[PW] Mystery Short Story: Two guys in a room with a button

[S M Colowick]

I wonder if it could be "Game" by Donald Barthelme:
http://www.latexnet.org/~burnt/Game.html. Here's an excerpt:

"Shotwell and I watch the console. Shotwell and I live under the
ground and watch the console. If certain events take place upon the
console, we are to insert our keys in the appropriate locks and turn
our keys. Shotwell has a key and I have a key. If we turn our keys
simultaneously the bird flies, certain switches are activated and the
bird flies. But the bird never flies. In one hundred thirty-three days
the bird has not flown. Meanwhile Shotwell and I watch each other. We
each wear a .45 and if Shotwell behaves strangely I am supposed to
shoot him. If I behave strangely Shotwell is supposed to shoot me.
..."

smc

On Jan 29, 2008 8:21 AM, Angelica the Librarian <acclsangelica at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Wombats,
>
> I've been trying to solve this mystery for years and am hoping The Great
> Brain has some suggestions for me. During my junior year of high school I
> read a short story whose title and author I can't for the life of me
> remember. Here's what I know:
>
> The story was about two men locked in a room. In the room is a button and
> it's never explicitly stated but the reader gets the impression that the
> button, if pressed, will detonate some kinda of bomb. The men are going
> crazy from stress and alternately loathe one another and cry and hold one
> another in tender embraces.
>
> I read the story in a textbook that was a collection of short stories, book
> excerpts, poetry, images, and literary analysis-type questions. My junior
> year of high school was from 1992-1993, to help with the time frame.
>
>  Since this story was in a textbook I thought it would be pretty famous but
> I've scoured anthologies and have been unsuccessful. My google-fu fails me.
> I've asked the local public library for help. I've emailed both my high
> school English teacher and librarian and never received a reply. As far as I
> know, the Short Story Index only works if you have a title or author and I
> can't remember those.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Angelica
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