The Great Stork Derby
After falling and lying prostrate in his home for several days, the elderly Emm Benbow is offered a place at an old age home, but his social worker suggests he try his children first. The problem is there’s been no contact, they are an enigma to him, and he can’t name his grandchildren, let alone the ‘greats’. He and his wife, Izora, had entered the Great Stork Derby in 1926, a contest that ran until 1936 in Toronto, Canada, encouraging wives to produce the most babies during the specified decade, all at the bequest in a will made by an eccentric millionaire. Having named the children alphabetically for easy recall, Emm remembers Arvil was killed in the war, so he makes a trial move to Bruna’s, then Cleon’s, then Darold’s—you get the picture. One of the charms of this novel is the little vignettes relating each child’s birth, Emm’s reaction, his mother’s perpetual interference, and Izora’s early death.
This is not a traditional historical novel, but more of an in-depth study of family dynamics, and Emm begins his journey by using old-age helplessness to his advantage. His body is failing him, but his mind is lively and agile. As time progresses, he softens, learning his children’s likes and dislikes, where they work, their interests and abilities, how surprisingly different they are from each other, and how misguided his singular adoration of Arvil had been. Emm’s journey transitions from stubbornness, guilt, and shame, to discovery, and ultimately redemption and forgiveness, as he finds new joy in family obligation and in earning what he sees as Izora’s blessing. Based on a true event, this is a touching and poignant look at family life and how it is never too late to effect change.
