The short story "The Fruitcake Special" follows Anna, a chemist who accidentally invents a potent perfume from a piece of fruitcake. The perfume has the ability to make men fall in love with the wearer. When Anna's boss Mr. Amos smells the perfume, he becomes infatuated with her, angering his girlfriend Sabrina. At a dinner with Mr. Amos, both he and a waiter declare their love for Anna after smelling the perfume. Humiliated, Anna later resigns from her job and begins seeing Armstrong, a pizza delivery man who has started his own business.

1. The Fruitcake
Special
By: Frank Brennan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6IR7iuae3s

2. Frank Brennan- The Author
THE FRUITCAKE SPECIAL
Frank Brennan hails from the North West of England and is a
graduate of the University of Wales. He was an actor and writer
in a theatre group for schools and has taught English and Drama
in secondary schools both in the UK and in Singapore. He has
experienced editing books of short stories and plays. He has
published original short stories and plays and written literature
guide books for secondary students. Currently, he is working on a
new collection of short stories. His interests include music,
especially jazz and roots music, and history.

3. The Fruitcake Special is a story of how Anna, a chemist
creates a potent perfume with a piece of fruitcake. The
perfume has a capability to mesmerise men and make them
fall in love with the wearer. When her boss , Mr. Amos, gets
a whiff of the perfume, he becomes enthralled with Anna
and declared his love for her. This incurs the wrath of
Sabrina, Mr. Amos‟s girlfriend. The perfume also casts its
spell on a waiter and a hilarious situation ensues with both
Mr. Amos and the waiter competing for Anna‟s affection.
The Synopsis
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaeS4TVEpWE

4. Anna then tries to find out the secret ingredient in the
fruitcake , but fails. Two days later she goes back to work.
She is summoned to Mr. Amos‟s office where she is
humiliated by Sabrina. She is further insulted when Mr.
Amos offers her monetary compensation to make up for his
atrocious behaviour. In fit of rage she throws the remaining
of the fruitcake perfume on Sabrina. She then resigns from
her job and join a competitor. The story ends with a hint of
romance blossoming between Anna and Armstrong , the
pizza delivery boy, who is now the owner of his own pizza
company.
Continue synopsis

5. The story take place over a few days. There are three main
locations:
• The Amos Cosmetics Factory in New Jersey – where
Anna works as a chemist. The first effects of the perfume
are seen here.
• The French restaurant- where we witness the full effects
of the perfume. Anna‟s boss, Mr. Amos and a waiter fight
after both declare their love for Anna
• Anna‟s home- where Anna‟s mother and Aunt Mimi
pressure Anna to get married.
Setting

6. • Anna accidentally invents a perfume that can make men
fall in love with her. The first person to fall in love is her
boss, Mr. Amos, who takes her out for dinner.
Plot- Exposition

7. • During dinner, Mr. Amos behaves coldly and tries to end
the date early. Anna excuses herself, goes to the restroom
and angrily dabs on the perfume.
Plot- Conflict

8. • The perfume casts its spell on a waiter and on Mr. Amos
once again. Both men declare their love for Anna and get
into a fight. Anna runs away in embarrassment.
Plot- Climax

9. • Anna learnt from Aunt Mimi that the fruit cake was made
by a strange lady who used a special ingredient. However,
Anna is unable to learnt the secret ingredient as the lady
passed away recently.
Plot-Falling Action

10. • Anna returns to the office after two days only to be
humiliated further by Sabrina and Mr. Amos. In a fit of
rage, Anna throws the perfume on Sabrina. She then
resigns from the company and join a competitor. The
story ends with Armstrong, now the owner of his own
pizza company, declaring his love for Anna.
Plot-Resolution

11. Climax
Exposition
Resolution
Plot

12. • Anna
• Mr. David Amos
• Sabrina
• Anna‟s mother
• Aunt Mimi
• Armstrong
• The Waiter at the French Restaurant
Characters

13. • Resourceful and adventurous- invents potent perfume which can
mesmerise men
• Modest- fells uncomfortable with the sudden attention from her
boss
• Insightful- I curious to find out why she has suddenly become
attractive to the opposite sex
• Realistic - is aware that she is average-looking and therefore feels
unworthy of her boss‟s attention
• Strong-willed- is able to withstand intimidation from
Sabrina
• Modern-resists the matchmaking efforts of her
mother and aunt
• Proud- does not take kindly to being offered money
as compensation for her boss‟s atrocious behaviour
Anna

14. • Weak – allows himself to be manipulated by his girlfriend
• Ungentlemanly – tries to abruptly end the dinner date because
he is no longer attracted to Anna
• Unprofessional – makes inappropriate advances towards Anna
at the workplace
• Cowardly – does not defend Ann when Sabrina insults and
humiliates Anna in his office
• Manipulative – uses money to buy his way out of
uncomfortable situations
• Shallow – likes to be surrounded by beautiful women even
though he knows that they are only interested in his looks and
wealth
Mr. David Amos

15. • Haughty and condescending – looks down on Anna
• Domineering – controls and manipulates Mr. Amos,
undermines his authority in the office
• Violent – strikes Mr. Amos when he declares his love for
Anna
Sabrina

16. • Astute – is aware that the pizza delivery boy has a crush
on Anna
• Over- enthusiastic and impulsive – starts making wedding
plans the moment she hears of Anna‟s date
• Caring and loving – is concerned that Anna is still
unmarried
Anna’s Mother

17. • Meddlesome – is constantly interfering in other people‟s
affairs
• Caring – is concerned about trying to find a suitor for
Anna
• Traditional – strongly believes that a woman should not
be ambitious
• Honest – always speaks her mind
• Conniving – agrees to give Anna information about the
fruitcake in exchange for gossip about Anna‟s date
Aunt Mimi

18. • Ambitious – is successful in setting up his own pizza
company
• Gentlemanly – treats Anna with respect
• Patient – waits for the right time to declare his love for
Anna
Armstrong

19. • Impulsive – cannot wait to declare his love to Anna and
interrupts her with a phone call during dinner
• Competitive – competes with Mr. Amos
for Anna‟s attention
The Waiter at the
French
Restaurant

20. • The writer tells the story from the first person point of
view, that is through the eyes of the main character, Anna.
Anna is able to describe her own thoughts and feelings
but is not privy to what the other characters are thinking
and feelings.
Point of View

21. • The tone of the story is light-hearted and humorous. It
creates a pleasant and enjoyable mood for the readers.
The atmosphere is exciting as Anna realises the potency
of the perfume. It changes to a comical situation
bordering on a ridiculous when both Mr. Amos and the
waiter declare their love for Anna in the presence of
haughty Sabrina. The story ends on a happy not hen Anna
joins a competitor and sees the possibility of starting a
relationship with Armstrong.
Tone, Mood and
Atmosphere

22. • The language used is narrative and easy to understand. It
is told in chronological order, starting with the discovery
of the perfume, its effects on men and finally the
confrontation between Anna and her boss in his office.
Language and Style

23. • It is important to trust our own instincts.
• Love makes people behave in strange ways.
• It is important to maintain our decorum when faced with
difficult situations.
• Supernatural forces can influence people to do things
against their will.
• One must be creative and unconventional when
experimenting with new things.
• The norms of society can sometimes place unnecessary
pressure on people
Themes

24. • We must not be taken in by flattery and sweet talk.
• We must not compromise our dignity when dealing with
difficult people/situations
• We must work hard to achieve our dreams and ambition
• We must not look down upon those less fortunate than
ourselves
• We must not abuse our authority when dealing with
others who are lower-ranked.
Moral Values

25. Imagery
• „he‟s still got his won hair‟, „big smiles on their faces‟,
„quieter than before and looking down the floor‟, „like a
dog who has just found his bone, his eyes shone, … his
face would break into two‟, „ with a stupid look on his
face‟
Literary Divices

26. Symbol
• The perfume is a symbol as the fragrance of the perfume
is alluring and enticing and Mr. Amos is enticed by the
fruitcake perfume.

27. Alliteration
• „you mean so much more than trust that to me…”

28. Irony
• It is ironical that the „special something‟ in the fruitcake,
if taken by Anna, would mean her finding a husband
„problems would be over‟ but instead it landed her in the
embarrassing situation of two men fighting over her.

29. PRACTICE 1
Read the extract from the short story “FRUITCAKE
SPECIAL” below and answer the questions that follow.
„I dreamt that I was being awful to you, treating you as if you
were just someone who worked for me. The truth is that you
mean so much more than that to me …‟I wondered what he
meant. Was he going to raise my pay? He went on. „You must
realise that I‟m crazy about you, darling.‟ He was calling me
darling again. He was being serious. I have to say that at this
point I was feeling very confused. Five minutes ago my boss
didn‟t want to be seen with me. Now he was saying he was crazy
about me! What could be making him behave like this? Then, all
at once, I realised it was the fruitcake special! Intrigue might
smell great, but it didn‟t make a girl attractive to men. But my
fruitcake perfume did.

30. a. What does the word „crazy‟ imply?
……………………………………………………………
b. Why was the writer confused?
…………………………………………………………
c. What is “Intrigue‟ in the context of the story?
……………………………………………………………
d. Describe the behaviour of the writer‟s boss and why
he behaved in such a way.
……………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………

31. PRACTICE 2
Read the extract from the short story “FRUITCAKE
SPECIAL” below and answer the questions that follow.
Momma and Aunt Mini were very pleased, of course. They went
off together to plan the wedding and left me to get ready for the
man they hoped would be my future husband. I was beginning to
wish I hadn‟t told them. After all, I had no idea why my boss had
behaved towards me in that way. He had never even noticed me
before now. However, he had noticed the perfume I had been
wearing. Lately I had been wearing a perfume called intrigue. It
was made by another company and I actually preferred it to the
perfumes we made. Mr. Amos did have a very good nose for
perfumes. Perhaps Intrigue was so good he just couldn‟t stop
himself. Who knows? Anyway, I had to get ready for my evening
out. Although I couldn‟t explain why Mr. Amos had suddenly
found me attractive, I really wanted to find out. In my own way
I‟m as bad as my Aunt Mimi, I guess.

32. a. Whose wedding is being planned? Name the bride
and groom to be.
…………………………………………………………
b. Why did the writer say “wish I hadn‟t told them”?
…………………………………………………………
c. Why was the writer‟s plan for the night?
…………………………………………………………
d. Do you think the boss was attracted to the writer
because of the perfume?
Give a reason for your answer.
………………………………………………………

33. PRACTICE 3
Read the extract from the short story “FRUITCAKE
SPEACIAL” below and answer the questions that follow.
Momma seemed satisfied with my explanation that things had
just not worked out between me and Mr. Amos, although she
thought it a wasted opportunity she wanted me to have a rich
husband. Still, happiness is what really counts, she said, with a
note of sadness in her voice. When I finally got back to the
factory there was a message left on my desk – could I see Mr.
Amos as soon as I got in. As I walked towards David Amos‟s
office I felt like a schoolgirl who had to go to see the head
teacher. I was sure that the fruitcake special would not still be
working by now – after all, he had not seen me for a few days. I
knocked on his door. Mr. Amos was sitting behind his big desk
with a large black eye.

34. a. Describe the „opportunity‟ as in the context of the story?
……………………………………………………………
b. Why was the „opportunity‟ considered as wasted?
……………………………………………………………
c. Why did the writer feel „like a schoolgirl who had to go to
see the head teacher‟?
……………………………………………………………
d. Do you think Mr. Amos was angry at the writer? Give a
reason.
……………………………………………………………

35. PRACTICE 4
Read the extract from the short story “FRUITCAKE
SPECIAL” below and answer the questions that follow.
„Momma,‟ I said, „if it‟s Aunt Mimi with news of another
“perfect boy” for me, tell her I‟m not interested.‟ „It‟s not Aunt
Mimi, dear,‟ said Momma.
„Who is it?‟ I asked. „I think you‟d better come see for yourself ‟
Momma said.
I went to the front door. It was Armstrong, the pizza delivery
man. He was holding up a pizza box which had „Armstrong‟s
Peachy Pizzas‟ in big letters on the front.
Armstrong now owned the pizza company. He explained that
he‟d fallen in love with me when he first delivered pizza to us,
but he wanted to be a success before asking me out. He said I
deserved no less. Then he gave me some flowers. I never really
noticed before, but Armstrong is quite good looking: a bit short
maybe, a little thin on top –but nobody‟s perfect.

36. a. State one characteristic of a „perfect boy” in Aunt
Mimi‟s opinion.
……………………………………………………
b. What is the name of Armstrong‟s company?
……………………………………………………
c. What does Armstrong mean when he said “ …
deserved no less‟?
……………………………………………………
d. Would you marry someone like Armstrong? Give a
reason.
……………………………………………………

37. Practice 1
a. not normal
b. confused at how the feelings of her boss towards her changes abruptly.
c. Name of the perfume.
d. The boss took a liking of her when he was not interested at all a little while ago. Perhaps it
is the work of the perfume.
Practice 2
a. Mr Amos and Anna
b. She is actually not interested in Mr Amos.
c. She wants to find out why Mr Amos was attracted to her.
d. Any logical answer.
Practice 3
a. an opportunity to marry a rich man
b. the marriage did not take place
c. She did not know how to answer or react to Mr Amos who is her boss.
d. No, he was not. He was not aware of what had actually happened.
Practice 4
a. wealthy
b. „Armstrong‟s Peachy Pizzas‟
c. She is a fine person and she should get someone who is capable of looking after her and
care for her financially.
d. Any logical answer.
Answers

38. Hope you enjoy reading the
short story, “The Fruitcake
Special”.
With love
always…
Yours,
Po Po Tun