THE FRUITCAKE SPECIAL

Frank Brennan

THE SYNOPSIS

The Fruitcake Special is an amusing story about Anna, a scientist, who creates a perfume that has an extraordinary effect on men. Her boss, David Amos, is instantly smitten with her the minute he smells the perfume on Anna. Chaos ensues

when Anna and David dine together

as Anna also becomes the

coming to a dead

object of the waiters affection. Anna asks her Aunt Mimi for more information about the fruitcake before end. Guided by his jealous girlfriend Sabina, David offers a

money-based apology to Anna, who decides to leave

company. Annas love life develops together with now a pizza owner.

for a rival

her career as

she is wooed by Armstrong, her local pizza delivery man, who is

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An Australian writer, originally a businessman. Started to write fiction in 1983. Died in 1995. Wrote with his wife, Wendy Brennan under the pseudonym Emma Darcy. As a team, they wrote more than 45 romance novels.

Amos Cosmetics factory

SETTING

Annas home
The French Restaurant Aunt Mimis apartment

CLIMAX
The Fruitcake Special attracts both Mr Amos and the waiter. A fight breaks out between David, Sabina and the waiter.

RISING ACTION
Mr Amos is attracted to Anna who is using the perfume and invites her to dinner

FALLING ACTION
Anna visits Aunt Mimi and discovers that the fruitcake was brought from an old lady who had put in a special ingredient. Unfortunately the woman is now dead and so is the secret.

THE PLOT EXPOSITION

Anna experiments by adding a slice of fruitcake to a mix of flowers to create a new perfume.

RESOLUTION
Armstrong, the owner of Armstrongs Peachy Pizzas, presents Anna with flowers and pizza and tells her that he had fallen in love with her from the very first time he delivered pizza to her.

THE CHARACTERS

Anna

David Amos

Aunt Mimi

Momma

Sabina

Armstrong

Waiter

PRACTICAL

CURIOUS

SENSIBLE

ANNA

OBSERVANT

INNOVATIVE

DETERMINED INTEGRITY

INTELLIGENT

ANNAS Character Traits Practical

Evidence from text * thinks her new invention smells nice but nothing more (p.32) * uses the same handbag she does for work on her date with David (p.38) Knows she is an ordinary-looking girl and is not actually Davids type (p.34) Reminds the waiter to serve the lobster instead of being silly (p.43) Realizes the effect of the perfume on the waiter and ensures she does not walk by other men (p.44) Tries to concoct new perfumes (p.31) Realizes that the fruitcake perfume had an effect on her boss (p.41) Notices that her boss prefers pretty young models (p.32) Observes that men say one thing but mean another Wants to know why David suddenly finds her attractive (p.38) Anna was determined to design good perfumes When she knew the effect of the fruitcake special on men , she stayed at home to find out the truth about the fruitcake given by Aunt Mimi. Anna portrayed integrity when she walked out of her job She did this when she was insulted by her boss humiliating offer of compensation.

Sensible

Innovative Intelligent Observant Curious Determined

Integrity

Weak

Impulsive
DAVID AMOS

Superficial Not employee-friendly

DAVID AMOSS Character Traits WEAK

EVIDENCE FROM TEXT Is controlled by Sabina and so offers Anna money rather than apologizing properly

SUPERFICIAL

Prefers the company of beautiful young models (p.34)

Looks at Annas body instead of her face when she returns to the table (p.41) Is flabbergasted when the waiter starts singing very loudly, so he hit the waiter. Feebly explains to Anna that they would not be a good match, unlike him and Sabina (p.56) Anna is afraid to tell him how she made the new perfume as he might have laughed at her (p.32) David only speaks to his employees when he has complaints (p.34)

IMPULSIVE

NOT EMPLOYEEFRIENDLY

WARM

GENEROUS

AUNT MIMI

GOOD-HEARTED

OBSERVANT

CURIOUS

AUNT MIMIS Character Traits WARM

Evidence from text

Welcomes Annas visit even though she may have other interests at heart (p.48) Always brings gifts when she visit (p.37)

GENEROUS

GOODHEARTED
OBSERVANT

Being very concerned for Annas future, she wants to find a nice husband for Anna.
Tells Anna about her market experience and the people she met at the funeral (p.52) Is suspicious about Annas sudden interest in baking. (p.49)

CURIOUS

MOMMA
Annas mother
Loving and caring- still packs meals for Anna Gets on well with Aunt Mimi

Sabina

The latest girlfriend of David Amos Beautiful Snooty Vain, Dominant, confident, well-spoken Condescending but is actually jealous that David asked Anna out Hot-headed- Hits David hard in the face when he proclaims love for Anna.

ARMSTRONG

The pizza delivery man Fell in love with Anna at first sight

*Like David Amos, was

The Waiter

Hardworking-saved hard and finally bought over the pizza company he worked for
Was determined to improve his social and economic status before asking Anna out

impulsive and effusive in his words and actions after inhaling the Fruitcake Special

* Bold told Anna how he felt, and called her even though she was in the restaurant with David on a date.

THEMES
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE VS TRUE LOVE

Annas experiences with David and the waiter at the French restaurant illustrate the fragility of physical attraction or superficial love. Both the men are drawn to her not because of her own qualities but because of the special perfume she is wearing. Fortunately Anna realizes that true love is not based on external appearances but on genuine liking and mutual self-respect. The man who truly loves her- Armstrong the pizza delivery man- declares his love for her only after he has achieved success in his life.

THEMES

IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRITY AND SELF-RESPECT

We should focus on a persons character rather than their physical appearance.

Anna is a person of integrity and practicality who is truly a credit to her company.
Anna has dignity, pride and principles and looks for these qualities in a future husband. She finds them in Armstrong, a slightly short and balding man, but is a gem compared to the superficial David.

When Anna creates the potent perfume by chance, she does not give it to her boss immediately as she is afraid of him making fun of her.

Rationality and moral courage

She reveals her character and good sense of values in her actions, speech and thoughts ( mental self talk) Her outrage at Davids treatment of her and the scene in the office with Sabina present shows her sense of dignity, pride and moral courage.

Annas character grows and in the end we see her willingness to accept Armstrong even though she may have
higher expectations before.

Annas

painstaking

attitude

and

seriousness about her work are work

Diligence and Perseverance

ethics that should be followed. She is creative and intelligent in the work she is doing.

Can be seen in Armstrongs character He is determine to be successful before he can declare his love to Anna.

Determination

From just ordinary pizza delivery man, he turns to be the owner of the pizza restaurant. All this displays his strong determination to be successful in life.

Honesty

Momma is honest in terms of her feelings towards Armstrong. Even Armstrong is just a pizza delivery man, she her. Aunt Mimi is honest in Anna. Anna is an honest employee. She does not reveal finding a husband for does not look down on

the secret

Armstrong accepts Anna for who she

Acceptance

is. He also

able to accept his own

weaknesses and work to improve on

them until he becomes successful.

Anna accepts the fact to let the secret died. of the fruitcake special lie buried with the old woman who has She never pursues the matter although she was persistent in finding out the truth about it.

It takes courage to stand up to ones

Courage

beliefs. Anna is willing to

walk out of

her career in Amos Cosmetics after the event in the French restaurant.

Armstrong

is courageous in asking

Anna out at last. He knows his status but never gives up .