done everything for Goodhugh, including doing his homework. Later, Goodhugh stole Streeter's girlfriend in college and married her. Goodhugh founded a successful million-dollar waste removal business with Streeter's assistance and now lives a lavish lifestyle, has three children on the fast track to great lives, and doesn't look like age has caught up with him, unlike his friend.
A couple of days later, Streeter goes to his doctor, who tells him his tumors are shrinking. Four months later, Streeter is declared cancer-free, which perplexes his doctor. The good luck continues in subsequent years, as Streeter is promoted several times at work and his marriage becomes joyous and rich with lavish lifestyle improvements. His children begin a long line of career successes: his son creates two bestselling video games and his daughter gets her dream job as a journalist at the Boston Globe right out of college after graduating from the Columbia School of Journalism.
At the same time, Goodhugh's wife develops breast cancer, which has spread to her lymph nodes, and dies within six months. His middle son, Carl, a promising student at Emerson College
, has a heart attack in college due to a genetic defect and, due to oxygen deprivation, suffers permanent brain damage and requires constant care. A few years later, Carl chokes to death on an apple while watching television. Goodhugh's youngest son, Jake, turns down a full-ride athletic scholarship to help save the family business. He marries a local girl whom he later kills during an argument after she finds a half gram of cocaine
and another woman's panties in his pocket and is sentenced to 2-5 years in prison. His daughter, Gracie, loses her husband due to a drunk driver, loses all her teeth after developing pyorrhea
(as well as her sense of smell), and eventually gives birth to a stillborn baby (who has the same heart defect that Carl had). Goodhugh suffers mentally, physically (developing both gout
and psoriasis
), and financially, and eventually loses his business after his accountant embezzles two million dollars and skips town and the EPA
discovers toxic waste in the junkyard that he owns, prompting them to seize it. A broken man, Goodhugh likens himself to Job
, and believes he has "offended God." Although Streeter pretends to be solemn about his friend's misfortunes, he is secretly glad
and enjoys seeing his formerly successful best friend struggle to cope with the myriad types of bad luck that befall him and his family.
Streeter's family prospers during this time, and he enjoys his life more than ever. The story ends with Streeter and his wife stargazing, not long after Carl's death. She confesses her sadness over Goodhugh's fate, and he assures her that this is only fair, and that some people are simply dealt a bad hand by life. They catch a glimpse of the planet Venus, and Streeter tells his wife to make a wish. She cannot think of anything they need, due to the prosperous past few years. The story ends with Streeter making a single wish—for more.
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, published in his collection Full Dark, No Stars
Full Dark, No Stars
Full Dark, No Stars, published in November 2010, is a collection of four novellas by the author Stephen King, all dealing with the theme of retribution...
(2010).
Synopsis
On his way home, Dave Streeter sees a man with a setup by the road to the airport. He goes out and talks with the man, George Elvid, who tells Streeter that he sells extensions of various types. Streeter, who is dying of lung cancer, thinks Elvid might be a mental patient escapee after he claims to have existed for centuries. Elvid offers Streeter a chance to live for approximately 15 years if he pays 15 percent of his salary for every one of those years... and transfers the "weight" of his misfortune onto someone he knows.Streeter selects Tom Goodhugh, his best friend since childhood, whom he has secretly hated for years. Streeter has done everything for Goodhugh, including doing his homework. Later, Goodhugh stole Streeter's girlfriend in college and married her. Goodhugh founded a successful million-dollar waste removal business with Streeter's assistance and now lives a lavish lifestyle, has three children on the fast track to great lives, and doesn't look like age has caught up with him, unlike his friend.
A couple of days later, Streeter goes to his doctor, who tells him his tumors are shrinking. Four months later, Streeter is declared cancer-free, which perplexes his doctor. The good luck continues in subsequent years, as Streeter is promoted several times at work and his marriage becomes joyous and rich with lavish lifestyle improvements. His children begin a long line of career successes: his son creates two bestselling video games and his daughter gets her dream job as a journalist at the Boston Globe right out of college after graduating from the Columbia School of Journalism.
At the same time, Goodhugh's wife develops breast cancer, which has spread to her lymph nodes, and dies within six months. His middle son, Carl, a promising student at Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
, has a heart attack in college due to a genetic defect and, due to oxygen deprivation, suffers permanent brain damage and requires constant care. A few years later, Carl chokes to death on an apple while watching television. Goodhugh's youngest son, Jake, turns down a full-ride athletic scholarship to help save the family business. He marries a local girl whom he later kills during an argument after she finds a half gram of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and another woman's panties in his pocket and is sentenced to 2-5 years in prison. His daughter, Gracie, loses her husband due to a drunk driver, loses all her teeth after developing pyorrhea
Periodontal disease
Periodontitis is a set of inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium, i.e., the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Periodontitis involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth...
(as well as her sense of smell), and eventually gives birth to a stillborn baby (who has the same heart defect that Carl had). Goodhugh suffers mentally, physically (developing both gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
and psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
), and financially, and eventually loses his business after his accountant embezzles two million dollars and skips town and the EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
discovers toxic waste in the junkyard that he owns, prompting them to seize it. A broken man, Goodhugh likens himself to Job
Job (Biblical figure)
Job is the central character of the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible. Job is listed as a prophet of God in the Qur'an.- Book of Job :The Book of Job begins with an introduction to Job's character — he is described as a blessed man who lives righteously...
, and believes he has "offended God." Although Streeter pretends to be solemn about his friend's misfortunes, he is secretly glad
Schadenfreude
Schadenfreude is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. This German word is used as a loanword in English and some other languages, and has been calqued in Danish and Norwegian as skadefryd and Swedish as skadeglädje....
and enjoys seeing his formerly successful best friend struggle to cope with the myriad types of bad luck that befall him and his family.
Streeter's family prospers during this time, and he enjoys his life more than ever. The story ends with Streeter and his wife stargazing, not long after Carl's death. She confesses her sadness over Goodhugh's fate, and he assures her that this is only fair, and that some people are simply dealt a bad hand by life. They catch a glimpse of the planet Venus, and Streeter tells his wife to make a wish. She cannot think of anything they need, due to the prosperous past few years. The story ends with Streeter making a single wish—for more.