CHAPTER

8
Three Fiction Writers in Depth: Flannery OConnor, Raymond Carver, and Alice Munro
We read stories y authors !e are un"amiliar !ith, #ust as !e try ne! "oods or play ne! $ames or listen to the music o" ne! $roups, ecause !e !ant to e%tend our e%perience& 'ut !e also sometimes stay !ith the "amiliar, "or pretty much the same reason, oddly& We !ant, so to spea(, to taste more "ully, to e%perience not somethin$ utterly un"amiliar ut a variation on a "avorite theme& )avin$ read, say, one story y *oe or y Alice Wal(er, !e !ant to read another, and another, ecause !e li(e the sort o" thin$ that this author does, and !e "ind that !ith each succeedin$ story !e $et deeper into an interestin$ mind tal(in$ a out e%periences that interest us& This chapter includes +& ,T!o stories y Flannery OConnor, alon$ !ith some o" her comments on her o!n !or( -& ,T!o stories y Alice Munro, an essay, and an intervie! .& ,Three stories y Raymond Carver, and comments y him We elieve youll "ind that each story ta(es on a richer si$ni"icance !hen thou$ht o" alon$ !ith other stories and comments y the same !riter&

FLANNERY OCONNOR: TWO STORIES AND COMMENTS ABOUT WRITING

FLANNERY OCONNOR

Flannery OConnor /+0-12+03456her "irst name !as Mary

ut she did not use it6!as

orn in

7avannah, 8eor$ia, ut spent most o" her li"e in Milled$eville, 8eor$ia, !here her "amily moved !hen she !as +-& 7he !as educated in parochial schools and at the local colle$e and then !ent to the 7chool "or Writers at the 9niversity o" :o!a, !here she earned an M&F&A& in +043& For a "e! months she lived at a !riters colony in 7arato$a 7prin$s, ;e! <or(, and then "or a "e! !ee(s she lived in ;e! <or( City, ut most o" her li"e !as spent ac( in Milled$eville, !here she tended her peacoc(s and !rote stories, novels, essays /posthumously pu lished as Mystery and Manners =+0>?@5, and letters /posthumously pu lished under the title The )a it o" 'ein$ =+0>0@5& In 1951, when she was 25, Flannery OConnor discovered that she was a victim of lupus erythematosus, an incurable autoimmune disease that had crippled and then illed her father ten years before! "he died at the a#e of $9! OConnor faced her illness with stoic coura#e, Christian fortitude%and tou#h humor! &ere is a #limpse, from one of her letters, of how she dealt with those who pitied her' (n old lady #ot on the elevator behind me and as soon as I turned around she fi)ed me with a moist #leamin# eye and said in a loud voice, *+less you, darlin#,- I felt e)actly li e .he /isfit 0in *( 1ood /an Is &ard to Find-2 and I #ave her a wea ly lethal loo , whereupon #reatly encoura#ed she #rabbed my arm and whispered 3very loud4 in my ear, *5emember what they said to 6ohn at the #ate, darlin#,- It was not my floor but I #ot off and I suppose the old lady was astounded at how 7uic I could #et away on crutches! I have a one8le##ed friend and I as ed her what they said to 6ohn at the #ate! "he said she rec oned they said, *.he lame shall enter first!- .his may be because the lame will be able to noc everybody else aside with their crutches! ( devout Catholic, OConnor forthri#htly summari9ed the relation between her belief and her writin#' I see from the standpoint of Christian orthodo)y! .his means that for me the meanin# of life is centered in our 5edemption by Christ and what I see in the world I see in its relation to that!

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

[1953]

The $randmother didnt !ant to $o to Florida& 7he !anted to visit some o" her connections in east Tennessee and she !as seiAin$ every chance to chan$e 'aileys mind& 'ailey !as the son she lived !ith, her only oy& )e !as sittin$ on the ed$e o" his chair at the ta le, ent over the oran$e sports

section o" the 6ournal! B;o! loo( here, 'ailey,C she said, Bsee here, read this,C and she stood !ith one hand on her thin hip and the other rattlin$ the ne!spaper at his ald head& B)ere this "ello! that calls himsel" The Mis"it is aloose "rom the Federal *en and headed to!ard Florida and you read here !hat it says he did to these people& Dust you read it& : !ouldnt ta(e my children in any direction !ith a criminal li(e that aloose in it& : couldnt ans!er to my conscience i" : did&C 'ailey didnt loo( up "rom his readin$ so she !heeled around then and "aced the childrens mother, a youn$ !oman in slac(s, !hose "ace !as as road and innocent as a ca a$e and !as tied around !ith a $reen head(erchie" that had t!o points on the top li(e ra its ears& 7he !as sittin$ on the so"a, "eedin$ the a y his apricots out o" a #ar& BThe children have een to Florida e"ore,C the old lady said& B<ou all ou$ht to ta(e them some!here else "or a chan$e so they !ould see di""erent parts o" the !orld and e road& They never have een to east Tennessee&C The childrens mother didnt seem to hear her, ut the ei$ht,year,old oy, Dohn Wesley, a stoc(y child !ith $lasses, said, B:" you dont !ant to $o to Florida, !hy dontcha stay at homeEC )e and the little $irl, Dune 7tar, !ere readin$ the "unny papers on the "loor& B7he !ouldnt stay at home to e Fueen "or a day,C Dune 7tar said !ithout raisin$ her yello! head& B<es, and !hat !ould you do i" this "ello!, The Mis"it, cau$ht youEC the $randmother said& B:d smac( his "ace,C Dohn Wesley said& B7he !ouldnt stay at home "or a million uc(s,C Dune 7tar said& BA"raid shed miss somethin$& 7he has to $o every!here !e $o&C BAll ri$ht, Miss,C the $randmother said& BDust remem er that the ne%t time you !ant me to curl your hair&C Dune 7tar said her hair !as naturally curly& The ne%t mornin$ the $randmother !as the "irst one in the car, ready to $o& 7he had her i$ lac( valise that loo(ed li(e the head o" a hippopotamus in one corner, and underneath it she !as hidin$ a as(et !ith *itty 7in$, the cat, in it& 7he didnt intend "or the cat to e le"t alone in the house "or three days ecause he !ould miss her too much and she !as a"raid he mi$ht rush a$ainst one o" the $as urners and accidentally asphy%iate himsel"& )er son, 'ailey, didnt li(e to arrive at a motel !ith a cat&

7he sat in the middle o" the ac( seat !ith Dohn Wesley and Dune 7tar on either side o" her& 'ailey and the childrens mother and the a y sat in "ront and they le"t Atlanta at ei$ht "orty,"ive !ith the milea$e on the car at 1180?& The $randmother !rote this do!n ecause she thou$ht it !ould e interestin$ to say ho! many miles they had een !hen they $ot ac(& :t too( them t!enty minutes to reach the outs(irts o" the city& The old lady settled hersel" com"orta ly, removin$ her !hite cotton $loves and puttin$ them up !ith her purse on the shel" in "ront o" the ac( !indo!& The childrens mother still had on slac(s and still had her head tied up in a $reen (erchie", ut the $randmother had on a navy lue stra! sailor hat !ith a unch o" !hite violets on the rim and a navy lue dress !ith a small !hite dot in the print& )er collars and cu""s !ere !hite or$andy trimmed !ith lace and at her nec(line she had pinned a purple spray o" cloth violets containin$ a sachet& :n case o" an accident, anyone seein$ her dead on the hi$h!ay !ould (no! at once that she !as a lady& 7he said she thou$ht it !as $oin$ to e a $ood day "or drivin$, neither too hot nor too cold, and she cautioned 'ailey that the speed limit !as "i"ty,"ive miles an hour and that the patrolmen hid themselves ehind ill, oards and small clumps o" trees and sped out a"ter you e"ore you had a chance to slo! do!n& 7he pointed out interestin$ details o" the scenery: 7tone MountainG the lue $ranite that in some places came up to oth sides o" the hi$h!ayG the rilliant red clay an(s sli$htly strea(ed !ith purpleG and the various crops that made ro!s o" $reen lace,!or( on the $round& The trees !ere "ull o" silver,!hite sunli$ht and the meanest o" them spar(led& The children !ere readin$ comic ma$aAines and their mother had $one ac( to sleep& BHets $o throu$h 8eor$ia "ast so !e !ont have to loo( at it much,C Dohn Wesley said& B:" : !ere a little oy,C said the $randmother, B: !ouldnt tal( a out my native state that !ay& Tennessee has the mountains and 8eor$ia has the hills&C BTennessee is #ust a hill illy dumpin$ $round,C Dohn Wesley said, Band 8eor$ia is a lousy state too&C B<ou said it,C Dune 7tar said& B:n my time,C said the $randmother, "oldin$ her thin veined "in$ers, Bchildren !ere more respect"ul o" their native states and their parents and everythin$ else& *eople did ri$ht then& Oh loo( at the cute little pic(aninnyIC she said and pointed to a ;e$ro child standin$ in the door o" a shac(&

BWouldnt that ma(e a picture, no!EC she as(ed and they all turned and loo(ed at the little ;e$ro out o" the ac( !indo!& )e !aved& B)e didnt have any ritches on,C Dune 7tar said& B)e pro a ly didnt have any,C the $randmother e%plained& BHittle ni$$ers in the country dont have thin$s li(e !e do& :" : could paint, :d paint that picture,C she said& The children e%chan$ed comic oo(s& The $randmother o""ered to hold the a y and the childrens mother passed him over the "ront seat to her& 7he set him on her (nee and ounced him and told him a out the thin$s they !ere passin$& 7he rolled her eyes and scre!ed up her mouth and stuc( her leathery thin "ace into his smooth land one& Occasionally he $ave her a "ara!ay smile& They passed a lar$e cotton "ield !ith "ive or si% $raves "enced in the middle o" it, li(e a small island& BHoo( at the $raveyardIC the $randmother said, pointin$ it out& BThat !as the old "amily uryin$ $round& That elon$ed to the plantation&C BWheres the plantationEC Dohn Wesley as(ed& B8one With the Wind,C said the $randmother& B)a& )a&C When the children "inished all the comic oo(s they had rou$ht, they opened the lunch and ate it& The $randmother ate a peanut utter sand!ich and an olive and !ould not let the children thro! the o% and the paper nap(ins out the !indo!& When there !as nothin$ else to do they played a $ame y choosin$ a cloud and ma(in$ the other t!o $uess !hat shape it su$$ested& Dohn Wesley too( one the shape o" a co! and Dune 7tar $uessed a co! and Dohn Wesley said, no, an automo ile, and Dune 7tar said he didnt play "air, and they e$an to slap each other over the $randmother& The $randmother said she !ould tell them a story i" they !ould (eep Fuiet& When she told a story, she rolled her eyes and !aved her head and !as very dramatic& 7he said once !hen she !as a maiden lady she had een courted y a Mr& Jd$ar At(ins Tea$arden "rom Dasper, 8eor$ia& 7he said he !as a very $ood,loo(in$ man and a $entleman and that he rou$ht her a !atermelon every 7aturday a"ternoon !ith his initials cut in it, J& A& T& Well, one 7aturday, she said, Mr& Tea$arden rou$ht the !atermelon and there !as no ody at home and he le"t it on the "ront porch and returned in his u$$y to Dasper, ut she never $ot the !atermelon, she said, ecause a ni$$er oy ate !hen he sa! the initials, J& A& T&I This story tic(led Dohn Wesleys "unny one and he $i$$led and $i$$led ut

Dune 7tar didnt thin( it !as any $ood& 7he said she !ouldnt marry a man that #ust rou$ht her a !atermelon on 7aturday& The $randmother said she !ould have done !ell to marry Mr& Tea$arden ecause he !as a $entleman and had ou$ht Coca,Cola stoc( !hen it "irst came out and that he had died only a "e! years a$o, a very !ealthy man& They stopped at The To!er "or ar ecued sand!iches& The To!er !as a part stucco and part !ood "illin$ station and dance hall set in a clearin$ outside o" Timothy& A "at man named Red 7ammy 'utts ran it and there !ere si$ns stuc( here and there on the uildin$ and "or miles up and do!n the hi$h!ay sayin$,
TR< RJD 7AMM<7 FAMO97 'AR'JC9J& ;O;J H:KJ FAMO97 RJD 7AMM<7I

RJD 7AMI T)J FAT 'O< W:T) T)J )A**< HA98)& A LJTJRA;I RJD 7AMM<7 <O9R MA;I

Red 7ammy !as lyin$ on the are $round outside The To!er !ith his head under a truc( !hile a $ray mon(ey a out a "oot hi$h, chained to a small china erry tree, chattered near y& The mon(ey spran$ ac( into the tree and $ot on the hi$hest lim as soon as he sa! the children #ump out o" the car and run to!ard him& :nside, The To!er !as a lon$ dar( room !ith a counter at one end and ta les at the other and dancin$ space in the middle& They all sat do!n at a road ta le ne%t to the nic(elodeon and Red 7ams !i"e, a tall urnt, ro!n !oman !ith hair and eyes li$hter than her s(in, came and too( their order& The childrens mother put a dime in the machine and played BThe Tennessee WaltA,C and the $randmother said that tune al!ays made her !ant to dance& 7he as(ed 'ailey i" he !ould li(e to dance ut he only $lared at her& )e didnt have a naturally sunny disposition li(e she did and trips made him nervous& The $randmothers ro!n eyes !ere very ri$ht& 7he s!ayed her head "rom side to side and pretended she !as dancin$ in her chair& Dune 7tar said play somethin$ she could tap to so the childrens mother put in another dime and played a "ast num er and Dune 7tar stepped out onto the dance "loor and did her tap routine& BAint she cuteEC Red 7ams !i"e said, leanin$ over the counter& BWould you li(e to come e my little $irlEC B;o, : certainly !ouldnt,C Dune 7tar said& B: !ouldnt live in a ro(en,do!n place li(e this "or a million uc(sIC and she ran ac( to the ta le& BAint she cuteEC the !oman repeated, stretchin$ her mouth politely& BArent you ashamedEC hissed the $randmother&

Red 7am came in and told his !i"e to Fuit loun$in$ on the counter and hurry !ith these peoples order& )is (ha(i trousers reached #ust to his hip ones and his stomach hun$ over them li(e a sac( o" meal s!ayin$ under his shirt& )e came over and sat do!n at a ta le near y and let out a com ination si$h and yodel& B<ou cant !in,C he said, B<ou cant !in,C and he !iped his s!eatin$ red "ace o"" !ith a $ray hand(erchie"& BThese days you dont (no! !ho to trust,C he said& BAint that the truthEC B*eople are certainly not nice li(e they used to e,C said the $randmother& BT!o "ellers come in here last !ee(,C Red 7ammy said, Bdrivin$ a Chrysler& :t !as an old eat, up car ut it !as a $ood one and these oys loo(ed all ri$ht to me& 7aid they !or(ed at the mill and you (no! : let them "ellers char$e the $as they ou$htE ;o! !hy did : do thatEC B'ecause youre a $ood manIC the $randmother said at once& B<esm, : suppose so,C Red 7am said as i" he !ere struc( !ith this ans!er& )is !i"e rou$ht the orders, carryin$ the "ive plates all at once !ithout a tray, t!o in each hand and one alanced on her arm& B:t isnt a soul in this $reen !orld o" 8ods that you can trust,C she said& BAnd : dont count no ody out o" that, not no ody,C she repeated, loo(in$ at Red 7ammy& BDid you read a out that criminal, The Mis"it, thats escapedEC as(ed the $randmother& B: !ouldnt e a it surprised i" he didnt attac( this place ri$ht here,C said the !oman& B:" he hears a out it ein$ here, : !ouldnt e none surprised to see him& :" he hears its t!o cent in the cash re$ister, : !ouldnt e a tall surprised i" he & & &C BThatll do,C Red 7am said& B8o rin$ these people their CoColas,C and the !oman !ent o"" to $et the rest o" the order& BA $ood man is hard to "ind,C Red 7ammy said& BJverythin$ is $ettin$ terri le& : remem er the day you could $o o"" and leave your screen door unlatched& ;ot no more&C )e and the $randmother discussed etter times& The old lady said that in her opinion Jurope !as entirely to lame "or the !ay thin$s !ere no!& 7he said the !ay Jurope acted you !ould thin( !e !ere made o" money and Red 7am said it !as no use tal(in$ a out it, she !as e%actly ri$ht& The children ran outside into the !hite sunli$ht and loo(ed at the mon(ey in the lacy china erry tree& )e !as usy catchin$ "leas on himsel" and itin$ each one care"ully et!een his teeth as i" it !ere a delicacy& They drove o"" a$ain into the hot a"ternoon& The $randmother too( cat naps and !o(e up every

"ive minutes !ith her o!n snorin$& Outside o" Toom s oro she !o(e up and recalled an old plantation that she had visited in this nei$h orhood once !hen she !as a youn$ lady& 7he said the house had si% !hite columns across the "ront and that there !as an avenue o" oa(s leadin$ up to it and t!o little !ooden trellis ar ors on either side in "ront !here you sat do!n !ith your suitor a"ter a stroll in the $arden& 7he recalled e%actly !hich road to turn o"" to $et to it& 7he (ne! that 'ailey !ould not e !illin$ to lose any time loo(in$ at an old house, ut the more she tal(ed a out it, the more she !anted to see it once a$ain and "ind out i" the little t!in ar ors !ere still standin$& BThere !as a secret panel in this house,C she said cra"tily, not tellin$ the truth ut !ishin$ that she !ere, Band the story !ent that all the "amily silver !as hidden in it !hen 7herman came throu$h ut it !as never "ound & & &C B)eyIC Dohn Wesley said& BHets $o see itI Well "ind itI Well po(e all the !ood!or( and "ind itI Who lives thereE Where do you turn o"" atE )ey, *op, cant !e turn o"" thereEC BWe never have seen a house !ith a secret panelIC Dune 7tar shrie(ed& BHets $o to the house !ith the secret panelI )ey, *op, cant !e $o see the house !ith the secret panelIC B:ts not "ar "rom here, : (no!,C the $randmother said& B:t !ouldnt ta(e over t!enty minutes&C 'ailey !as loo(in$ strai$ht ahead& )is #a! !as as ri$id as a horseshoe& B;o,C he said& The children e$an to yell and scream that they !anted to see the house !ith the secret panel& Dohn Wesley (ic(ed the ac( o" the "ront seat and Dune 7tar hun$ over her mothers shoulder and !hined desperately into her ear that they never had any "un even on their vacation, that they could never do !hat
T)J<

!anted to do& The a y e$an to scream and Dohn Wesley (ic(ed the ac( o" the

seat so hard that his "ather could "eel the lo!s in his (idney& BAll ri$htIC he shouted and dre! the car to a stop at the side o" the road& BWill you all shut upE Will you all #ust shut up "or one secondE :" you dont shut up, !e !ont $o any!here&C B:t !ould e very educational "or them,C the $randmother murmured& BAll ri$ht,C 'ailey said, B ut $et this& This is the only time !ere $oin$ to stop "or anythin$ li(e this& This is the one and only time&C BThe dirt road that you have to turn do!n is a out a mile ac(,C the $randmother directed& B: mar(ed it !hen !e passed&C BA dirt road,C 'ailey $roaned&

A"ter they had turned around and !ere headed to!ard the dirt road, the $randmother recalled other points a out the house, the eauti"ul $lass over the "ront door!ay and the candle lamp in the hall& Dohn Wesley said that the secret panel !as pro a ly in the "ireplace& B<ou cant $o inside this house,C 'ailey said& B<ou dont (no! !ho lives there&C BWhile you all tal( to the people in "ront, :ll run around ehind and $et in a !indo!,C Dohn Wesley su$$ested& BWell all stay in the car,C his mother said& They turned onto the dirt road and the car raced rou$hly alon$ in a s!irl o" pin( dust& The $randmother recalled the times !hen there !ere no paved roads and thirty miles !as a days #ourney& The dirt road !as hilly and there !ere sudden !ashes in it and sharp curves on dan$erous em an(ments& All at once they !ould e on a hill, loo(in$ do!n over the lue tops o" trees "or miles around, then the ne%t minute, they !ould e in a red depression !ith the dust,coated trees loo(in$ do!n on them& BThis place had etter turn up in a minute,C 'ailey said, Bor :m $oin$ to turn around&C The road loo(ed as i" no one had traveled on it in months& B:ts not much "arther,C the $randmother said and #ust as she said it, a horri le thou$ht came to her& The thou$ht !as so em arrassin$ that she turned red in the "ace and her eyes dilated and her "eet #umped up, upsettin$ her valise in the corner& The instant the valise moved, the ne!spaper top she had over the as(et under it rose !ith a snarl and *itty 7in$, the cat, spran$ onto 'aileys shoulder& The children !ere thro!n to the "loor and their mother, clutchin$ the a y, !as thro!n out the door onto the $roundG the old lady !as thro!n into the "ront seat& The car turned over once and landed ri$ht side up in a $ulch on the side o" the road& 'ailey remained in the drivers seat !ith the cat6$ray,striped !ith a road !hite "ace and an oran$e nose6clin$in$ to his nec( li(e a caterpillar& As soon as the children sa! they could move their arms and le$s, they scram led out o" the car, shoutin$, BWeve had an
ACC:DJ;TIC

The $randmother !as curled up under the dash oard, hopin$

she !as in#ured so that 'aileys !rath !ould not come do!n on her all at once& The horri le thou$ht she had had e"ore the accident !as that the house she had remem ered so vividly !as not in 8eor$ia ut in Tennessee& 'ailey removed the cat "rom his nec( !ith oth hands and "lun$ it out the !indo! a$ainst the

side o" a pine tree& Then he $ot out o" the car and started loo(in$ "or the childrens mother& 7he !as sittin$ a$ainst the side o" the red $utted ditch, holdin$ the screamin$ a y, ut she only had a cut do!n her "ace and a ro(en shoulder& BWeve had an o" deli$ht& B'ut no odys (illed,C Dune 7tar said !ith disappointment as the $randmother limped out o" the car, her hat still pinned to her head ut the ro(en "ront rim standin$ up at a #aunty an$le and the violet spray han$in$ o"" the side& They all sat do!n in the ditch, e%cept the children, to recover "rom the shoc(& They !ere all sha(in$& BMay e a car !ill come alon$,C said the childrens mother hoarsely& B: elieve : have in#ured an or$an,C said the $randmother, pressin$ her side, ut no one ans!ered her& 'aileys teeth !ere clatterin$& )e had on a yello! sport shirt !ith ri$ht lue parrots desi$ned in it and his "ace !as as yello! as the shirt& The $randmother decided that she !ould not mention that the house !as in Tennessee& The road !as a out ten "eet a ove and they could see only the tops o" the trees on the other side o" it& 'ehind the ditch they !ere sittin$ in there !ere more !oods, tall and dar( and deep& :n a "e! minutes they sa! a car some distance a!ay on top o" a hill, comin$ slo!ly as i" the occupants !ere !atchin$ them& The $randmother stood up and !aved oth arms dramatically to attract their
ACC:DJ;TIC

the children screamed in a "renAy

attention& The car continued to come on slo!ly, disappeared around a end and appeared a$ain, movin$ even slo!er on top o" the hill they had $one over& :t !as a i$ lac( attered hearse,li(e automo ile& There !ere three men in it& :t came to a stop #ust over them and "or some minutes, the driver loo(ed do!n !ith a steady e%pressionless $aAe to !here they !ere sittin$, and didnt spea(& Then he turned his head and muttered somethin$ to the other t!o and they $ot out& One !as a "at oy in lac( trousers and a red s!eat shirt !ith a silver stallion em ossed on the "ront o" it& )e moved around on the ri$ht side o" them and stood starin$, his mouth partly open in a (ind o" loose $rin& The other had on (ha(i pants and a lue striped coat and a $ray hat pulled do!n very lo!, hidin$ most o" his "ace& )e came around slo!ly on the le"t side& ;either spo(e& The driver $ot out o" the car and stood y the side o" it, loo(in$ do!n at them& )e !as an older man than the other t!o& )is hair !as #ust e$innin$ to $ray and he !ore silver,rimmed spectacles

that $ave him a scholarly loo(& )e had a lon$ creased "ace and didnt have on any shirt or undershirt& )e had on lue #eans that !ere too ti$ht "or him and !as holdin$ a lac( hat and a $un& The t!o oys also had $uns& BWeve had an ACC:DJ;TIC the children screamed& The $randmother had the peculiar "eelin$ that the espectacled man !as someone she (ne!& )is "ace !as as "amiliar to her as i" she had (no!n him all her li"e ut she could not recall !ho he !as& )e moved a!ay "rom the car and e$an to come do!n the em an(ment, placin$ his "eet care"ully so that he !ouldnt slip& )e had on tan and !hite shoes and no soc(s, and his an(les !ere red and thin& B8ood a"ternoon,C he said& B: see you all had you a little spill&C BWe turned over t!iceIC said the $randmother& BOncet,C he corrected& BWe seen it happen& Try their car and see !ill it run, )iram,C he said Fuietly to the oy !ith the $ray hat& BWhat you $ot that $un "orEC Dohn Wesley as(ed& BWhatcha $onna do !ith that $unEC BHady,C the man said to the childrens mother, B!ould you mind callin$ them children to sit do!n y youE Children ma(e me nervous& : !ant all you to sit do!n ri$ht to$ether there !here youre at&C BWhat are you tellin$ us !hat to do "orEC Dune 7tar as(ed& 'ehind them the line o" !oods $aped li(e a dar( open mouth& BCome here,C said their mother& BHoo( here no!,C 'ailey e$an suddenly, B!ere in a predicamentI Were in & & &C The $randmother shrie(ed& 7he scram led to her "eet and stood starin$& B<oure The Mis"itIC she said& B: reco$niAed you at onceIC B<esm,C the man said, smilin$ sli$htly as i" he !ere pleased in spite o" himsel" to e (no!n, B ut it !ould have een etter "or all o" you, lady, i" you hadnt o" rec(erniAed me&C 'ailey turned his head sharply and said somethin$ to his mother that shoc(ed even the children& The old lady e$an to cry and The Mis"it reddened& BHady,C he said, Bdont $et upset& 7ometimes a man says thin$s he dont mean& : dont rec(on he meant to tal( to you thata!ay&C B<ou !ouldnt shoot a lady, !ould youEC the $randmother said and removed a clean hand(erchie" "rom her cu"" and e$an to slap at her eyes !ith it&

The Mis"it pointed the toe o" his shoe into the $round and made a little hole and then covered it up a$ain& B: !ould hate to have to,C he said& BHisten,C the $randmother almost screamed, B: (no! youre a $ood man& <ou dont loo( a it li(e you have common lood& : (no! you must come "rom nice peopleIC B<es mam,C he said, B"inest people in the !orld&C When he smiled he sho!ed a ro! o" stron$ !hite teeth& B8od never made a "iner !oman than my mother and my daddys heart !as pure $old,C he said& The oy !ith the red s!eat shirt had come around ehind them and !as standin$ !ith his $un at his hip& The Mis"it sFuatted do!n on the $round& BWatch them children, 'o y Hee,C he said& B<ou (no! they ma(e me nervous&C )e loo(ed at the si% o" them huddled to$ether in "ront o" him and he seemed to e em arrassed as i" he couldnt thin( o" anythin$ to say& BAint a cloud in the s(y,C he remar(ed, loo(in$ up at it& BDont see no sun ut dont see no cloud neither&C B<es, its a eauti"ul day,C said the $randmother& BHisten,C she said, Byou shouldnt call yoursel" The Mis"it ecause : (no! youre a $ood man at heart& : can #ust loo( at you and tell&C B)ushIC 'ailey yelled, B)ushI Jvery ody shut up and let me handle thisIC )e !as sFuattin$ in the position o" a runner a out to sprint "or!ard ut he didnt move& B: pre,chate that, lady,C The Mis"it said and dre! a little circle in the $round !ith the utt o" his $un& B:tll ta(e a hal" a hour to "i% this here car,C )iram called, loo(in$ over the raised hood o" it& BWell, "irst you and 'o y Hee $et him and that little oy to step over yonder !ith you,C The Mis"it said, pointin$ to 'ailey and Dohn Wesley& BThe oys !ant to as( you somethin$,C he said to 'ailey& BWould you mind steppin$ ac( in them !oods there !ith themEC BHisten,C 'ailey e$an, B!ere in a terri le predicamentI ;o ody realiAes !hat this is,C and his voice crac(ed& )is eyes !ere as lue and intense as the parrots in his shirt and he remained per"ectly still& The $randmother reached up to ad#ust her hat rim as i" she !ere $oin$ to the !oods !ith him ut it came o"" in her hand& 7he stood starin$ at it and a"ter a second she let it "all on the $round& )iram pulled 'ailey up y the arm as i" he !ere assistin$ an old man& Dohn Wesley cau$ht hold o" his "athers hand and 'o y Hee "ollo!ed& They !ent o"" to!ard the !oods and #ust as they reached the dar( ed$e, 'ailey turned and supportin$ himsel" a$ainst a $ray na(ed pine trun(, he shouted, B:ll e

ac( in a minute, Mamma, !ait on meIC BCome ac( this instantIC his mother shrilled ut they all disappeared into the !oods& B'ailey 'oyIC the $randmother called in a tra$ic voice ut she "ound she !as loo(in$ at The Mis"it sFuattin$ on the $round in "ront o" her& B: #ust (no! youre a $ood man,C she said desperately& B<oure not a it commonIC B;ome, : aint a $ood man,C The Mis"it said a"ter a second as i" he had considered her statement care"ully, B ut : aint the !orst in the !orld either& My daddy said : !as a di""erent reed o" do$ "rom my rothers and sisters& M<ou (no!, Daddy said, M:ts some that can live their !hole li"e !ithout as(in$ a out it and its others has to (no! !hy it is, and this oy is one o" the latters& )es $oin$ to e into everythin$IC )e put on his lac( hat and loo(ed up suddenly and then a!ay deep into the !oods as i" he !ere em arrassed a$ain& B:m sorry : dont have on a shirt e"ore you ladies,C he said, hunchin$ his shoulders sli$htly& BWe uried our clothes that !e had on !hen !e escaped and !ere #ust ma(in$ do until !e can $et etter& We orro!ed these "rom some "ol(s !e met,C he e%plained& BThats per"ectly all ri$ht,C the $randmother said& BMay e 'ailey has an e%tra shirt in his suitcase&C B:ll loo( and see terrectly,C The Mis"it said& BWhere are they ta(in$ himEC the childrens mother screamed& BDaddy !as a card himsel",C The Mis"it said& B<ou couldnt put anythin$ over on him& )e never $ot in trou le !ith the Authorities thou$h& Dust had the (nac( o" handlin$ them&C B<ou could e honest too i" youd only try,C said the $randmother& BThin( ho! !onder"ul it !ould e to settle do!n and live a com"orta le li"e and not have to thin( a out some ody chasin$ you all the time&C The Mis"it (ept scratchin$ in the $round !ith the utt o" his $un as i" he !ere thin(in$ a out it& B<esm, some ody is al!ays a"ter you,C he murmured& The $randmother noticed ho! thin his shoulder lades !ere #ust ehind his hat ecause she !as standin$ up loo(in$ do!n on him& BDo you ever prayEC she as(ed& )e shoo( his head& All she sa! !as the lac( hat !i$$le et!een his shoulder lades& B;ome,C he said& There !as a pistol shot "rom the !oods, "ollo!ed closely y another& Then silence& The old ladys

head #er(ed around& 7he could hear the !ind move throu$h the tree tops li(e a lon$ satis"ied insuc( o" reath& B'ailey 'oyIC she called& B: !as a $ospel sin$er "or a !hile,C The Mis"it said& B: een most everythin$& 'een in the arm service, oth land and sea, at home and a road, een t!ict married, een an underta(er, een !ith the railroads, plo!ed Mother Jarth, een in a tornado, seen a man urnt alive oncet,C and he loo(ed up at the childrens mother and the little $irl !ho !ere sittin$ close to$ether, their "aces !hite and their eyes $lassyG B: even seen a !oman "lo$$ed,C he said& B*ray, pray,C the $randmother e$an, Bpray, pray& & & &C B: never !as a ad oy that : remem er o",C The Mis"it said in an almost dreamy voice, B ut some!heres alon$ the line : done somethin$ !ron$ and $ot sent to the penitentiary& : !as uried alive,C and he loo(ed up and held her attention to him y a steady stare& BThats !hen you should have started to pray,C she said& BWhat did you do to $et sent up to the penitentiary that "irst timeEC BTurn to the ri$ht, it !as a !all,C The Mis"it said, loo(in$ up a$ain at the cloudless s(y& BTurn to the le"t, it !as a !all& Hoo( up it !as a ceilin$, loo( do!n it !as a "loor& : "or$et !hat : done, lady& : set there and set there, tryin$ to remem er !hat it !as : done and : aint recalled it to this day& Oncet in a !hile, : !ould thin( it !as comin$ to me, ut it never come&C BMay e they put you in y mista(e,C the old lady said va$uely& B;ome,C he said& B:t !asnt no mista(e& They had the papers on me&C B<ou must have stolen somethin$,C she said& The Mis"it sneered sli$htly& B;o ody had nothin$ : !anted,C he said& B:t !as a head,doctor at the penitentiary said !hat : had done !as (ill my daddy ut : (no!n that "or a lie& My daddy died in nineteen ou$ht nineteen o" the epidemic "lu and : never had a thin$ to do !ith it& )e !as uried in the Mount )ope!ell 'aptist churchyard and you can $o there and see "or yoursel"&C B:" you !ould pray,C the old lady said, BDesus !ould help you&C BThats ri$ht,C The Mis"it said& BWell then, !hy dont you prayEC she as(ed trem lin$ !ith deli$ht suddenly& B: dont !ant no hep,C he said& B:m doin$ all ri$ht y mysel"&C 'o y Hee and )iram came am lin$ ac( "rom the !oods& 'o y Hee !as dra$$in$ a yello!

shirt !ith ri$ht lue parrots in it& BThro! me that shirt, 'o y Hee,C The Mis"it said& The shirt came "lyin$ at him and landed on his shoulder and he put it on& The $randmother couldnt name !hat the shirt reminded her o"& B;o, lady,C The Mis"it said !hile he !as uttonin$ it up, B: "ound out the crime dont matter& <ou can do one thin$ or you can do another, (ill a man or ta(e a tire o"" his car, ecause sooner or later youre $oin$ to "or$et !hat it !as you done and #ust e punished "or it&C The childrens mother had e$un to ma(e heavin$ noises as i" she couldnt $et her reath& BHady,C he as(ed, B!ould you and that little $irl li(e to step o"" yonder !ith 'o y Hee and )iram and #oin your hus andEC B<es, than( you,C the mother said "aintly& )er le"t arm dan$led helplessly and she !as holdin$ the a y, !ho had $one to sleep, in the other& B)ep that lady up, )iram,C The Mis"it said as she stru$$led to clim out o" the ditch, Band 'o y Hee, you hold onto that little $irls hand&C B: dont !ant to hold hands !ith him,C Dune 7tar said& B)e reminds me o" a pi$&C The "at oy lushed and lau$hed and cau$ht her y the arm and pulled her o"" into the !oods a"ter )iram and her mother& Alone !ith The Mis"it, the $randmother "ound that she had lost her voice& There !as not a cloud in the s(y nor any sun& There !as nothin$ around her ut !oods& 7he !anted to tell him that he must pray& 7he opened and closed her mouth several times e"ore anythin$ came out& Finally she "ound hersel" sayin$, BDesus, Desus,C meanin$, Desus !ill help you, ut the !ay she !as sayin$ it, it sounded as i" she mi$ht e cursin$& B<esm,C The Mis"it said as i" he a$reed& BDesus tho!n everythin$ o"" alance& :t !as the same case !ith )im as !ith me e%cept )e hadnt committed any crime and they could prove : had committed one ecause they had the papers on me& O" course,C he said, Bthey never sho!n me my papers& Thats !hy : si$n mysel" no!& : said lon$ a$o, you $et you a si$nature and si$n everythin$ you do and (eep a copy o" it& Then youll (no! !hat you done and you can hold up the crime to the punishment and see do they match and in the end youll have somethin$ to prove you aint een treated ri$ht& : call mysel" The Mis"it,C he said, B ecause : cant ma(e !hat all : done !ron$ "it !hat all : $one throu$h in punishment&C There !as a piercin$ scream "rom the !oods, "ollo!ed closely y a pistol report& BDoes it seem

ri$ht to you, lady, that one is punished a heap and another aint punished at allEC BDesusIC the old lady cried& B<ouve $ot $ood loodI : (no! you !ouldnt shoot a ladyI : (no! you come "rom nice peopleI *rayI Desus, you ou$ht not to shoot a lady& :ll $ive you all the money :ve $otIC BHady,C The Mis"it said, loo(in$ eyond her "ar into the !oods, Bthere never !as a ody that $ive the underta(er a tip&C There !ere t!o more pistol reports and the $randmother raised her head li(e a parched old tur(ey hen cryin$ "or !ater and called, B'ailey 'oy, 'ailey 'oyIC as i" her heart !ould rea(& BDesus !as the only One that ever raised the dead,C The Mis"it continued, Band )e shouldnt have done it& )e tho!n everythin$ o"" alance& :" )e did !hat )e said, then its nothin$ "or you to do ut tho! a!ay everythin$ and "ollo! )im, and i" )e didnt, then its nothin$ "or you to do ut en#oy the "e! minutes you $ot le"t the est !ay you can6 y (illin$ some ody or urnin$ do!n his house or doin$ some other meanness to him& ;o pleasure ut meanness,C he said and his voice had ecome almost a snarl& BMay e )e didnt raise the dead,C the old lady mum led, not (no!in$ !hat she !as sayin$ and "eelin$ so diAAy that she san( do!n in the ditch !ith her le$s t!isted under her& B: !asnt there so : cant say )e didnt,C The Mis"it said& B: !isht : had o" een there,C he said, hittin$ the $round !ith his "ist& B:t aint ri$ht : !asnt there ecause i" : had o" een there : !ould o" (no!n& Histen lady,C he said in a hi$h voice, Bi" : had o" een there : !ould o" (no!n and : !ouldnt e li(e : am no!&C )is voice seemed a out to crac( and the $randmothers head cleared "or an instant& 7he sa! the mans "ace t!isted close to her o!n as i" he !ere $oin$ to cry and she murmured, BWhy youre one o" my a ies& <oure one o" my o!n childrenIC 7he reached out and touched him on the shoulder& The Mis"it spran$ ac( as i" a sna(e had itten him and shot her three times throu$h the chest& Then he put his $un do!n on the $round and too( o"" his $lasses and e$an to clean them& )iram and 'o y Hee returned "rom the !oods and stood over the ditch, loo(in$ do!n at the $randmother !ho hal" sat and hal" lay in a puddle o" lood !ith her le$s crossed under her li(e a childs and her "ace smilin$ up at the cloudless s(y& Without his $lasses, The Mis"its eyes !ere red,rimmed and pale and de"enseless,loo(in$& BTa(e

her o"" and tho! her !here you tho!n the others,C he said, pic(in$ up the cat that !as ru a$ainst his le$& B7he !as a tal(er, !asnt sheEC 'o y Hee said, slidin$ do!n the ditch !ith a yodel&

in$ itsel"

B7he !ould o" een a $ood !oman,C The Mis"it said, Bi" it had een some ody there to shoot her every minute o" her li"e&C B7ome "unIC 'o y Hee said& B7hut up, 'o y Hee,C The Mis"it said& B:ts no real pleasure in li"e&C

TO*:C7 FOR CR:T:CAH T):;K:;8 A;D WR:T:;8

+& ,J%plain the si$ni"icance o" the title& -& ,:nterpret and evaluate The Mis"its comment on the $randmother: B7he !ould o" een a $ood !oman i" it had een some ody there to shoot her every minute o" her li"e&C .& ,OConnor reported that once, !hen she read aloud BA 8ood Man :s )ard to Find,C one o" her hearers said that Bit !as a shame someone !ith so much talent should loo( upon li"e as a horror sho!&C T!o Fuestions: What evidence o" OConnors BtalentC do you see in the story, and does the story su$$est that OConnor loo(ed on li"e as a horror sho!E 4& ,What are the values o" the mem ers o" the "amilyE 1& ,Flannery OConnor, a Roman Catholic, !rote, B: see "rom the standpoint o" Christian orthodo%y& This means that "or me the meanin$ o" li"e is centered in our Redemption y Christ and !hat : see in the !orld : see in relation to that&C :n the li$ht o" this statement, and dra!in$ on BA 8ood Man :s )ard to Find,C e%plain !hat OConnor sa! in the !orld&

Revelation [1964]
The doctors !aitin$ room, !hich !as very small, !as almost "ull !hen the Turpins entered and Mrs& Turpin, !ho !as very lar$e, made it loo( even smaller y her presence& 7he stood loomin$ at the head o" the ma$aAine ta le set in the center o" it, a livin$ demonstration that the room !as inadeFuate and ridiculous& )er little ri$ht lac( eyes too( in all the patients as she siAed up the seatin$ situation& There !as one vacant chair and a place on a so"a occupied y a lond child in a dirty lue romper !ho should have een told to move over and ma(e room "or the lady& )e !as "ive or si%, ut Mrs& Turpin sa! at once that no one !as $oin$ to tell him to move over& )e !as slumped do!n in the seat,

his arms idle at his sides and his eyes idle in his headG his nose ran unchec(ed& Mrs& Turpin put a "irm hand on Clauds shoulder and said in a voice that included anyone !ho !anted to listen, BClaud, you sit in that chair there,C and $ave him a push do!n into the vacant one& Claud !as "lorid and ald and sturdy, some!hat shorter than Mrs& Turpin, ut he sat do!n as i" he !ere accustomed to doin$ !hat she told him to& Mrs& Turpin remained standin$& The only man in the room esides Claud !as a lean strin$y old "ello! !ith a rusty hand spread out on each (nee, !hose eyes !ere closed as i" he !ere asleep or dead or pretendin$ to e so as not to $et up and o""er her his seat& )er $aAe settled a$reea ly on a !ell, dressed $rey,haired lady !hose eyes met hers and !hose e%pression said: :" that child elon$ed to me, he !ould have some manners and move over6theres plenty o" room there "or you and him too& Claud loo(ed up !ith a si$h and made as i" to rise& B7it do!n,C Mrs& Turpin said& B<ou (no! youre not supposed to stand on that le$& )e has an ulcer on his le$,C she e%plained& Claud li"ted his "oot onto the ma$aAine ta le and rolled his trouser le$ up to reveal a purple s!ellin$ on a plump mar le,!hite cal"& BMyIC the pleasant lady said& B)o! did you do thatEC BA co! (ic(ed him,C Mrs& Turpin said& B8oodnessIC said the lady& Claud rolled his trouser le$ do!n& BMay e the little oy !ould move over,C the lady su$$ested, ut the child did not stir& B7ome ody !ill e leavin$ in a minute,C Mrs& Turpin said& 7he could not understand !hy a doctor6!ith as much money as they made char$in$ "ive dollars a day to #ust stic( their head in the hospital door and loo( at you6couldnt a""ord a decent,siAed !aitin$ room& This one !as hardly i$$er than a $ara$e& The ta le !as cluttered !ith limp,loo(in$ ma$aAines and at one end o" it there !as a i$ $reen $lass ash tray "ull o" ci$aret utts and cotton !ads !ith little lood spots on them& :" she had had anythin$ to do !ith the runnin$ o" the place, that !ould have een emptied every so o"ten& There !ere no chairs a$ainst the !all at the head o" the room& :t had a rectan$ular,shaped panel in it that permitted a vie! o" the o""ice !here the nurse came and !ent and the secretary listened to the radio& A plastic "ern in a $old pot sat in the openin$ and trailed its "ronds do!n almost

to the "loor& The radio !as so"tly playin$ $ospel music& Dust then the inner door opened and a nurse !ith the hi$hest stac( o" yello! hair Mrs& Turpin had ever seen put her "ace in the crac( and called "or the ne%t patient& The !oman sittin$ eside Claud $rasped the t!o arms o" her chair and hoisted hersel" upG she pulled her dress "ree "rom her le$s and lum ered throu$h the door !here the nurse had disappeared& Mrs& Turpin eased into the vacant chair, !hich held her ti$ht as a corset& B: !ish : could reduce,C she said, and rolled her eyes and $ave a comic si$h& BOh, you arent "at,C the stylish lady said& BOoooo : am too,C Mrs& Turpin said& BClaud he eats all he !ants to and never !ei$hs over one hundred and seventy,"ive pounds, ut me : #ust loo( at somethin$ $ood to eat and : $ain some !ei$ht,C and her stomach and shoulders shoo( !ith lau$hter& B<ou can eat all you !ant to, cant you, ClaudEC she as(ed, turnin$ to him& Claud only $rinned& BWell, as lon$ as you have such a $ood disposition,C the stylish lady said, B: dont thin( it ma(es a it o" di""erence !hat siAe you are& <ou #ust cant eat a $ood disposition&C ;e%t to her !as a "at $irl o" ei$hteen or nineteen, sco!lin$ into a thic( lue oo( !hich Mrs& Turpin sa! !as entitled &uman :evelopment! The $irl raised her head and directed her sco!l at Mrs& Turpin as i" she did not li(e her loo(s& 7he appeared annoyed that anyone should spea( !hile she tried to read& The poor $irls "ace !as lue !ith acne and Mrs& Turpin thou$ht ho! piti"ul it !as to have a "ace li(e that at that a$e& 7he $ave the $irl a "riendly smile ut the $irl only sco!led the harder& Mrs& Turpin hersel" !as "at ut she had al!ays had $ood s(in, and, thou$h she !as "orty, seven years old, there !as not a !rin(le in her "ace e%cept around her eyes "rom lau$hin$ too much& ;e%t to the u$ly $irl !as the child, still in e%actly the same position, and ne%t to him !as a thin leathery old !oman in a cotton print dress& 7he and Claud had three sac(s o" chic(en "eed in their pump house that !as in the same print& 7he had seen "rom the "irst that the child elon$ed !ith the old !oman& 7he could tell y the !ay they sat6(ind o" vacant and !hite,trashy, as i" they !ould sit there until Doomsday i" no ody called and told them to $et up& And at ri$ht an$les ut ne%t to the !ell,dressed pleasant lady !as a lan(,"aced !oman !ho !as certainly the childs mother& 7he had on a yello! s!eat shirt and !ine,colored slac(s, oth $ritty,loo(in$, and the rims o" her lips !ere

stained !ith snu""& )er dirty yello! hair !as tied ehind !ith a little piece o" red paper ri on& Worse than ni$$ers any day, Mrs& Turpin thou$ht& The $ospel hymn playin$ !as, BWhen : loo(ed up and )e loo(ed do!n,C and Mrs& Turpin, !ho (ne! it, supplied the last line mentally, BAnd !ona these days : (no! :ll !e,era cro!n&C Without appearin$ to, Mrs& Turpin al!ays noticed peoples "eet& The !ell,dressed lady had on red and $rey suede shoes to match her dress& Mrs& Turpin had on her $ood lac( patent leather pumps& The u$ly $irl had on 8irl 7cout shoes and heavy soc(s& The old !oman had on tennis shoes and the !hite,trashy mother had on !hat appeared to e edroom slippers, lac( stra! !ith $old raid threaded throu$h them6e%actly !hat you !ould have e%pected her to have on& 7ometimes at ni$ht !hen she couldnt $o to sleep, Mrs& Turpin !ould occupy hersel" !ith the Fuestion o" !ho she !ould have chosen to e i" she couldnt have een hersel"& :" Desus had said to her e"ore he made her, BTheres only t!o places availa le "or you& <ou can either e a ni$$er or !hite, trash,C !hat !ould she have saidE B*lease, Desus, please,C she !ould have said, B#ust let me !ait until theres another place availa le,C and he !ould have said, B;o, you have to $o ri$ht no! and : have only those t!o places so ma(e up your mind&C 7he !ould have !i$$led and sFuirmed and e$$ed and pleaded ut it !ould have een no use and "inally she !ould have said, BAll ri$ht, ma(e me a ni$$er then6 ut that dont mean a trashy one&C And he !ould have made her a neat clean respecta le ;e$ro,!oman, hersel" ut lac(& ;e%t to the childs mother !as a red,headed youn$ish !oman, readin$ one o" the ma$aAines and !or(in$ a piece o" che!in$ $um, hell "or leather, as Claud !ould say& Mrs& Turpin could not see the !omans "eet& 7he !as not !hite,trash, #ust common& 7ometimes Mrs& Turpin occupied hersel" at ni$ht namin$ the classes o" people& On the ottom o" the heap !ere most colored people, not the (ind she !ould have een i" she had een one, ut most o" themG then ne%t to them6not a ove, #ust a!ay "rom6!ere the !hite,trashG then a ove them !ere the homeo!ners, and a ove them the home,and, land o!ners, to !hich she and Claud elon$ed& A ove she and Claud !ere people !ith a lot o" money and much i$$er houses and much more land& 'ut here the comple%ity o" it !ould e$in to ear in on her, "or some o" the people !ith a lot o" money !ere common and ou$ht to e elo! she and Claud and some o" the people !ho had $ood lood had lost their money and had to rent and then there !ere colored people !ho o!ned their homes and land as !ell& There !as a colored dentist in to!n !ho had

t!o red Hincolns and a s!immin$ pool and a "arm !ith re$istered !hite,"ace cattle on it& 9sually y the time she had "allen asleep all the classes o" people !ere moilin$ and roilin$ around in her head, and she !ould dream they !ere all crammed in to$ether in a o% car, ein$ ridden o"" to e put in a $as oven& BThats a eauti"ul cloc(,C she said and nodded to her ri$ht& :t !as a i$ !all cloc(, the "ace encased in a rass sun urst& B<es, its very pretty,C the stylish lady said a$reea ly& BAnd ri$ht on the dot too,C she added, $lancin$ at her !atch& The u$ly $irl eside her cast an eye up!ard at the cloc(, smir(ed, then loo(ed directly at Mrs& Turpin and smir(ed a$ain& Then she returned her eyes to her oo(& 7he !as o viously the ladys dau$hter ecause, althou$h they didnt loo( anythin$ ali(e as to disposition, they oth had the same shape o" "ace and the same lue eyes& On the lady they spar(led pleasantly ut in the $irls seared "ace they appeared alternately to smolder and to laAe& What i" Desus had said, BAll ri$ht, you can e !hite,trash or a ni$$er or u$lyCI Mrs& Turpin "elt an a!"ul pity "or the $irl, thou$h she thou$ht it !as one thin$ to e u$ly and another to act u$ly& The !oman !ith the snu"",stained lips turned around in her chair and loo(ed up at the cloc(& Then she turned ac( and appeared to loo( a little to the side o" Mrs& Turpin& There !as a cast in one o" her eyes& B<ou !ant to (no! !her you can $et one o" themther cloc(sEC she as(ed in a loud voice& B;o, : already have a nice cloc(,C Mrs& Turpin said& Once some ody li(e her $ot a le$ in the conversation, she !ould e all over it& B<ou can $et you one !ith $reen stamps,C the !oman said& BThats most li(ely !her he $ot hisn& 7ave you up enou$h, you can $et you most anythin$& : $ot me some #oory&C Ou$ht to have $ot you a !ash ra$ and some soap, Mrs& Turpin thou$ht& B: $et contour sheets !ith mine,C the pleasant lady said& The dau$hter slammed her oo( shut& 7he loo(ed strai$ht in "ront o" her, directly throu$h Mrs& Turpin and on throu$h the yello! curtain and the plate $lass !indo! !hich made the !all ehind her& The $irls eyes seemed lit all o" a sudden !ith a peculiar li$ht, an unnatural li$ht li(e ni$ht road si$ns $ive& Mrs& Turpin turned her head to see i" there !as anythin$ $oin$ on outside that she should

see, ut she could not see anythin$& Fi$ures passin$ cast only a pale shado! throu$h the curtain& There !as no reason the $irl should sin$le her out "or her u$ly loo(s& BMiss Finley,C the nurse said, crac(in$ the door& The $um che!in$ !oman $ot up and passed in "ront o" her and Claud and !ent into the o""ice& 7he had on red hi$h,heeled shoes& Directly across the ta le, the u$ly $irls eyes !ere "i%ed on Mrs& Turpin as i" she had some very special reason "or disli(in$ her& BThis is !onder"ul !eather, isnt itEC the $irls mother said& B:ts $ood !eather "or cotton i" you can $et the ni$$ers to pic( it,C Mrs& Turpin said, B ut ni$$ers dont !ant to pic( cotton any more& <ou cant $et the !hite "ol(s to pic( it and no! you cant $et the ni$$ers6 ecause they $ot to e ri$ht up there !ith the !hite "ol(s&C BThey $onna try any!ays,C the !hite,trash !oman said, leanin$ "or!ard& BDo you have one o" those cotton,pic(in$ machinesEC the pleasant lady as(ed& B;o,C Mrs& Turpin said, Bthey leave hal" the cotton in the "ield& We dont have much cotton any!ay& :" you !ant to ma(e it "armin$ no!, you have to have a little o" everythin$& We $ot a couple o" acres o" cotton and a "e! ho$s and chic(ens and #ust enou$h !hite,"ace that Claud can loo( a"ter them himsel"&C BOne than$ : dont !ant,C the !hite,trash !oman said, !ipin$ her mouth !ith the ac( o" her hand& B)o$s& ;asty stin(in$ thin$s, a,$runtin and a,rootin all over the place&C Mrs& Turpin $ave her the merest ed$e o" her attention& BOur ho$s are not dirty and they dont stin(,C she said& BTheyre cleaner than some children :ve seen& Their "eet never touch the $round& We have a pi$,parlor6thats !here you raise them on concrete,C she e%plained to the pleasant lady, Band Claud scoots them do!n !ith the hose every a"ternoon and !ashes o"" the "loor&C Cleaner y "ar than that child ri$ht there, she thou$ht& *oor nasty little thin$& )e had not moved e%cept to put the thum o" his dirty hand into his mouth& The !oman turned her "ace a!ay "rom Mrs& Turpin& B: (no! : !ouldnt scoot do!n no ho$ !ith no hose,C she said to the !all& <ou !ouldnt have no ho$ to scoot do!n, Mrs& Turpin said to hersel"& BA,$runtin and a,rootin and a,$roanin,C the !oman muttered& BWe $ot a little o" everythin$,C Mrs& Turpin said to the pleasant lady& B:ts no use in havin$ more

than you can handle yoursel" !ith help li(e it is& We "ound enou$h ni$$ers to pic( our cotton this year ut Claud he has to $o a"ter them and ta(e them home a$ain in the evenin$& They cant !al( that hal" a mile& ;o they cant& : tell you,C she said and lau$hed merrily, B: sure am tired o" utterin$ up ni$$ers, ut you $ot to love em i" you !ant em to !or( "or you& When they come in the mornin$, : run out and : say, M)i ya!l this mornin$E and !hen Claud drives them o"" to the "ield : #ust !ave to eat the and and they #ust !ave ac(&C And she !aved her hand rapidly to illustrate& BHi(e you read out o" the same oo(,C the lady said, sho!in$ she understood per"ectly& BChild, yes,C Mrs& Turpin said& BAnd !hen they come in "rom the "ield, : run out !ith a uc(et o" ice!ater& Thats the !ay its $oin$ to e "rom no! on,C she said& B<ou may as !ell "ace it&C BOne than$ : (no!,C the !hite,trash !oman said& BT!o than$s : aint $oin$ to do: love no ni$$ers or scoot do!n no ho$ !ith no hose&C And she let out a ar( o" contempt& The loo( that Mrs& Turpin and the pleasant lady e%chan$ed indicated they oth understood that you had to have certain thin$s e"ore you could now certain thin$s& 'ut every time Mrs& Turpin e%chan$ed a loo( !ith the lady, she !as a!are that the u$ly $irls peculiar eyes !ere still on her, and she had trou le rin$in$ her attention ac( to the conversation& BWhen you $ot somethin$,C she said, Byou $ot to loo( a"ter it&C And !hen you aint $ot a thin$ ut reath and ritches, she added to hersel", you can a""ord to come to to!n every mornin$ and #ust sit on the Court )ouse copin$ and spit& A $rotesFue revolvin$ shado! passed across the curtain ehind her and !as thro!n palely on the opposite !all& Then a icycle clattered do!n a$ainst the outside o" the uildin$& The door opened and a colored oy $lided in !ith a tray "rom the dru$ store& :t had t!o lar$e red and !hite paper cups on it !ith tops on them& )e !as a tall, very lac( oy in discolored !hite pants and a $reen nylon shirt& )e !as che!in$ $um slo!ly, as i" to music& )e set the tray do!n in the o""ice openin$ ne%t to the "ern and stuc( his head throu$h to loo( "or the secretary& 7he !as not in there& )e rested his arms on the led$e and !aited, his narro! ottom stuc( out, s!ayin$ slo!ly to the le"t and ri$ht& )e raised a hand over his head and scratched the ase o" his s(ull& B<ou see that utton there, oyEC Mrs& Turpin said& B<ou can punch that and shell come& 7hes pro a ly in the ac( some!here&C B:s that ri$htEC the oy said a$reea ly, as i" he had never seen the utton e"ore& )e leaned to the

ri$ht and put his "in$er on it& B7he sometime out,C he said and t!isted around to "ace his audience, his el o!s ehind him on the counter& The nurse appeared and he t!isted ac( a$ain& 7he handed him a dollar and he rooted in his poc(et and made the chan$e and counted it out to her& 7he $ave him "i"teen cents "or a tip and he !ent out !ith the empty tray& The heavy door s!un$ to slo!ly and closed at len$th !ith the sound o" suction& For a moment no one spo(e& BThey ou$ht to send all them ni$$ers ac( to A"rica,C the !hite,trash !oman said& BThats !her they come "rom in the "irst place&C BOh, : couldnt do !ithout my $ood colored "riends,C the pleasant lady said& BTheres a heap o" thin$s !orse than a ni$$er,C Mrs& Turpin a$reed& B:ts all (inds o" them #ust li(e its all (inds o" us&C B<es, and it ta(es all (inds to ma(e the !orld $o round,C the lady said in her musical voice& As she said it, the ra!,comple%ioned $irl snapped her teeth to$ether& )er lo!er lip turned do!n!ards and inside out, revealin$ the pale pin( inside o" her mouth& A"ter a second it rolled ac( up& :t !as the u$liest "ace Mrs& Turpin had ever seen anyone ma(e and "or a moment she !as certain that the $irl had made it at her& 7he !as loo(in$ at her as i" she had (no!n and disli(ed her all her li"e6all o" Mrs& Turpins li"e, it seemed too, not #ust all the $irls li"e& Why, $irl, : dont even (no! you, Mrs& Turpin said silently& 7he "orced her attention ac( to the discussion& B:t !ouldnt e practical to send them ac( to A"rica,C she said& BThey !ouldnt !ant to $o& They $ot it too $ood here&C BWouldnt e !hat they !anted6i" : had anythan$ to do !ith it,C the !oman said& B:t !ouldnt e a !ay in the !orld you could $et all the ni$$ers ac( over there,C Mrs& Turpin said& BTheyd e hidin$ out and lyin$ do!n and turnin$ sic( on you and !ailin$ and hollerin$ and rarin$ and pitchin$& :t !ouldnt e a !ay in the !orld to $et them over there&C BThey $ot over here,C the trashy !oman said& B8et ac( li(e they $ot over&C B:t !asnt so many o" them then,C Mrs& Turpin e%plained& The !oman loo(ed at Mrs& Turpin as i" here !as an idiot indeed ut Mrs& Turpin !as not othered y the loo(, considerin$ !here it came "rom& B;ooo,C she said, Btheyre $oin$ to stay here !here they can $o to ;e! <or( and marry !hite "ol(s and improve their color& Thats !hat they all !ant to do, every one o" them, improve their

color&C B<ou (no! !hat comes o" that, dont youEC Claud as(ed& B;o, Claud, !hatEC Mrs& Turpin said& Clauds eyes t!in(led& BWhite,"aced ni$$ers,C he said !ith never a smile& Jvery ody in the o""ice lau$hed e%cept the !hite,trash and the u$ly $irl& The $irl $ripped the oo( in her lap !ith !hite "in$ers& The trashy !oman loo(ed around her "rom "ace to "ace as i" she thou$ht they !ere all idiots& The old !oman in the "eed sac( dress continued to $aAe e%pressionless across the "loor at the hi$h,top shoes o" the man opposite her, the one !ho had een pretendin$ to e asleep !hen the Turpins came in& )e !as lau$hin$ heartily, his hands still spread out on his (nees& The child had "allen to the side and !as lyin$ no! almost "ace do!n in the old !omans lap& While they recovered "rom their lau$hter, the nasal chorus on the radio (ept the room "rom silence& <ou $o to lan( lan( And :ll $o to mine 'ut !ell all lan( alon$ To,$eth,ther, And all alon$ the lan( Well hep each other out 7mile,lin$ in any (ind o" Weath,therI Mrs& Turpin didnt catch every !ord ut she cau$ht enou$h to a$ree !ith the spirit o" the son$ and it turned her thou$hts so er& To help any ody out that needed it !as her philosophy o" li"e& 7he never spared hersel" !hen she "ound some ody in need, !hether they !ere !hite or lac(, trash or decent& And o" all she had to e than("ul "or, she !as most than("ul that this !as so& :" Desus had said, B<ou can e hi$h society and have all the money you !ant and e thin and svelte,li(e, ut you cant e a $ood !oman !ith it,C she !ould have had to say, BWell dont ma(e me that then& Ma(e me a $ood !oman and it dont matter !hat else, ho! "at or ho! u$ly or ho! poorIC )er heart rose& )e had not made her a ni$$er or !hite,trash or u$lyI )e had made her hersel" and $iven her a little o" everythin$& Desus, than( youI she said& Than( you than( you than( youI Whenever she counted her

lessin$s she "elt as uoyant as i" she !ei$hed one hundred and t!enty,"ive pounds instead o" one hundred and ei$hty& BWhats !ron$ !ith your little oyEC the pleasant lady as(ed the !hite,trashy !oman& B)e has a ulcer,C the !oman said proudly& B)e aint $ive me a minutes peace since he !as orn& )im and her are #ust ali(e,C she said, noddin$ at the old !oman, !ho !as runnin$ her leathery "in$ers throu$h the childs pale hair& BHoo( li(e : cant $et nothin$ do!n them t!o ut CoCola and candy&C Thats all you try to $et do!n em, Mrs& Turpin said to hersel"& Too laAy to li$ht the "ire& There !as nothin$ you could tell her a out people li(e them that she didnt (no! already& And it !as not #ust that they didnt have anythin$& 'ecause i" you $ave them everythin$, in t!o !ee(s it !ould all e ro(en or "ilthy or they !ould have chopped it up "or li$ht!ood& 7he (ne! all this "rom her o!n e%perience& )elp them you must, ut help them you couldnt& All at once the u$ly $irl turned her lips inside out a$ain& )er eyes !ere "i%ed li(e t!o drills on Mrs& Turpin& This time there !as no mista(in$ that there !as somethin$ ur$ent ehind them& 8irl, Mrs& Turpin e%claimed silently, : havent done a thin$ to youI The $irl mi$ht e con"usin$ her !ith some ody else& There !as no need to sit y and let hersel" e intimidated& B<ou must e in colle$e,C she said oldly, loo(in$ directly at the $irl& B: see you readin$ a oo( there&C The $irl continued to stare and pointedly did not ans!er& )er mother lushed at this rudeness& BThe lady as(ed you a Fuestion, Mary 8race,C she said under her reath& B: have ears,C Mary 8race said& The poor mother lushed a$ain& BMary 8race $oes to Wellesley Colle$e,C she e%plained& 7he t!isted one o" the uttons on her dress& B:n Massachusetts,C she added !ith a $rimace& BAnd in the summer she #ust (eeps ri$ht on studyin$& Dust reads all the time, a real oo( !orm& 7hes done real !ell at WellesleyG shes ta(in$ Jn$lish and Math and )istory and *sycholo$y and 7ocial 7tudies,C she rattled on, Band : thin( its too much& : thin( she ou$ht to $et out and have "un&C The $irl loo(ed as i" she !ould li(e to hurl them all throu$h the plate $lass !indo!& BWay up north,C Mrs& Turpin murmured and thou$ht, !ell, it hasnt done much "or her manners& B:d almost rather to have him sic(,C the !hite,trash !oman said, !renchin$ the attention ac(

to hersel"& B)es so mean !hen he aint& Hoo( li(e some children #ust ta(e natural to meanness& :ts some $ets ad !hen they $et sic( ut he !as the opposite& Too( sic( and turned $ood& )e dont $ive me no trou le no!& :ts me !aitin to see the doctor,C she said& :" : !as $oin$ to send any ody ac( to A"rica, Mrs& Turpin thou$ht, it !ould e your (ind, !oman& B<es, indeed,C she said aloud, ut loo(in$ up at the ceilin$, Bits a heap o" thin$s !orse than a ni$$er&C And dirtier than a ho$, she added to hersel"& B: thin( people !ith ad dispositions are more to e pitied than anyone on earth,C the pleasant lady said in a voice that !as decidedly thin& B: than( the Hord he has lessed me !ith a $ood one,C Mrs& Turpin said& BThe day has never da!ned that : couldnt "ind somethin$ to lau$h at&C B;ot since she married me any!ays,C Claud said !ith a comical strai$ht "ace& Jvery ody lau$hed e%cept the $irl and the !hite,trash& Mrs& Turpins stomach shoo(& B)es such a caution,C she said, Bthat : cant help ut lau$h at him&C The $irl made a loud u$ly noise throu$h her teeth& )er mothers mouth $re! thin and ti$ht& B: thin( the !orst thin$ in the !orld,C she said, Bis an un$rate"ul person& To have everythin$ and not appreciate it& : (no! a $irl,C she said, B!ho has parents !ho !ould $ive her anythin$, a little rother !ho loves her dearly, !ho is $ettin$ a $ood education, !ho !ears the est clothes, ut !ho can never say a (ind !ord to anyone, !ho never smiles, !ho #ust criticiAes and complains all day lon$&C B:s she too old to paddleEC Claud as(ed& The $irls "ace !as almost purple& B<es,C the lady said& B:m a"raid theres nothin$ to do ut leave her to her "olly& 7ome day shell !a(e up and itll e too late&C B:t never hurt anyone to smile,C Mrs& Turpin said& B:t #ust ma(es you "eel etter all over&C BO" course,C the lady said sadly, B ut there are #ust some people you cant tell anythin$ to& They cant ta(e criticism&C B:" its one thin$ : am,C Mrs& Turpin said !ith "eelin$, Bits $rate"ul& When : thin( !ho all : could have een esides mysel" and !hat all : $ot, a little o" everythin$, and a $ood disposition

esides, : #ust "eel li(e shoutin$, MThan( you, Desus, "or ma(in$ everythin$ the !ay it isI :t could have een di""erentIC For one thin$, some ody else could have $ot Claud& At the thou$ht o" this, she !as "looded !ith $ratitude and a terri le pan$ o" #oy ran throu$h her& BOh than( you, Desus, Desus, than( youIC she cried aloud& The oo( struc( her directly over her le"t eye& :t struc( almost at the same instant that she realiAed the $irl !as a out to hurl it& 'e"ore she could utter a sound, the ra! "ace came crashin$ across the ta le to!ard her, ho!lin$& The $irls "in$ers san( li(e clamps into the so"t "lesh o" her nec(& 7he heard the mother cry and Claud shout, BWhoaIC There !as an instant !hen she !as certain that she !as a out to e in an earthFua(e& All at once her vision narro!ed and she sa! everythin$ as i" it !ere happenin$ in a small room "ar a!ay, or as i" she !ere loo(in$ at it throu$h the !ron$ end o" a telescope& Clauds "ace crumpled and "ell out o" si$ht& The nurse ran in, then out, then in a$ain& Then the $an$lin$ "i$ure o" the doctor rushed out o" the inner door& Ma$aAines "le! this !ay and that as the ta le turned over& The $irl "ell !ith a thud and Mrs& Turpins vision suddenly reversed itsel" and she sa! everythin$ lar$e instead o" small& The eyes o" the !hite,trashy !oman !ere starin$ hu$ely at the "loor& There the $irl, held do!n on one side y the nurse and on the other y her mother, !as !renchin$ and turnin$ in their $rasp& The doctor !as (neelin$ astride her, tryin$ to hold her arm do!n& )e mana$ed a"ter a second to sin( a lon$ needle into it& Mrs& Turpin "elt entirely hollo! e%cept "or her heart !hich s!un$ "rom side to side as i" it !ere a$itated in a $reat empty drum o" "lesh& B7ome ody thats not usy call "or the am ulance,C the doctor said in the o"",hand voice youn$ doctors adopt "or terri le occasions& Mrs& Turpin could not have moved a "in$er& The old man !ho had een sittin$ ne%t to her s(ipped nim le into the o""ice and made the call, "or the secretary still seemed to e $one& BClaudIC Mrs& Turpin called& )e !as not in his chair& 7he (ne! she must #ump up and "ind him ut she "elt li(e someone tryin$ to catch a train in a dream, !hen everythin$ moves in slo! motion and the "aster you try to run the slo!er you $o& B)ere : am,C a su""ocated voice, very unli(e Clauds, said&

)e !as dou led up in the corner on the "loor, pale as paper, holdin$ his le$& 7he !anted to $et up and $o to him ut she could not move& :nstead, her $aAe !as dra!n slo!ly do!n!ard to the churnin$ "ace on the "loor, !hich she could see over the doctors shoulder& The $irls eyes stopped rollin$ and "ocused on her& They seemed a much li$hter lue than e"ore, as i" a door that had een ti$htly closed ehind them !as no! open to admit li$ht and air& Mrs& Turpins head cleared and her po!er o" motion returned& 7he leaned "or!ard until she !as loo(in$ directly into the "ierce rilliant eyes& There !as no dou t in her mind that the $irl did (no! her, (ne! her in some intense and personal !ay, eyond time and condition& BWhat you $ot to say to meEC she as(ed hoarsely and held her reath, !aitin$, as "or a revelation& The $irl raised her head& )er $aAe loc(ed !ith Mrs& Turpins& B8o ac( to hell !here you came "rom, you old !art ho$,C she !hispered& )er voice !as lo! ut clear& )er eyes urned "or a moment as i" she sa! !ith pleasure that her messa$e had struc( its tar$et& Mrs& Turpin san( ac( in her chair& A"ter a moment the $irls eyes closed and she turned her head !earily to the side& The doctor rose and handed the nurse the empty syrin$e& )e leaned over and put oth hands "or a moment on the mothers shoulders, !hich !ere sha(in$& 7he !as sittin$ on the "loor, her lips pressed to$ether, holdin$ Mary 8races hand in her lap& The $irls "in$ers !ere $ripped li(e a a ys around her thum & B8o on to the hospital,C he said& B:ll call and ma(e the arran$ements&C B;o! lets see that nec(,C he said in a #ovial voice to Mrs& Turpin& )e e$an to inspect her nec( !ith his "irst t!o "in$ers& T!o little moonshaped lines li(e pin( "ish ones !ere indented over her !indpipe& There !as the e$innin$ o" an an$ry red s!ellin$ a ove her eye& )is "in$ers passed over this also& BHea me e,C she said thic(ly and shoo( him o""& B7ee a out Claud& 7he (ic(ed him&C B:ll see a out him in a minute,C he said and "elt her pulse& )e !as a thin $ray,haired man, $iven to pleasantries& B8o home and have yoursel" a vacation the rest o" the day,C he said and patted her on the shoulder& Nuit your pattin me, Mrs& Turpin $ro!led to hersel"& BAnd put an ice pac( over that eye,C he said& Then he !ent and sFuatted do!n eside Claud and loo(ed at his le$& A"ter a moment he pulled him up and Claud limped a"ter him into the o""ice&

9ntil the am ulance came, the only sounds in the room !ere the tremulous moans o" the $irls mother, !ho continued to sit on the "loor& The !hite,trash !oman did not ta(e her eyes o"" the $irl& Mrs& Turpin loo(ed strai$ht ahead at nothin$& *resently the am ulance dre! up, a lon$ dar( shado!, ehind the curtain& The attendants came in and set the stretcher do!n eside the $irl and li"ted her e%pertly onto it and carried her out& The nurse helped the mother $ather up her thin$s& The shado! o" the am ulance moved silently a!ay and the nurse came ac( in the o""ice& BThat ther $irl is $oin$ to e a lunatic, aint sheEC the !hite,trash !oman as(ed the nurse, ut the nurse (ept on to the ac( and never ans!ered her& B<es, shes $oin$ to e a lunatic,C the !hite,trash !oman said to the rest o" them& B*o critter,C the old !oman murmured& The childs "ace !as still in her lap& )is eyes loo(ed idly out over her (nees& )e had not moved durin$ the distur ance e%cept to dra! one le$ up under him& B: than( 8a!d,C the !hite,trash !oman said "ervently, B: aint a lunatic&C Claud came limpin$ out and the Turpins !ent home& As their pic(,up truc( turned into their o!n dirt road and made the crest o" the hill, Mrs& Turpin $ripped the !indo! led$e and loo(ed out suspiciously& The land sloped $race"ully do!n throu$h a "ield dotted !ith lavender !eeds and at the start o" the rise their small yello! "rame house, !ith its little "lo!er eds spread out around it li(e a "ancy apron, sat primly in its accustomed place et!een t!o $iant hic(ory trees& 7he !ould not have lac(ened chimneys& ;either o" them "elt li(e eatin$ so they put on their house clothes and lo!ered the shade in the edroom and lay do!n, Claud !ith his le$ on a pillo! and hersel" !ith a damp !ashcloth over her eye& The instant she !as "lat on her ac(, the ima$e o" a raAor, ac(ed ho$ !ith !arts on its "ace and horns comin$ out ehind its ears snorted into her head& 7he moaned, a lo! Fuiet moan& B: am not,C she said tear"ully, Ba !art ho$& From hell&C 'ut the denial had no "orce& The $irls eyes and her !ords, even the tone o" her voice, lo! ut clear, directed only to her, roo(ed no repudiation& 7he had een sin$led out "or the messa$e, thou$h there !as trash in the room to !hom it mi$ht #ustly have een applied& The "ull "orce o" this "act struc( her only no!& There !as a !oman there !ho !as ne$lectin$ her o!n child ut she had een overloo(ed& The messa$e had een $iven to Ru y Turpin, a respecta le, hard,!or(in$, church,$oin$ !oman& The tears dried& )er eyes e$an to een startled to see a urnt !ound et!een t!o

urn instead !ith !rath& 7he rose on her el o! and the !ashcloth "ell into her hand& Claud !as lyin$ on his ac(, snorin$& 7he !anted to tell him !hat the $irl had said& At the same time she did not !ish to put the ima$e o" hersel" as a !art ho$ "rom hell into his mind& B)ey, Claud,C she muttered and pushed his shoulder& Claud opened one pale a y lue eye& 7he loo(ed into it !arily& )e did not thin( a out anythin$& )e #ust !ent his !ay& BWha, !hasitEC he said and closed his eye a$ain& B;othin$,C she said& BDoes your le$ pain youEC B)urts li(e hell,C Claud said& B:tll Fuit terrec(ly,C she said and lay ac( do!n& :n a moment Claud !as snorin$ a$ain& For the rest o" the a"ternoon they lay there& Claud slept& 7he sco!led at the ceilin$& Occasionally she raised her "ist and made a small sta in$ motion over her chest as i" she !as de"endin$ her innocence to invisi le $uests !ho !ere the com"orters o" Do , reasona le,seemin$ ut !ron$& A out "ive,thirty Claud stirred& B8ot to $o a"ter those ni$$ers,C he si$hed, not movin$& 7he !as loo(in$ strai$ht up as i" there !ere unintelli$i le hand!ritin$ on the ceilin$& The protu erance over her eye had turned a $reenish, lue& BHisten here,C she said& BWhatEC BKiss me&C Claud leaned over and (issed her loudly on the mouth& )e pinched her side and their hands interloc(ed& )er e%pression o" "erocious concentration did not chan$e& Claud $ot up, $roanin$ and $ro!lin$, and limped o""& 7he continued to study the ceilin$& 7he did not $et up until she heard the pic(,up truc( comin$ ac( !ith the ;e$roes& Then she rose and thrust her "eet in her ro!n o%"ords, !hich she did not other to lace, and stumped out onto the ac( porch and $ot her red plastic uc(et& 7he emptied a tray o" ice cu es into it and "illed it hal" "ull o" !ater and !ent out into the ac( yard& Jvery a"ternoon a"ter Claud rou$ht the hands in, one o" the oys helped him put out hay and the rest !aited in the ac( o" the truc( until he !as ready to ta(e them home& The truc( !as par(ed in the shade under one o" the hic(ory trees& B)i ya!l this evenin$EC Mrs& Turpin as(ed $rimly, appearin$ !ith the uc(et and the dipper&

There !ere three !omen and a oy in the truc(& B9s doin nicely,C the oldest !oman said& B)i you doinEC and her $aAe stuc( immediately on the dar( lump on Mrs& Turpins "orehead& B<ou done "ell do!n, aint youEC she as(ed in a solicitous voice& The old !oman !as dar( and almost toothless& 7he had on an old "elt hat o" Clauds set ac( on her head& The other t!o !omen !ere youn$er and li$hter and they oth had ne! ri$ht $reen sun hats& One o" them had hers on her headG the other had ta(en hers o"" and the oy !as $rinnin$ eneath it& Mrs& Turpin set the uc(et do!n on the "loor o" the truc(& B<a!l help yourselves,C she said& 7he loo(ed around to ma(e sure Claud had $one& B;o, : didnt "all do!n,C she said& B:t !as somethin$ !orse than that&C BAint nothin$ ad happen to youIC the old !oman said& 7he said it as i" they all (ne! Mrs& Turpin !as protected in some special !ay y Divine *rovidence& B<ou #ust had you a little "all&C BWe !ere in to!n at the doctors o""ice "or !here the co! (ic(ed Mr& Turpin,C Mrs& Turpin said in a "lat tone that indicated they could leave o"" their "oolishness& BAnd there !as this $irl there& A i$ "at $irl !ith her "ace all ro(e out& : could loo( at that $irl and tell she !as peculiar ut : couldnt tell ho!& And me and her mama !ere #ust tal(in$ and $oin$ alon$ and all o" a sudden this i$ oo( she readin$ at me and & & &C B;a!IC the old !oman cried out& BAnd then she #umps over the ta le and commences to cho(e me&C B;a!IC they all e%claimed, Bna!IC B)i come she do thatEC the old !oman as(ed& BWhat ail herEC Mrs& Turpin only $lared in "ront o" her& B7omethin ail her,C the old !oman said& BThey carried her o"" in an am ulance,C Mrs& Turpin continued, B ut e"ore she !ent she !as rollin$ on the "loor and they !ere tryin$ to hold her do!n to $ive her a shot and she said somethin$ to me&C 7he paused& B<ou (no! !hat she said to meEC BWhat she sayEC they as(ed& B7he said,C Mrs& Turpin e$an, and stopped, her "ace very dar( and heavy& The sun !as $ettin$ !hiter and !hiter, lanchin$ the s(y overhead so that the leaves o" the hic(ory tree !ere lac( in the
W)AMI

7he thro!s

"ace o" it& 7he could not rin$ "orth the !ords& B7omethin$ real u$ly,C she muttered& B7he sho shouldnt said nothin u$ly to you,C the old !oman said& B<ou so s!eet& <oure the s!eetest lady : (no!&C B7he pretty too,C the one !ith the hat on said& BAnd stout,C the other one said& B: never (no!ed no s!eeter !hite lady&C BThats the truth e"o Desus,C the old !oman said& BAmenI <ou des as s!eet and pretty as you can e&C Mrs& Turpin (ne! #ust e%actly ho! much ;e$ro "lattery !as !orth and it added to her ra$e& B7he said,C she e$an a$ain and "inished this time !ith a "ierce rush o" reath, Bthat : !as an old !art ho$ "rom hell&C There !as an astounded silence& BWhere she atEC the youn$est !oman cried in a piercin$ voice& BHemme see her& :ll (ill herIC B:ll (ill her !ith youIC the other one cried& B7he lon$ in the sylum,C the old !oman said emphatically& B<ou the s!eetest !hite lady : (no!&C B7he pretty too,C the other t!o said& B7tout as she can e and s!eet& Desus satis"ied !ith herIC BDeed he is,C the old !oman declared& :diotsI Mrs& Turpin $ro!led to hersel"& <ou could never say anythin$ intelli$ent to a ni$$er& <ou could tal( at them ut not !ith them& B<a!l aint drun( your !ater,C she said shortly& BHeave the uc(et in the truc( !hen youre "inished !ith it& : $ot more to do than #ust stand around and pass the time o" day,C and she moved o"" and into the house& 7he stood "or a moment in the middle o" the (itchen& The dar( protu erance over her eye loo(ed li(e a miniature tornado cloud !hich mi$ht any moment s!eep across the horiAon o" her ro!& )er lo!er lip protruded dan$erously& 7he sFuared her massive shoulders& Then she marched into the "ront o" the house and out the side door and started do!n the road to the pi$ parlor& 7he had the loo( o" a !oman $oin$ sin$le,handed, !eaponless, into attle& The sun !as a deep yello! no! li(e a harvest moon and !as ridin$ !est!ard very "ast over the "ar tree line as i" it meant to reach the ho$s e"ore she did& The road !as rutted and she (ic(ed several

$ood,siAed stones out o" her path as she strode alon$& The pi$ parlor !as on a little (noll at the end o" a lane that ran o"" "rom the side o" the arn& :t !as a sFuare o" concrete as lar$e as a small room, !ith a oard "ence a out "our "eet hi$h around it& The concrete "loor sloped sli$htly so that the ho$ !ash could drain o"" into a trench !here it !as carried to the "ield "or "ertiliAer& Claud !as standin$ on the outside, on the ed$e o" the concrete, han$in$ onto the top oard, hosin$ do!n the "loor inside& The hose !as connected to the "aucet o" a !ater trou$h near y& Mrs& Turpin clim ed up eside him and $lo!ered do!n at the ho$s inside& There !ere seven lon$,snouted ristly shoats in it6tan !ith liver,colored spots6and an old so! a "e! !ee(s o"" "rom "arro!in$& 7he !as lyin$ on her side $runtin$& The shoats !ere runnin$ a out sha(in$ themselves li(e idiot children, their little slit pi$ eyes searchin$ the "loor "or anythin$ le"t& 7he had read that pi$s !ere the most intelli$ent animal& 7he dou ted it& They !ere supposed to e smarter than do$s& There had even een a pi$ astronaut& )e had per"ormed his assi$nment per"ectly ut died o" a heart attac( a"ter!ards ecause they le"t him in his electric suit, sittin$ upri$ht throu$hout his e%amination !hen naturally a ho$ should e on all "ours& A,$runtin and a,rootin and a,$roanin& B8imme that hose,C she said, yan(in$ it a!ay "rom Claud& B8o on and carry them ni$$ers home and then $et o"" that le$&C B<ou loo( li(e you mi$ht have s!allo!ed a mad do$,C Claud o served, ut he $ot do!n and limped o""& )e paid no attention to her humors& 9ntil he !as out o" earshot, Mrs& Turpin stood on the side o" the pen, holdin$ the hose and pointin$ the stream o" !ater at the hind Fuarter o" any shoat that loo(ed as i" it mi$ht try to lie do!n& When he had had time to $et over the hill, she turned her head sli$htly and her !rath"ul eyes scanned the path& )e !as no!here in si$ht& 7he turned ac( a$ain and seemed to $ather hersel" up& )er shoulders rose and she dre! in her reath& BWhat do you send me a messa$e li(e that "orEC she said in a lo! "ierce voice, arely a ove a !hisper ut !ith the "orce o" a shout in its concentrated "ury& B)o! am : a ho$ and me othE )o! am : saved and "rom hell tooEC )er "ree "ist !as (notted and !ith the other she $ripped the hose, lindly pointin$ the stream o" !ater in and out o" the eye o" the old so! !hose outra$ed sFueal she did not hear&

The pi$ parlor commanded a vie! o" the

ac( pasture !here their t!enty ee" co!s !ere

$athered around the hay, ales Claud and the oy had put out& The "reshly cut pasture sloped do!n to the hi$h!ay& Across it !as their cotton "ield and eyond that a dar( $reen dusty !ood !hich they o!ned as !ell& The sun !as ehind the !ood, very red, loo(in$ over the palin$ o" trees li(e a "armer inspectin$ his o!n ho$s& BWhy meEC she rum led& B:ts no trash around here, lac( or !hite, that : havent $iven to& And rea( my ac( to the one every day !or(in$& And do "or the church&C 7he appeared to e the ri$ht siAe !oman to command the arena e"ore her& B)o! am : a ho$EC she demanded& BJ%actly ho! am : li(e themEC and she #a ed the stream o" !ater at the shoats& BThere !as plenty o" trash there& :t didnt have to e me&C B:" you li(e trash etter, $o $et yoursel" some trash then,C she railed& B<ou could have made me trash& Or a ni$$er& :" trash is !hat you !anted !hy didnt you ma(e me trashEC 7he shoo( her "ist !ith the hose in it and a !atery sna(e appeared momentarily in the air& B: could Fuit !or(in$ and ta(e it easy and e "ilthy,C she $ro!led& BHoun$e a out the side!al(s all day drin(in$ root eer& Dip snu"" and spit in every puddle and have it all over my "ace& : could e nasty&C BOr you could have made me a ni$$er& :ts too late "or me to e a ni$$er,C she said !ith deep sarcasm, B ut : could act li(e one& Hay do!n in the middle o" the road and stop tra""ic& Roll on the $round&C :n the deepenin$ li$ht everythin$ !as ta(in$ on a mysterious hue& The pasture !as $ro!in$ a peculiar $lassy $reen and the strea( o" hi$h!ay had turned lavender& 7he raced hersel" "or a "inal assault and this time her voice rolled out over the pasture& B8o on,C she yelled, Bcall me a ho$I Call me a ho$ a$ain& From hell& Call me a !art ho$ "rom hell& *ut that ottom rail on top& Therell still e a top and ottomIC A $ar led echo returned to her& A "inal sur$e o" "ury shoo( her and she roared, BWho do you thin( you areEC The color o" everythin$, "ield and crimson s(y, urned "or a moment !ith a transparent intensity& The Fuestion carried over the pasture and across the hi$h!ay and the cotton "ield and returned to her clearly li(e an ans!er "rom eyond the !ood& 7he opened her mouth ut no sound came out o" it&

A tiny truc(, Clauds, appeared on the hi$h!ay, headin$ rapidly out o" si$ht& :ts $ears scraped thinly& :t loo(ed li(e a childs toy& At any moment a i$$er truc( mi$ht smash into it and scatter Clauds and the ni$$ers rains all over the road& Mrs& Turpin stood there, her $aAe "i%ed on the hi$h!ay, all her muscles ri$id, until in "ive or si% minutes the truc( reappeared, returnin$& 7he !aited until it had had time to turn into their o!n road& Then li(e a monumental statue comin$ to li"e, she ent her head slo!ly and $aAed, as i" throu$h the very heart o" the mystery, do!n into the pi$ parlor at the ho$s& They had settled all in one corner around the old so! !ho !as $runtin$ so"tly& A red $lo! su""used them& They appeared to pant !ith a secret li"e& 9ntil the sun slipped "inally ehind the tree line, Mrs& Turpin remained there !ith her $aAe ent to them as i" she !ere a sor in$ some a ysmal li"e,$ivin$ (no!led$e& At last she li"ted her head& There !as only a purple strea( in the s(y, cuttin$ throu$h a "ield o" crimson and leadin$, li(e an e%tension o" the hi$h!ay, into the descendin$ dus(& 7he raised her hands "rom the side o" the pen in a $esture hieratic and pro"ound& A visionary li$ht settled in her eyes& 7he sa! the strea( as a vast s!in$in$ rid$e e%tendin$ up!ard "rom the earth throu$h a "ield o" livin$ "ire& 9pon it a vast horde o" souls !ere rum lin$ to!ard heaven& There !ere !hole companies o" !hite,trash, clean "or the "irst time in their lives, and ands o" lac( ni$$ers in !hite ro es, and attalions o" "rea(s and lunatics shoutin$ and clappin$ and leapin$ li(e "ro$s& And rin$in$ up the end o" the procession !as a tri e o" people !hom she reco$niAed at once as those !ho, li(e hersel" and Claud, had al!ays had a little o" everythin$ and the 8od,$iven !it to use it ri$ht& 7he leaned "or!ard to o serve them closer& They !ere marchin$ ehind the others !ith $reat di$nity, accounta le as they had al!ays een "or $ood order and common sense and respecta le ehavior& They alone !ere on (ey& <et she could see y their shoc(ed and altered "aces that even their virtues !ere ein$ urned a!ay& 7he lo!ered her hands and $ripped the rail o" the ho$ pen, her eyes small ut "i%ed un lin(in$ly on !hat lay ahead& :n a moment the vision "aded ut she remained !here she !as, immo ile& At len$th she $ot do!n and turned o"" the "aucet and made her slo! !ay on the dar(enin$ path to the house& :n the !oods around her the invisi le cric(et choruses had struc( up, ut !hat she heard !ere the voices o" the souls clim in$ up!ard into the starry "ield and shoutin$ hallelu#ah&

TO*:C7 FOR CR:T:CAH T):;K:;8 A;D WR:T:;8

+& ,Why does Mary 8race attac( Mrs& TurpinE -& ,CharacteriAe Mrs& Turpin e"ore her revelation& Did your attitude to!ard her chan$e at the end o" the storyE .& ,The t!o chie" settin$s are a doctors !aitin$ room and a Bpi$ parlor&C Can these settin$s reasona ly e called Bsym olicCE :" so, sym olic o" !hatE 4& ,When Mrs& Turpin $oes to!ard the pi$ parlor, she has Bthe loo( o" a !oman $oin$ sin$le, handed, !eaponless, into attle&C Once there, she dismisses Claud, uses the hose as a !eapon a$ainst the pi$s, and tal(s to hersel" Bin a lo! "ierce voice&C What is she attlin$, esides the pi$sE

ON FICTION: REMARKS FROM ESSAYS AND LETTERS

From The Fi tion !riter and His "o#ntr$%
:n the $reatest "iction, the !riters moral sense coincides !ith his dramatic sense, and : see no !ay "or it to do this unless his moral #ud$ment is part o" the very act o" seein$, and he is "ree to use it& : have heard it said that elie" in Christian do$ma is a hindrance to the !riter, ut : mysel" have "ound nothin$ "urther "rom the truth& Actually, it "rees the storyteller to o serve& :t is not a set o" rules !hich "i%es !hat he sees in the !orld& :t a""ects his !ritin$ primarily y $uaranteein$ his respect "or mystery& & & & When : loo( at stories : have !ritten : "ind that they are, "or the most part, a out people !ho are poor, !ho are a""licted in oth mind and ody, !ho have little6or at est a distorted6sense o" spiritual purpose, and !hose actions do not apparently $ive the reader a $reat assurance o" the #oy o" li"e& <et ho! is thisE For : am no dis eliever in spiritual purpose and no va$ue eliever& : see "rom the standpoint o" Christian orthodo%y& This means that "or me the meanin$ o" li"e is centered in our Redemption y Christ and !hat : see in the !orld : see in its relation to that& & & & The novelist !ith Christian concerns !ill "ind in modern li"e distortions !hich are repu$nant to him, and his pro lem !ill e to ma(e these appear as distortions to an audience !hich is used to seein$ them as naturalG and he may !ell e "orced to ta(e ever more violent means to $et his vision across to this hostile audience& When you can assume that your audience holds the same elie"s you do, you can rela% a little and use more normal means o" tal(in$ to itG !hen you have to assume that it does not, then you have to ma(e your vision apparent y shoc(6to the hard o" hearin$ you shout, and

"or the almost, lind you dra! lar$e and startlin$ "i$ures&

From &ome As'e ts o( the Grotes)#e in &o#thern Fi tion%

:" the !riter elieves that our li"e is and !ill remain essentially mysterious, i" he loo(s upon us as ein$s e%istin$ in a created order to !hose la!s !e "reely respond, then !hat he sees on the sur"ace !ill e o" interest to him only as he can $o throu$h it into an e%perience o" mystery itsel"& )is (ind o" "iction !ill al!ays e pushin$ its o!n limits out!ard to!ard the limits o" mystery, ecause "or this (ind o" !riter, the meanin$ o" a story does not e$in e%cept at a depth !here adeFuate motivation and adeFuate psycholo$y and the various determinations have een e%hausted& 7uch a !riter !ill e interested in !hat !e dont understand rather than in !hat !e do& )e !ill e interested in possi ility rather than in pro a ility& )e !ill e interested in characters !ho are "orced out to meet evil and $race and !ho act on a trust eyond themselves6!hether they (no! very clearly !hat it is they act upon or not& To the modern mind, this (ind o" character, and his creator, are typical Don Nui%otes, tiltin$ at !hat is not there&

From The *at#re and Aim o( Fi tion%

The novel !or(s y a slo!er accumulation o" detail than the short story does& The short story reFuires more drastic procedures than the novel ecause more has to e accomplished in less space& The details have to carry more immediate !ei$ht& :n $ood "iction, certain o" the details !ill tend to accumulate meanin$ "rom the story itsel", and !hen this happens, they ecome sym olic in their action& ;o! the !ord symbol scares a $ood many people o"", #ust as the !ord art does& They seem to "eel that a sym ol is some mysterious thin$ put in ar itrarily y the !riter to "ri$hten the common reader 6sort o" a literary Masonic $rip that is only "or the initiated& They seem to thin( that it is a !ay o" sayin$ somethin$ that you arent actually sayin$, and so i" they can e $ot to read a reputedly sym olic !or( at all, they approach it as i" it !ere a pro lem in al$e ra& Find )! And !hen they do "ind or thin( they "ind this a straction, ), then they $o o"" !ith an ela orate sense o" satis"action and the notion that they have BunderstoodC the story& Many students con"use the process o" understandin$ a thin$ !ith understandin$ it& : thin( that "or the "iction !riter himsel", sym ols are somethin$ he uses simply as a matter o" course& <ou mi$ht say that these are details that, !hile havin$ their essential place in the literal level

o" the story, operate in depth as !ell as on the sur"ace, increasin$ the story in every direction& & & & *eople have a ha it o" sayin$, BWhat is the theme o" your storyEC and they e%pect you to $ive them a statement: BThe theme o" my story is the economic pressure o" the machine on the middle classC6or some such a surdity& And !hen theyve $ot a statement li(e that, they $o o"" happy and "eel it is no lon$er necessary to read the story& 7ome people have the notion that you read the story and then clim out o" it into the meanin$, ut "or the "iction !riter himsel" the !hole story is the meanin$, ecause it is an e%perience, not an a straction&

From !ritin+ &hort &tories%

'ein$ short does not mean ein$ sli$ht& A short story should e lon$ in depth and should $ive us an e%perience o" meanin$& & & & Meanin$ is !hat (eeps the short story "rom ein$ short& : pre"er to tal( a out the meanin$ in a story rather than the theme o" a story& *eople tal( a out the theme o" a story as i" the theme !ere li(e the strin$ that a sac( o" chic(en "eed is tied !ith& They thin( that i" you can pic( out the theme, the !ay you pic( the ri$ht thread in the chic(en,"eed sac(, you can rip the story open and "eed the chic(ens& 'ut this is not the !ay meanin$ !or(s in "iction& When you can state the theme o" a story, !hen you can separate it "rom the story itsel", then you can e sure the story is not a very $ood one& The meanin$ o" a story has to e em odied in it, has to e made concrete in it& A story is a !ay to say somethin$ that cant e said any other !ay, and it ta(es every !ord in the story to say !hat the meanin$ is& <ou tell a story ecause a statement !ould e inadeFuate& When any ody as(s !hat a story is a out, the only proper thin$ is to tell him to read the story& The meanin$ o" "iction is not a stract meanin$ ut e%perienced meanin$, and the purpose o" ma(in$ statements a out the meanin$ o" a story is only to help you to e%perience that meanin$ more "ully&

A Reasona,le -se o( the -nreasona,le%

[195.]

Hast "all : received a letter "rom a student !ho said she !ould e B$raciously appreciativeC i" : !ould tell her B#ust !hat enli$htenmentC : e%pected her to $et "rom each o" my stories& : suspect she had a paper to !rite& : !rote her ac( to "or$et a out the enli$htenment and #ust try to en#oy them& : (ne! that !as the most unsatis"actory ans!er : could have $iven ecause, o" course, she didnt !ant to

en#oy them, she #ust !anted to "i$ure them out& :n most Jn$lish classes the short story has ecome a (ind o" literary specimen to e dissected& Jvery time a story o" mine appears in a Freshman antholo$y, : have a vision o" it, !ith its little or$ans laid open, li(e a "ro$ in a ottle& : realiAe that a certain amount o" this !hat,is,the,si$ni"icance has to $o on, ut : thin( somethin$ has $one !ron$ in the process !hen, "or so many students, the story ecomes simply a pro lem to e solved, somethin$ !hich you evaporate to $et :nstant Jnli$htenment& A story really isnt any $ood unless it success"ully resists paraphrase, unless it han$s on and e%pands in the mind& *roperly, you analyAe to en#oy, ut its eFually true that to analyAe !ith any discrimination, you have to have en#oyed already, and : thin( that the est reason to hear a story read is that it should stimulate that primary en#oyment& : dont have any pretensions to ein$ an Aeschylus or 7ophocles and providin$ you in this story !ith a cathartic e%perience out o" your mythic ac($round, thou$h this story :m $oin$ to read certainly calls up a $ood deal o" the 7ouths mythic ac($round, and it should elicit "rom you a de$ree o" pity and terror, even thou$h its !ay o" ein$ serious is a comic one& : do thin(, thou$h, that li(e the 8ree(s you should (no! !hat is $oin$ to happen in this story so that any element o" suspense in it !ill e trans"erred "rom its sur"ace to its interior& : !ould e most happy i" you have already read it, happier still i" you (ne! it !ell, ut since e%perience has tau$ht me to (eep my e%pectations alon$ these lines modest, :ll tell you that this is the story o" a "amily o" si% !hich, on its !ay drivin$ to Florida, $ets !iped out y an escaped convict !ho calls himsel" The Mis"it& The "amily is made up o" the 8randmother and her son, 'ailey, and his children, Dohn Wesley and Dune 7tar and the a y, and there is also the cat and the childrens mother& The cat is named *itty 7in$, and the 8randmother is ta(in$ him !ith them, hidden in a as(et& ;o! : thin( it ehooves me to try to esta lish !ith you the asis on !hich reason operates in this story& Much o" my "iction ta(es its character "rom a reasona le use o" the unreasona le, thou$h the reasona leness o" my use o" it may not al!ays e apparent& The assumptions that underlie this use o" it, ho!ever, are those o" the central Christian mysteries& These are assumptions to !hich a lar$e part o" the modern audience ta(es e%ception& A out this : can only say that there are perhaps other !ays than my o!n in !hich this story could e read, ut none other y !hich it could have een !ritten&

'elie", in my o!n case any!ay, is the en$ine that ma(es perception operate& The heroine o" this story, the 8randmother, is in the most si$ni"icant position li"e o""ers the Christian& 7he is "acin$ death& And to all appearances she, li(e the rest o" us, is not too !ell prepared "or it& 7he !ould li(e to see the event postponed& :nde"initely& :ve tal(ed to a num er o" teachers !ho use this story in class and !ho tell their students that the 8randmother is evil, that in "act, shes a !itch, even do!n to the cat& One o" these teachers told me that his students, and particularly his 7outhern students, resisted this interpretation !ith a certain emused vi$or, and he didnt understand !hy& : had to tell him that they resisted it ecause they all had $randmothers or $reat,aunts #ust li(e her at home, and they (ne!, "rom personal e%perience, that the old lady lac(ed comprehension, ut that she had a $ood heart& The 7outherner is usually tolerant o" those !ea(nesses that proceed "rom innocence, and he (no!s that a taste "or sel",preservation can e readily com ined !ith the missionary spirit& This same teacher !as tellin$ his students that morally The Mis"it !as several cuts a ove the 8randmother& )e had a really sentimental attachment to The Mis"it& 'ut then a prophet $one !ron$ is almost al!ays more interestin$ than your $randmother, and you have to let people ta(e their pleasures !here they "ind them& :t is true that the old lady is a hypocritical old soulG her !its are no match "or The Mis"its, nor is her capacity "or $race eFual to hisG yet : thin( the unpre#udiced reader !ill "eel that the 8randmother has a special (ind o" triumph in the story !hich instinctively !e do not allo! to someone alto$ether ad& : o"ten as( mysel" !hat ma(es a story !or(, and !hat ma(es it hold up as a story, and : have decided that it is pro a ly some action, some $esture o" a character that is unli(e any other in the story, one !hich indicates !here the real heart o" the story lies& This !ould have to e an action or a $esture !hich !as oth totally ri$ht and totally une%pectedG it !ould have to e one that !as oth in character and eyond characterG it !ould have to su$$est oth the !orld and eternity& The action or $esture :m tal(in$ a out !ould have to e on the ana$o$ical level, that is, the level !hich has to do !ith the Divine li"e and our participation in it& :t !ould e a $esture that transcended any neat alle$ory that mi$ht have een intended or any pat moral cate$ories a reader could ma(e& :t !ould e a $esture !hich someho! made contact !ith mystery&

There is a point in this story !here such a $esture occurs& The 8randmother is at last alone, "acin$ The Mis"it& )er head clears "or an instant and she realiAes, even in her limited !ay, that she is responsi le "or the man e"ore her and #oined to him y ties o" (inship !hich have their roots deep in the mystery she has een merely prattlin$ a out so "ar& And at this point, she does the ri$ht thin$, she ma(es the ri$ht $esture& : "ind that students are o"ten puAAled y !hat she says and does here, ut : thin( mysel" that i" : too( out this $esture and !hat she says !ith it, : !ould have no story& What !as le"t !ould not e !orth your attention& Our a$e not only does not have a very sharp eye "or the almost impercepti le intrusions o" $race, it no lon$er has much "eelin$ "or the nature o" the violences !hich precede and "ollo! them& The devils $reatest !ile, 'audelaire has said, is to convince us that he does not e%ist& : suppose the reasons "or the use o" so much violence in modern "iction !ill di""er !ith each !riter !ho uses it, ut in my o!n stories : have "ound that violence is stran$ely capa le o" returnin$ my characters to reality and preparin$ them to accept their moment o" $race& Their heads are so hard that almost nothin$ else !ill do the !or(& This idea, that reality is somethin$ to !hich !e must e returned at considera le cost, is one !hich is seldom understood y the casual reader, ut it is one !hich is implicit in the Christian vie! o" the !orld& : dont !ant to eFuate The Mis"it !ith the devil& : pre"er to thin( that, ho!ever unli(ely this may seem, the old ladys $esture, li(e the mustard,seed, !ill $ro! to e a $reat cro!,"illed tree in The Mis"its heart, and !ill e enou$h o" a pain to him there to turn him into the prophet he !as meant to ecome& 'ut thats another story& This story has een called $rotesFue, ut : pre"er to call it literal& A $ood story is literal in the same sense that a childs dra!in$ is literal& When a child dra!s, he doesnt intend to distort ut to set do!n e%actly !hat he sees, and as his $aAe is direct, he sees the lines that create motion& ;o! the lines o" motion that interest the !riter are usually invisi le& They are lines o" spiritual motion& And in this story you should e on the loo(out "or such thin$s as the action o" $race in the 8randmothers soul, and not "or the dead odies& We hear many complaints a out the prevalence o" violence in modern "iction, and it is al!ays assumed that this violence is a ad thin$ and meant to e an end in itsel"& With the serious !riter, violence is never an end in itsel"& :t is the e%treme situation that est reveals !hat !e are essentially,

and : elieve these are times !hen !riters are more interested in !hat !e are essentially than in the tenor o" our daily lives& Liolence is a "orm !hich can e used "or $ood or evil, and amon$ other thin$s ta(en y it is the (in$dom o" heaven& 'ut re$ardless o" !hat can e ta(en y it, the man in the violent situation reveals those Fualities least dispensa le in his personality, those Fualities !hich are all he !ill have to ta(e into eternity !ith himG and since the characters in this story are all on the ver$e o" eternity, it is appropriate to thin( o" !hat they ta(e !ith them& :n any case, : hope that i" you consider these points in connection !ith the story, you !ill come to see it as somethin$ more than an account o" a "amily murdered on the !ay to Florida&

On :nterpretin$ BA 8ood Man is )ard to FindC

( professor of ;n#lish had sent Flannery the followin# letter' *I am writin# as spo esman for three members of our department and some ninety university students in three classes who for a wee now have been discussin# your story <( 1ood /an Is &ard to Find! =e have debated at len#th several possible interpretations, none of which fully satisfies us! In #eneral we believe that the appearance of .he /isfit is not <real in the same sense that the incidents of the first half of the story are real! +ailey, we believe, ima#ines the appearance of .he /isfit, whose activities have been called to his attention on the ni#ht before the trip and a#ain durin# the stopover at the roadside restaurant! +ailey, we further believe, identifies himself with .he /isfit and so plays two roles in the ima#inary last half of the story! +ut we cannot, after #reat effort, determine the point at which reality fades into illusion or reverie! :oes the accident literally occur, or is it a part of +aileys dream> ?lease believe me when I say we are not see in# an easy way out of our difficulty! =e admire your story and have e)amined it with #reat care, but we are convinced that we are missin# somethin# important which you intended for us to #rasp! =e will all be very #rateful if you comment on the interpretation which I have outlined above and if you will #ive us further comments about your intention in writin# <( 1ood /an Is &ard to Find!-

7he replied:

-8 March 3+

To a *ro"essor o" Jn$lish

The interpretation o" your ninety students and three teachers is "antastic and a out as "ar "rom my intentions as it could $et to e& :" it !ere a le$itimate interpretation, the story !ould e little more than a tric( and its interest !ould a normal psycholo$y& There is a chan$e o" tension "rom the "irst part o" the story to the second !here The Mis"it enters, ut this is no lessenin$ o" reality& This story is, o" course, not meant to e realistic in the sense that it portrays the everyday doin$s o" people in 8eor$ia& :t is styliAed and its conventions are comic even thou$h its meanin$ is serious& 'aileys only importance is as the 8randmothers oy and the driver o" the car& :t is the e simply "or a normal psycholo$y& : am not interested in

8randmother !ho "irst reco$niAes The Mis"it and !ho is most concerned !ith him throu$hout& The story is a duel o" sorts et!een the 8randmother and her super"icial elie"s and The Mis"its more pro"oundly "elt involvement !ith Christs action !hich set the !orld o"" alance "or him& The meanin$ o" a story should $o on e%pandin$ "or the reader the more he thin(s a out it, ut meanin$ cannot e captured in an interpretation& :" teachers are in the ha it o" approachin$ a story as i" it !ere a research pro lem "or !hich any ans!er is elieva le so lon$ as it is not o vious, then : thin( students !ill never learn to en#oy "iction& Too much interpretation is certainly !orse than too little and !here "eelin$ "or a story is a sent, theory !ill not supply it& My tone is not meant to e o no%ious& : am in a state o" shoc(&

RAYMOND CARVER: THREE STORIES, AN INTERVIEW, AND COMMENTS ABOUT WRITING

RAYMOND CARVER
5aymond Carver 319$@A19@@4 was born in Clats anie, a lo##in# town in Ore#on! In 19B$ he #raduated from &umboldt "tate Colle#e in northern California and then did further study at the Cniversity of Iowa! &is early years were not easy%he married while still in colle#e, divorced a little later, and sometimes suffered from alcoholism! In his last years he found domestic

happiness, but he died of cancer at the a#e of fifty! (s a youn# man he wrote poetry while wor in# at odd Dobs 3Danitor, deliveryman, etc!4E later he turned to fiction, thou#h he continued to write poetry! /ost of his fiction is of a sort called *minimalist,narratin# in a spare, understated style stories about bewildered and sometimes e)hausted men and women! 'elo! is the early version /the le"t,hand column5 and a later version /the ri$ht,hand column5 o" a story& The "irst version, BMine,C !as pu lished in +0>>, and the revised version in +08+, !hen Carver called it B*opular Mechanics&C :n +083 he pu lished the +08+ version a$ain, ut this time he retitled it as BHittle Thin$s&C A"ter readin$ the t!o versions care"ully, you may !ant to evaluate the chan$es, includin$ the chan$e in title&

Mine

[19..]

Durin$ the day the sun had come out and the sno! melted into dirty !ater& 7trea(s o" !ater ran do!n "rom the little, shoulder,hi$h !indo! that "aced the ac( yard& Cars slushed y on the street outside& :t !as $ettin$ dar(, outside and inside& )e !as in the edroom pushin$ clothes into a suitcase !hen she came to the door& :m $lad youre leavin$, :m $lad youre leavin$I she said& Do you hearE )e (ept on puttin$ his thin$s into the suitcase and didnt loo( up& 1 7ono"a itchI :m so $lad youre leavin$I 7he e$an to cry& <ou cant even loo( me in the "ace, can youE Then she noticed the a ys picture on the ed and pic(ed it up& )e loo(ed at her and she !iped her eyes and stared at him e"ore turnin$ and $oin$ ac( to the livin$ room& 'rin$ that ac(& Dust $et your thin$s and $et out, she said& )e did not ans!er& )e "astened the suitcase, put on his coat, and loo(ed at the edroom e"ore turnin$ o"" the li$ht& Then he !ent out to the livin$ room& 7he stood in the door!ay o" the little (itchen, holdin$ the a y& +? : !ant the a y, he said& Are you craAyE ;o, ut : !ant the a y& :ll $et someone to come y "or his thin$s&

<ou can $o to hellI <oure not touchin$ this a y& The a y had e$un to cry and she uncovered the lan(et "rom around its head& +1 Oh, oh, she said, loo(in$ at the a y& )e moved to!ards her& For 8ods sa(eI she said& 7he too( a step ac( into the (itchen& : !ant the a y& 8et out o" hereI -? 7he turned and tried to hold the a y over in a corner ehind the stove as he came up& )e reached across the stove and ti$htened his hands on the a y& Het $o o" him, he said& 8et a!ay, $et a!ayI she cried& The a y !as red,"aced and screamin$& :n the scu""le they (noc(ed do!n a little "lo!er pot that hun$ ehind the stove& -1 )e cro!ded her into the !all then, tryin$ to rea( her $rip, holdin$ onto the a y and pushin$ his !ei$ht a$ainst her arm& Het $o o" him, he said& Dont, she said, youre hurtin$ himI )e didnt tal( a$ain& The (itchen !indo! $ave no li$ht& :n the near dar( he !or(ed on her "isted "in$ers !ith one hand and !ith the other hand he $ripped the screamin$ a y up under an arm near the shoulder& 7he "elt her "in$ers ein$ "orced open and the a y $oin$ "rom her& ;o, she said, #ust as her hands came loose& 7he !ould have it, this a y !hose chu y "ace $aAed up at them "rom the picture on the ta le& 7he $ra ed "or the a ys other arm& 7he cau$ht the a y around the !rist and leaned ac(& .? )e !ould not $ive& )e "elt the a y $oin$ out o" his hands and he pulled ac( hard& )e pulled ac( very hard& :n this manner they decided the issue&

/ittle Thin+s

[1901]

Jarly that day the !eather turned and the sno! !as meltin$ into dirty !ater& 7trea(s o" it ran do!n

"rom the little shoulder,hi$h !indo! that "aced the ac(yard& Cars slushed y on the street outside, !here it !as $ettin$ dar(& 'ut it !as $ettin$ dar( on the inside too& )e !as in the edroom pushin$ clothes into a suitcase !hen she came to the door& :m $lad youre leavin$I :m $lad youre leavin$I she said& Do you hearE )e (ept on puttin$ his thin$s into the suitcase& 1 7on o" a itchI :m so $lad youre leavin$I 7he e$an to cry& <ou cant even loo( me in the "ace, can youE Then she noticed the a ys picture on the ed and pic(ed it up& )e loo(ed at her and she !iped her eyes and stared at him e"ore turnin$ and $oin$ ac( to the livin$ room& 'rin$ that ac(, he said& Dust $et your thin$s and $et out, she said& +? )e did not ans!er& )e "astened the suitcase, put on his coat, loo(ed around the edroom e"ore turnin$ o"" the li$ht& Then he !ent out to the livin$ room& 7he stood in the door!ay o" the little (itchen, holdin$ the a y& : !ant the a y, he said& Are you craAyE ;o, ut : !ant the a y& :ll $et someone to come y "or his thin$s& +1 <oure not touchin$ this a y, she said& The a y had e$un to cry and she uncovered the lan(et "rom around his head& Oh, oh, she said, loo(in$ at the a y& )e moved to!ard her& For 8ods sa(eI she said& 7he too( a step ac( into the (itchen& -? : !ant the a y& 8et out o" hereI 7he turned and tried to hold the a y over in a corner ehind the stove& 'ut he came up& )e reached across the stove and ti$htened his hands on the a y& Het $o o" him, he said& -1 8et a!ay, $et a!ayI she cried&

The a y !as red,"aced and screamin$& :n the scu""le they (noc(ed do!n a "lo!erpot that hun$ ehind the stove& )e cro!ded her into the !all then, tryin$ to rea( her $rip& )e held on to the a y and pushed !ith all his !ei$ht& Het $o o" him, he said& Dont, she said& <oure hurtin$ the a y, she said& .? :m not hurtin$ the a y, he said& The (itchen !indo! $ave no li$ht& :n the near,dar( he !or(ed on her "isted "in$ers !ith one hand and !ith the other hand he $ripped the screamin$ a y up under an arm near the shoulder& 7he "elt her "in$ers ein$ "orced open& 7he "elt the a y $oin$ "rom her& ;oI she screamed #ust as her hands came loose& 7he !ould have it, this a y& 7he $ra ed "or the a ys other arm& 7he cau$ht the a y around the !rist and leaned ac(& .1 'ut he !ould not let $o& )e "elt the a y slippin$ out o" his hands and he pulled ac( very hard& :n this manner, the issue !as decided& Carver re$arded this story as a rea(throu$h&

"athedral [1903]
This lind man, an old "riend o" my !i"es, he !as on his !ay to spend the ni$ht& )is !i"e had died& 7o he !as visitin$ the dead !i"es relatives in Connecticut& )e called my !i"e "rom his in,la!s& Arran$ements !ere made& )e !ould come y train, a "ive,hour trip, and my !i"e !ould meet him at the station& 7he hadnt seen him since she !or(ed "or him one summer in 7eattle ten years a$o& 'ut she and the lind man had (ept in touch& They made tapes and mailed them ac( and "orth& : !asnt enthusiastic a out his visit& )e !as no one : (ne!& And his ein$ lind othered me& My idea o" lindness came "rom the movies& :n the movies, the lind moved slo!ly and never lau$hed&

7ometimes they !ere led y seein$,eye do$s& A lind man in my house !as not somethin$ : loo(ed "or!ard to& That summer in 7eattle she had needed a #o & 7he didnt have any money& The man she !as $oin$ to marry at the end o" the summer !as in o""icers trainin$ school& )e didnt have any money, either& 'ut she !as in love !ith the $uy, and he !as in love !ith her, etc& 7hed seen somethin$ in

the paper:

)JH* WA;TJD65eadin#

to +lind /an, and a telephone num er& 7he phoned and !ent

over, !as hired on the spot& 7hed !or(ed !ith this lind man all summer& 7he read stu"" to him, case studies, reports, that sort o" thin$& 7he helped him or$aniAe his little o""ice in the county social, service department& Theyd ecome $ood "riends, my !i"e and the lind man& )o! do : (no! these thin$sE 7he told me& And she told me somethin$ else& On her last day in the o""ice, the lind man as(ed i" he could touch her "ace& 7he a$reed to this& 7he told me he touched his "in$ers to every part o" her "ace, her nose6even her nec(I 7he never "or$ot it& 7he even tried to !rite a poem a out it& 7he !as al!ays tryin$ to !rite a poem& 7he !rote a poem or t!o every year, usually a"ter somethin$ really important had happened to her& When !e "irst started $oin$ out to$ether, she sho!ed me the poem& :n the poem, she recalled his "in$ers and the !ay they had moved around over her "ace& :n the poem, she tal(ed a out !hat she had "elt at the time, a out !hat !ent throu$h her mind !hen the lind man touched her nose and lips& : can remem er : didnt thin( much o" the poem& O" course, : didnt tell her that& May e : #ust dont understand poetry& : admit its not the "irst thin$ : reach "or !hen : pic( up somethin$ to read& Any!ay, this man !hod "irst en#oyed her "avors, the o""icer,to, e, hed een her childhood s!eetheart& 7o o(ay& :m sayin$ that at the end o" the summer she let the lind man run his hands over her "ace, said $ood ye to him, married her childhood etc&, !ho !as no! a commissioned o""icer, and she moved a!ay "rom 7eattle& 'ut theyd (ept in touch, she and the lind man& 7he made the "irst contact a"ter a year or so& 7he called him up one ni$ht "rom an Air Force ase in Ala ama& 7he !anted to tal(& They tal(ed& )e as(ed her to send a tape and tell him a out her li"e& 7he did this& 7he sent the tape& On the tape, she told the lind man a out her hus and and a out their li"e to$ether in the military& 7he told the lind man she loved her hus and ut she didnt li(e it !here they lived and she didnt li(e it that he !as part o" the military,industrial thin$& 7he told the lind man shed !ritten a poem and he !as in it& 7he told him that she !as !ritin$ a poem a out !hat it !as li(e to e an Air Force o""icers !i"e& The poem !asnt "inished yet& 7he !as still !ritin$ it& The lind man made a tape& )e sent her the tape& 7he made a tape& This !ent on "or years& My !i"es o""icer !as posted to one ase and then another& 7he sent tapes "rom Moody AF', Mc8uire, McConnell, and "inally Travis, near 7acramento, !here one ni$ht she $ot to "eelin$ lonely and cut o"" "rom people she (ept losin$ in that movin$,around li"e& 7he $ot to "eelin$ she couldnt $o it another step& 7he !ent in

and s!allo!ed all the pills and capsules in the medicine chest and !ashed them do!n !ith a ottle o" $in& Then she $ot into a hot ath and passed out& 1 'ut instead o" dyin$, she $ot sic(& 7he thre! up& )er o""icer6!hy should he have a nameE he !as the childhood s!eetheart, and !hat more does he !antE6came home "rom some!here, "ound her, and called the am ulance& :n time, she put it all on a tape and sent the tape to the lind man& Over the years, she put all (inds o" stu"" on tapes and sent the tapes o"" lic(ety,split& ;e%t to !ritin$ a poem every year, : thin( it !as her chie" means o" recreation& On one tape, she told the lind man shed decided to live a!ay "rom her o""icer "or a time& On another tape, she told him a out her divorce& 7he and : e$an $oin$ out, and o" course she told her lind man a out it& 7he told him everythin$, or so it seemed to me& Once she as(ed me i" :d li(e to hear the latest tape "rom the lind man& This !as a year a$o& : !as on the tape, she said& 7o : said o(ay, :d listen to it& : $ot us drin(s and !e settled do!n in the livin$ room& We made ready to listen& First she inserted the tape into the player and ad#usted a couple o" dials& Then she pushed a lever& The tape sFuea(ed and someone e$an to tal( in this loud voice& 7he lo!ered the volume& A"ter a "e! minutes o" harmless chitchat, : heard my o!n name in the mouth o" this stran$er, this lind man : didnt even (no!I And then this: BFrom all youve said a out him, : can only conclude6C 'ut !e !ere interrupted, a (noc( at the door, somethin$, and !e didnt ever $et ac( to the tape& May e it !as #ust as !ell& :d heard all : !anted to& ;o! this same lind man !as comin$ to sleep in my house& BMay e : could ta(e him o!lin$,C : said to my !i"e& 7he !as at the drainin$ oard doin$ scalloped potatoes& 7he put do!n the (ni"e she !as usin$ and turned around& B:" you love me,C she said, Byou can do this "or me& :" you dont love me, o(ay& 'ut i" you had a "riend, any "riend, and the "riend came to visit, :d ma(e him "eel com"orta le&C 7he !iped her hands !ith the dish to!el& B: dont have any lind "riends,C : said& +? B<ou dont have any "riends,C she said& B*eriod& 'esides,C she said, B$od,damn it, his !i"es #ust diedI Dont you understand thatE The mans lost his !i"eIC : didnt ans!er& 7hed told me a little a out the lind mans !i"e& )er name !as 'eulah& 'eulahI Thats a name "or a colored !oman&

BWas his !i"e a ;e$roEC : as(ed& BAre you craAyEC my !i"e said& B)ave you #ust "lipped or somethin$EC 7he pic(ed up a potato& : sa! it hit the "loor, then roll under the stove& BWhats !ron$ !ith youEC she said& BAre you drun(EC B:m #ust as(in$,C : said& +1 Ri$ht then my !i"e "illed me in !ith more detail than : cared to (no!& : made a drin( and sat at the (itchen ta le to listen& *ieces o" the story e$an to "all into place& 'eulah had $one to !or( "or the lind man the summer a"ter my !i"e had stopped !or(in$ "or him& *retty soon 'eulah and the lind man had themselves a church !eddin$& :t !as a little !eddin$ 6!hod !ant to $o to such a !eddin$ in the "irst placeE6#ust the t!o o" them, plus the minister and the ministers !i"e& 'ut it !as a church !eddin$ #ust the same& :t !as !hat 'eulah had !anted, hed said& 'ut even then 'eulah must have een carryin$ the cancer in her $lands& A"ter they had een insepara le "or ei$ht years6my !i"es !ord, inseparable 6'eulahs health !ent into a rapid decline& 7he died in a 7eattle hospital room, the lind man sittin$ eside the ed and holdin$ on to her hand& Theyd married, lived and !or(ed to$ether, slept to$ether6had se%, sure6and then the lind man had to ury her& All this !ithout his havin$ ever seen !hat the $oddamned !oman loo(ed li(e& :t !as eyond my understandin$& )earin$ this, : "elt sorry "or the lind man "or a little it& And then : "ound mysel" thin(in$ !hat a piti"ul li"e this !oman must have led& :ma$ine a !oman !ho could never see hersel" as she !as seen in the eyes o" her loved one& A !oman !ho could $o on day a"ter day and never receive the smallest compliment "rom her eloved& A !oman !hose hus and could never read the e%pression on her "ace, e it misery or somethin$ etter& 7omeone !ho could !ear ma(eup or not 6!hat di""erence to himE 7he could, i" she !anted, !ear $reen eye,shado! around one eye, a strai$ht pin in her nostril, yello! slac(s, and purple shoes, no matter& And then to slip o"" into death, the lind mans hand on her hand, his lind eyes streamin$ tears6:m ima$inin$ no!6her last thou$ht may e this: that he never even (ne! !hat she loo(ed li(e, and she on an e%press to the $rave& Ro ert !as le"t !ith a small insurance policy and a hal" o" a t!enty,peso Me%ican coin& The other hal" o" the coin !ent into the o% !ith her& *athetic& 7o !hen the time rolled around, my !i"e !ent to the depot to pic( him up& With nothin$ to do ut !ait6sure, : lamed him "or that6: !as havin$ a drin( and !atchin$ the TL !hen : heard the car pull into the drive& : $ot up "rom the so"a !ith my drin( and !ent to the !indo! to have a loo(&

: sa! my !i"e lau$hin$ as she par(ed the car& : sa! her $et out o" the car and shut the door& 7he !as still !earin$ a smile& Dust amaAin$& 7he !ent around to the other side o" the car to !here the lind man !as already startin$ to $et out& This lind man, "eature this, he !as !earin$ a "ull eardI A eard on a lind manI Too much, : say& The lind man reached into the ac( seat and dra$$ed out a suitcase& My !i"e too( his arm, shut the car door, and, tal(in$ all the !ay, moved him do!n the drive and then up the steps to the "ront porch& : turned o"" the TL& : "inished my drin(, rinsed the $lass, dried my hands& Then : !ent to the door& My !i"e said, B: !ant you to meet Ro ert& Ro ert, this is my hus and& :ve told you all a out him&C 7he !as eamin$& 7he had this lind man y his coat sleeve& -? The lind man let $o o" his suitcase and up came his hand& : too( it& )e sFueeAed hard, held my hand, and then he let it $o& B: "eel li(e !eve already met,C he oomed& BHi(e!ise,C : said& : didnt (no! !hat else to say& Then : said, BWelcome& :ve heard a lot a out you&C We e$an to move then, a little $roup, "rom the porch into the livin$ room, my !i"e $uidin$ him y the arm& The lind man !as carryin$ his suitcase in his other hand& My !i"e said thin$s li(e, BTo your le"t here, Ro ert& Thats ri$ht& ;o! !atch it, theres a chair& Thats it& 7it do!n ri$ht here& This is the so"a& We #ust ou$ht this so"a t!o !ee(s a$o&C : started to say somethin$ a out the old so"a& :d li(ed that old so"a& 'ut : didnt say anythin$& Then : !anted to say somethin$ else, small,tal(, a out the scenic ride alon$ the )udson& )o! $oin$ to ;e! <or(, you should sit on the ri$ht,hand side o" the train, and comin$ from ;e! <or(, the le"t, hand side& BDid you have a $ood train rideEC : said& BWhich side o" the train did you sit on, y the !ayEC -1 BWhat a Fuestion, !hich sideIC my !i"e said& BWhats it matter !hich sideEC she said& B: #ust as(ed,C : said& BRi$ht side,C the lind man said& B: hadnt een on a train in nearly "orty years& ;ot since : !as a (id& With my "ol(s& Thats een a lon$ time& :d nearly "or$otten the sensation& : have !inter in my eard no!,C he said& B7o :ve een told, any!ay& Do : loo( distin$uished, my dearEC the lind man said to my !i"e& B<ou loo( distin$uished, Ro ert,C she said& BRo ert,C she said& BRo ert, its #ust so $ood to see

you&C My !i"e "inally too( her eyes o"" the lind man and loo(ed at me& : had the "eelin$ she didnt li(e !hat she sa!& : shru$$ed& .? :ve never met, or personally (no!n, anyone !ho !as lind& This lind man !as late "orties, a heavy,set, aldin$ man !ith stooped shoulders, as i" he carried a $reat !ei$ht there& )e !ore ro!n slac(s, ro!n shoes, a li$ht, ro!n shirt, a tie, a sports coat& 7pi""y& )e also had this "ull eard& 'ut he didnt use a cane and he didnt !ear dar( $lasses& :d al!ays thou$ht dar( $lasses !ere a must "or the lind& Fact !as, : !ished he had a pair& At "irst $lance, his eyes loo(ed li(e anyone elses eyes& 'ut i" you loo(ed close, there !as somethin$ di""erent a out them& Too much !hite in the iris, "or one thin$, and the pupils seemed to move around in the soc(ets !ithout his (no!in$ it or ein$ a le to stop it& Creepy& As : stared at his "ace, : sa! the le"t pupil turn in to!ard his nose !hile the other made an e""ort to (eep in one place& 'ut it !as only an e""ort, "or that eye !as on the roam !ithout his (no!in$ it or !antin$ it to e& : said, BHet me $et you a drin(& Whats your pleasureE We have a little o" everythin$& :ts one o" our pastimes&C B'u , :m a 7cotch man mysel",C he said "ast enou$h in this i$ voice& BRi$ht,C : said& 'u I B7ure you are& : (ne! it&C )e let his "in$ers touch his suitcase, !hich !as sittin$ alon$side the so"a& )e !as ta(in$ his earin$s& : didnt lame him "or that& .1 B:ll move that up to your room,C my !i"e said& B;o, thats "ine,C the lind man said loudly& B:t can $o up !hen : $o up&C BA little !ater !ith the 7cotchEC : said& BLery little,C he said& B: (ne! it,C : said& 4? )e said, BDust a tad& The :rish actor, 'arry FitA$eraldE :m li(e that "ello!& When : drin( !ater, FitA$erald said, : drin( !ater& When : drin( !his(ey, : drin( !his(ey&C My !i"e lau$hed& The lind man rou$ht his hand up under his eard& )e li"ted his eard slo!ly and let it drop& : did the drin(s, three i$ $lasses o" 7cotch !ith a splash o" !ater in each& Then !e made ourselves com"orta le and tal(ed a out Ro erts travels& First the lon$ "li$ht "rom the West Coast to

Connecticut, !e covered that& Then "rom Connecticut up here concernin$ that le$ o" the trip&

y train& We had another drin(

: remem ered havin$ read some!here that the lind didnt smo(e ecause, as speculation had it, they couldnt see the smo(e they e%haled& : thou$ht : (ne! that much and that much only a out lind people& 'ut this lind man smo(ed his ci$arette do!n to the nu lind man "illed his ashtray and my !i"e emptied it& When !e sat do!n at the ta le "or dinner, !e had another drin(& My !i"e heaped Ro erts plate !ith cu e stea(, scalloped potatoes, $reen eans& : uttered him up t!o slices o" read& : said, B)eres read and utter "or you&C : s!allo!ed some o" my drin(& B;o! let us pray,C : said, and the lind man lo!ered his head& My !i"e loo(ed at me, her mouth a$ape& B*ray the phone !ont rin$ and the "ood doesnt $et cold,C : said& We du$ in& We ate everythin$ there !as to eat on the ta le& We ate li(e there !as no tomorro!& We didnt tal(& We ate& We scar"ed& We $raAed that ta le& We !ere into serious eatin$& The lind man had ri$ht a!ay located his "oods, he (ne! #ust !here everythin$ !as on his plate& : !atched !ith admiration as he used his (ni"e and "or( on the meat& )ed cut t!o pieces o" meat, "or( the meat into his mouth, and then $o all out "or the scalloped potatoes, the eans ne%t, and then hed tear o"" a hun( o" uttered read and eat that& )ed "ollo! this up !ith a i$ drin( o" mil(& :t didnt seem to other him to use his "in$ers once in a !hile, either& 41 We "inished everythin$, includin$ hal" a stra! erry pie& For a "e! moments, !e sat as i" stunned& 7!eat eaded on our "aces& Finally, !e $ot up "rom the ta le and le"t the dirty places& We didnt loo( ac(& We too( ourselves into the livin$ room and san( into our places a$ain& Ro ert and my !i"e sat on the so"a& : too( the i$ chair& We had us t!o or three more drin(s !hile they tal(ed a out the ma#or thin$s that had come to pass "or them in the past ten years& For the most part, : #ust listened& ;o! and then : #oined in& : didnt !ant him to thin( :d le"t the room, and : didnt !ant her to thin( : !as "eelin$ le"t out& They tal(ed o" thin$s that had happened to them6to themI6these past ten years& : !aited in vain to hear my name on my !i"es s!eet lips: BAnd then my dear hus and came into my li"eC6somethin$ li(e that& 'ut : heard nothin$ o" the sort& More tal( o" Ro ert& Ro ert had done a little o" everythin$, it seemed, a re$ular lind #ac(,o",all,trades& 'ut most recently he and his !i"e had had an Am!ay distri utorship, "rom !hich, : $athered, theyd earned their livin$, such as it in and then lit another one& This

!as& The lind man !as also a ham radio operator& )e tal(ed in his loud voice a out conversations hed had !ith "ello! operators in 8uam, in the *hilippines, in Alas(a, and even in Tahiti& )e said hed have a lot o" "riends there i" he ever !anted to $o visit those places& From time to time, hed turn his lind "ace to!ard me, put his hand under his eard, as( me somethin$& )o! lon$ had : een in my present positionE /Three years&5 Did : li(e my !or(E /: didnt&5 Was : $oin$ to stay !ith itE /What !ere the optionsE5 Finally, !hen : thou$ht he !as e$innin$ to run do!n, : $ot up and turned on the TL& My !i"e loo(ed at me !ith irritation& 7he !as headin$ to!ard a oil& Then she loo(ed at the lind man and said, BRo ert, do you have a TLEC The lind man said, BMy dear, : have t!o TLs& : have a color set and a lac(,and,!hite thin$, an old relic& :ts "unny, ut i" : turn the TL on, and :m al!ays turnin$ it on, : turn on the color set& :ts "unny, dont you thin(EC : didnt (no! !hat to say to that& : had a solutely nothin$ to say to that& ;o opinion& 7o : !atched the ne!s pro$ram and tried to listen to !hat the announcer !as sayin$& BThis is a color TL,C the lind man said& BDont as( me ho!, ut : can tell&C 1? BWe traded up a !hile a$o,C : said& The lind man had another taste o" his drin(& )e li"ted his eard, sni""ed it, and let it "all& )e leaned "or!ard on the so"a& )e positioned his ashtray on the co""ee ta le, then put the li$hter to his ci$arette& )e leaned ac( on the so"a and crossed his le$s at the an(les& My !i"e covered her mouth, and then she ya!ned& 7he stretched& 7he said, B: thin( :ll $o upstairs and put on my ro e& : thin( :ll chan$e into somethin$ else& Ro ert, you ma(e yoursel" com"orta le,C she said& B:m com"orta le,C the lind man said& B: !ant you to "eel com"orta le in this house,C she said& 11 B: am com"orta le,C the lind man said& A"ter shed le"t the room, he and : listened to the !eather report and then to the sports roundup& 'y that time, shed een $one so lon$ : didnt (no! i" she !as $oin$ to come ac(& : thou$ht she mi$ht have $one to ed& : !ished shed come ac( do!nstairs& : didnt !ant to e le"t alone !ith a lind man& : as(ed him i" he !anted another drin(, and he said sure& Then : as(ed i" he !anted to

smo(e some dope !ith me& : said :d #ust rolled a num er& : hadnt, ut : planned to do so in a out t!o sha(es& B:ll try some !ith you,C he said& BDamn ri$ht,C : said& BThats the stu""&C : $ot our drin(s and sat do!n on the so"a !ith him& Then : rolled us t!o "at num ers& : lit one and passed it& : rou$ht it to his "in$ers& )e too( it and inhaled& 3? B)old it as lon$ as you can,C : said& : could tell he didnt (no! the "irst thin$& My !i"e came ac( do!nstairs !earin$ her pin( ro e and her pin( slippers& BWhat do : smellEC she said& BWe thou$ht !ed have us some canna is,C : said& My !i"e $ave me a sava$e loo(& Then she loo(ed at the lind man and said, BRo ert, : didnt (no! you smo(ed&C 31 )e said, B: do no!, my dear& Theres a "irst time "or everythin$& 'ut : dont "eel anythin$ yet&C BThis stu"" is pretty mello!,C : said& BThis stu"" is mild& :ts dope you can reason !ith,C : said& B:t doesnt mess you up&C B;ot much it doesnt, u ,C he said, and lau$hed& My !i"e sat on the so"a et!een the lind man and me& : passed her the num er& 7he too( it and to(ed and then passed it ac( to me& BWhich !ay is this $oin$EC she said& Then she said, B: shouldnt e smo(in$ this& : can hardly (eep my eyes open as it is& That dinner did me in& : shouldnt have eaten so much&C B:t !as the stra! erry pie,C the lind man said& BThats !hat did it,C he said, and he lau$hed his i$ lau$h& Then he shoo( his head& >? BTheres more stra! erry pie,C : said& BDo you !ant some more, Ro ertEC my !i"e said& BMay e in a little !hile,C he said& We $ave our attention to the TL& My !i"e ya!ned a$ain& 7he said, B<our ed is made up !hen you "eel li(e $oin$ to ed, Ro ert& : (no! you must have had a lon$ day& When youre ready to $o to ed, say so&C 7he pulled his arm& BRo ertEC )e came to and said, B:ve had a real nice time& This eats tapes, doesnt itEC

>1

: said, BComin$ at you,C and : put the num er et!een his "in$ers& )e inhaled, held the smo(e, and then let it $o& :t !as li(e hed een doin$ it since he !as nine years old& BThan(s, u ,C he said& B'ut : thin( this is all "or me& : thin( :m e$innin$ to "eel it,C he said& )e held the urnin$ roach out "or my !i"e& B7ame here,C she said& BDitto& Me, too&C 7he too( the roach and passed it to me& B: may #ust sit here "or a !hile et!een you t!o $uys !ith my eyes closed& 'ut dont let me other you, o(ayE Jither one o" you& :" it others you, say so& Other!ise, : may #ust sit here !ith my eyes closed until youre ready to $o to ed,C she said& B<our eds made up, Ro ert, !hen youre ready& :ts ri$ht ne%t to our room at the top o" the stairs& Well sho! you up !hen youre ready& <ou !a(e me up no!, you $uys, i" : "all asleep&C 7he said that and then she closed her eyes and !ent to sleep& The ne!s pro$ram ended& : $ot up and chan$ed the channel& : sat ac( do!n on the so"a& : !ished my !i"e hadnt pooped out& )er head lay across the ac( o" the so"a, her mouth open& 7hed turned so that her ro e slipped a!ay "rom her le$s, e%posin$ a #uicy thi$h& : reached to dra! her ro e ac( over her, and it !as then that : $lanced at the lind man& What the hellI : "lipped the ro e open a$ain& B<ou say !hen you !ant some stra! erry pie,C : said&

8?

B: !ill,C he said& : said, BAre you tiredE Do you !ant me to ta(e you up to your edE Are you ready to hit the hayEC B;ot yet,C he said& B;o, :ll stay up !ith you, u & :" thats all ri$ht& :ll stay up until youre ready to turn in& We havent had a chance to tal(& Kno! !hat : meanE : "eel li(e me and her monopoliAed the evenin$&C )e li"ted his eard and he let it "all& )e pic(ed up his ci$arettes and his li$hter& BThats all ri$ht,C : said& Then : said, B:m $lad "or the company&C And : $uess : !as& Jvery ni$ht : smo(ed dope and stayed up as lon$ as : could e"ore : "ell asleep& My !i"e and : hardly ever !ent to ed at the same time& When : did $o to sleep, : had these dreams& 7ometimes :d !a(e up "rom one o" them, my heart $oin$ craAy&

81

7omethin$ a out the church and the Middle A$es !as on the TL& ;ot your run,o",the,mill TL "are& : !anted to !atch somethin$ else& : turned to the other channels& 'ut there !as nothin$ on them, either& 7o : turned ac( to the "irst channel and apolo$iAed&

B'u , its all ri$ht,C the lind man said& B:ts "ine !ith me& Whatever you !ant to !atch is o(ay& :m al!ays learnin$ somethin$& Hearnin$ never ends& :t !ont hurt me to learn somethin$ toni$ht& : $ot ears,C he said& We didnt say anythin$ "or a time& )e !as leanin$ "or!ard !ith his head turned at me, his ri$ht ear aimed in the direction o" the set& Lery disconcertin$& ;o! and then his eyelids drooped and then they snapped open a$ain& ;o! and then he put his "in$ers into his eard and tu$$ed, li(e he !as thin(in$ a out somethin$ he !as hearin$ on the television& On the screen, a $roup o" men !earin$ co!ls !as ein$ set upon and tormented y men dressed in s(eleton costumes and men dressed as devils& The men dressed as devils !ore devil mas(s, horns, and lon$ tails& This pa$eant !as part o" a procession& The Jn$lishman !ho !as narratin$ the thin$ said it too( place in 7pain once a year& : tried to e%plain to the lind man !hat !as happenin$& B7(eletons,C he said& B: (no! a out s(eletons,C he said, and he nodded& 0? The TL sho!ed this one cathedral& Then there !as a lon$, slo! loo( at another one& Finally, the picture s!itched to the "amous one in *aris, !ith its "lyin$ uttresses and its spires reachin$ up to the clouds& The camera pulled a!ay to sho! the !hole o" the cathedral risin$ a ove the s(yline& There !ere times !hen the Jn$lishman !ho !as tellin$ the thin$ !ould shut up, !ould simply let the camera move around the cathedrals& Or else the camera !ould tour the countryside, men in "ields !al(in$ ehind o%en& : !aited as lon$ as : could& Then : "elt : had to say somethin$& : said, BTheyre sho!in$ the outside o" this cathedral no!& 8ar$oyles& Hittle statues carved to loo( li(e monsters& ;o! : $uess theyre in :taly& <eah, theyre in :taly& Theres paintin$s on the !alls o" this one church&C BAre those "resco paintin$s, u EC he as(ed, and he sipped "rom his drin(& : reached "or my $lass& 'ut it !as empty& : tried to remem er !hat : could remem er& B<oure as(in$ me are those "rescoesEC : said& BThats a $ood Fuestion& : dont (no!&C The camera moved to a cathedral outside His on& The di""erences in the *ortu$uese cathedral compared !ith the French and :talian !ere not that $reat& 'ut they !ere there& Mostly the interior stu""& Then somethin$ occurred to me, and : said, B7omethin$ has occurred to me& Do you have any idea !hat a cathedral isE What they loo( li(e, that isE Do you "ollo! meE :" some ody says cathedral to you, do you have any notion !hat theyre tal(in$ a outE Do you (no! the di""erence et!een that

and a 'aptist church, sayEC 01 )e let the smo(e dri le "rom his mouth& B: (no! they too( hundreds o" !or(ers "i"ty or a hundred years to uild,C he said& B: #ust heard the man say that, o" course& : (no! $enerations o" the same "amilies !or(ed on a cathedral& : heard him say that, too& The men !ho e$an their li"es !or( on them, they never lived to see the completion o" their !or(& :n that !ise, u , theyre no di""erent "rom the rest o" us, ri$htEC )e lau$hed& Then his eyelids drooped a$ain& )is head nodded& )e seemed to e snooAin$& May e he !as ima$inin$ himsel" in *ortu$al& The TL !as sho!in$ another cathedral no!& This one !as in 8ermany& The Jn$lishmans voice droned on& BCathedrals,C the lind man said& )e sat up and rolled his head ac( and "orth& B:" you !ant the truth, u , thats a out all : (no!& What : #ust said& What : heard him say& 'ut may e you could descri e one to meE : !ish youd do it& :d li(e that& :" you !ant to (no!, : really dont have a $ood idea&C : stared hard at the shot o" the cathedral on the TL& )o! could : even e$in to descri e itE 'ut say my li"e depended on it& 7ay my li"e !as ein$ threatened y an insane $uy !ho said : had to do it or else& : stared some more at the cathedral e"ore the picture "lipped o"" into the countryside& There !as no use& : turned to the lind man and said, BTo e$in !ith, theyre very tall&C : !as loo(in$ around the room "or clues& BThey reach !ay up& 9p and up& To!ard the s(y& Theyre so i$, some o" them, they have to have these supports& To help hold them up, so to spea(& These supports are called uttresses& They remind me o" viaducts, "or some reason& 'ut may e you dont (no! viaducts, eitherE 7ometimes the cathedrals have devils and such carved into the "ront& 7ometimes lords and ladies& Dont as( me !hy this is,C : said& )e !as noddin$& The !hole upper part o" his ody seemed to e movin$ ac( and "orth& B:m not doin$ so $ood, am :EC : said& +?? )e stopped noddin$ and leaned "or!ard on the ed$e o" the so"a& As he listened to me, he !as runnin$ his "in$ers throu$h his eard& : !asnt $ettin$ throu$h to him, : could see that& 'ut he !aited "or me to $o on #ust the same& )e nodded, li(e he !as tryin$ to encoura$e me& : tried to thin( !hat else to say& BTheyre really i$,C : said& BTheyre massive& Theyre uilt o" stone& Mar le, too,

sometimes& :n those olden days, !hen they uilt cathedrals, men !anted to e close to 8od& :n those olden days, 8od !as an important part o" everyones li"e& <ou could tell this "rom their cathedral,

uildin$& :m sorry,C : said, B ut it loo(s li(e thats the est : can do "or you& :m #ust no $ood at it&C BThats all ri$ht, u ,C the lind man said& B)ey, listen& : hope you dont mind my as(in$ you& Can : as( you somethin$E Het me as( you a simple Fuestion, yes or no& :m #ust curious and theres no o""ense& <oure my host& 'ut let me as( i" you are in any !ay reli$iousE <ou dont mind my as(in$EC : shoo( my head& )e couldnt see that, thou$h& A !in( is the same as a nod to a lind man& B: $uess : dont elieve in it& :n anythin$& 7ometimes its hard& <ou (no! !hat :m sayin$EC B7ure, : do,C he said& BRi$ht,C : said& +?1 The Jn$lishman !as still holdin$ "orth& My !i"e si$hed in her sleep& 7he dre! a lon$ reath and !ent on !ith her sleepin$& B<oull have to "or$ive me,C : said& B'ut : cant tell you !hat a cathedral loo(s li(e& :t #ust isnt in me to do it& : cant do any more than :ve done&C The lind man sat very still, his head do!n, as he listened to me& : said, BThe truth is, cathedrals dont mean anythin$ special to me& ;othin$& Cathedrals& Theyre somethin$ to loo( at on late,ni$ht TL& Thats all they are&C :t !as then that the lind man cleared his throat& )e rou$ht somethin$ up& )e too( a

hand(erchie" "rom his ac( poc(et& Then he said, B: $et it, u & :ts o(ay& :t happens& Dont !orry a out it,C he said& B)ey, listen to me& Will you do me a "avorE : $ot an idea& Why dont you "ind us some heavy paperE And a pen& Well do somethin$& Well dra! one to$ether& 8et us a pen and some heavy paper& 8o on, u , $et the stu"",C he said& ++? 7o : !ent upstairs& My le$s "elt li(e they didnt have any stren$th in them& They "elt li(e they did a"ter :d done some runnin$& :n my !i"es room, : loo(ed around& : "ound some allpoints in a little as(et on her ta le& And then : tried to thin( !here to loo( "or the (ind o" paper he !as tal(in$ a out& Do!nstairs, in the (itchen, : "ound a shoppin$ a$ !ith onion s(ins in the ottom o" the a$& : emptied the a$ and shoo( it& : rou$ht it into the livin$ room and sat do!n !ith it near his le$s& : moved some thin$s, smoothed the !rin(les "rom the a$, spread it out on the co""ee ta le& The lind man $ot do!n "rom the so"a and sat ne%t to me on the carpet& )e ran his "in$ers over the paper& )e !ent up and do!n the sides o" the paper& The ed$es, even the ed$es& )e "in$ered the corners&

BAll ri$ht,C he said& BAll ri$ht, lets do her&C ++1 )e "ound my hand, the hand !ith the pen& )e closed his hand over my hand& B8o ahead, u , dra!,C he said& BDra!& <oull see& :ll "ollo! alon$ !ith you& :tll e o(ay& Dust e$in no! li(e :m tellin$ you& <oull see& Dra!,C the lind man said& 7o : e$an& First : dre! a o% that loo(ed li(e a house& :t could have een the house : lived in& Then : put a roo" on it& At either end o" the roo", : dre! spires& CraAy& B7!ell,C he said& BTerri"ic& <oure doin$ "ine,C he said& B;ever thou$ht anythin$ li(e this could happen in your li"etime, did you, u E Well, its a stran$e li"e, !e all (no! that& 8o on no!& Keep it up&C : put in !indo!s !ith arches& : dre! "lyin$ uttresses& : hun$ $reat doors& : couldnt stop& The TL station !ent o"" the air& : put do!n the pen and closed and opened my "in$ers& The lind man "elt around over the paper& )e moved the tips o" his "in$ers over the paper, all over !hat : had dra!n, and he nodded& BDoin$ "ine,C the lind man said& +-? : too( up the pen a$ain, and he "ound my hand& : (ept at it& :m no artist& 'ut : (ept dra!in$ #ust the same& My !i"e opened up her eyes and $aAed at us& 7he sat up on the so"a, her ro e han$in$ open& 7he said, BWhat are you doin$E Tell me, : !ant to (no!&C : didnt ans!er her& The lind man said, BWere dra!in$ a cathedral& Me and him are !or(in$ on it& *ress hard,C he said to me& BThats ri$ht& Thats $ood,C he said& B7ure& <ou $ot it, u , : can tell& <ou didnt thin( you could& 'ut you can, cant youE <oure coo(in$ !ith $as no!& <ou (no! !hat :m sayin$E Were $oin$ to really have us somethin$ here in a minute& )o!s the old armEC he said& B*ut some people in there no!& Whats a cathedral !ithout peopleEC My !i"e said, BWhats $oin$ onE Ro ert, !hat are you doin$E Whats $oin$ onEC +-1 B:ts all ri$ht,C he said to her& BClose your eyes no!,C the lind man said to me& : did it& : closed them #ust li(e he said& BAre they closedEC he said& BDont "ud$e&C BTheyre closed,C : said&

BKeep them that !ay,C he said& )e said, BDont stop no!& Dra!&C +.? 7o !e (ept on !ith it& )is "in$ers rode my "in$ers as my hand !ent over the paper& :t !as li(e nothin$ else in my li"e up to no!& Then he said, B: thin( thats it& : thin( you $ot it,C he said& BTa(e a loo(& What do you thin(EC 'ut : had my eyes closed& : thou$ht :d (eep them that !ay "or a little lon$er& : thou$ht it !as somethin$ : ou$ht to do& BWellEC he said& BAre you loo(in$EC My eyes !ere still closed& : !as in my house& : (ne! that& 'ut : didnt "eel li(e : !as inside anythin$& +.1 B:ts really somethin$,C : said&

TO*:C7 FOR CR:T:CAH T):;K:;8 A;D WR:T:;8

+& ,Descri e your response to the narrator in the openin$ para$raphs o" the story& What is his tone o" voiceE What is his attitude to!ard himsel" and to!ard his !i"e and the lind manE -& ,Does the narrator (no! !ho he is, or is he hidin$ "rom !ho he isE .& ,The narrator has a lot to say, much o" it unpleasant, a out his !i"e& Write a pa$e or t!o in the !i"es voice, e%pressin$ her vie! o" him& 4& ,Why does Carver !ant a lind man in this storyE Wouldnt the story have !or(ed #ust as e""ectively i" the character had some other disa ility or a""lictionE 1& ,The narrator and the lind man ma(e an important connection at the end, ut !hat (ind o" connection is itE :s Carver su$$estin$ that the narrator is no! on the path to ecomin$ a etter personE Do you "ind this chan$e convincin$, or notE

TALKING ABOUT STORIES

Farry /cCaffery and "inda 1re#ory have interviewed many contemporary authors and have published some of the interviews in a collection entitled (live and =ritin# 319@G4! In the followin# selections from a lon# interview, Carver tal s about his life and wor !
7:;DA 8RJ8OR<&

Many o" your stories either open !ith the ordinary ein$ sli$htly distur ed y this

sense o" menace youve #ust mentioned, or they develop in that direction& :s this tendency the result o" your conviction that the !orld is menacin$ "or most peopleE Or does it have more to do

!ith an aesthetic choice6that menace contains more interestin$ possi ilities "or storytellin$E
RA<MO;D CARLJR&

The !orld is a menacin$ place "or many o" the people in my stories, yes& The

people :ve chosen to !rite a out do "eel menace, and : thin(, many, i" not most, people "eel the !orld is a menacin$ place& *ro a ly not so many people !ho !ill see this intervie! "eel menace in the sense :m tal(in$ a out& Most o" our "riends and acFuaintances, yours and mine, dont "eel this !ay& 'ut try livin$ on the other side o" the trac(s "or a !hile& Menace is there, and its palpa le& As to the second part o" your Fuestion, thats true, too& Menace does contain, "or me at least, more interestin$ possi ilities to e%plore& & & &
7:;DA 8RJ8OR<&

A reader is immediately struc( !ith the Bpared do!nC Fuality o" your !or(,

especially your !or( e"ore Cathedral! Was this style somethin$ that evolved, or had it een !ith you "rom the e$innin$E
RA<MO;D CARLJR&

From the very e$innin$ : loved the re!ritin$ process as much as the initial

e%ecution& :ve al!ays loved ta(in$ sentences and playin$ !ith them, re!ritin$ them, parin$ them do!n to !here they seem solid someho!& This may have resulted "rom ein$ Dohn

8ardners student, ecause he told me somethin$ : immediately responded to: :" you can say it in "i"teen !ords rather than t!enty or thirty !ords, then say it in "i"teen !ords& That struc( me !ith the "orce o" revelation& There : !as, $ropin$ to "ind my o!n !ay, and here someone !as tellin$ me somethin$ that someho! con#oined !ith !hat : already !anted to do& :t !as the most natural thin$ in the !orld "or me to $o ac( and re"ine !hat !as happenin$ on the pa$e and eliminate the paddin$& The last "e! days :ve een readin$ Flau erts letters, and he says some thin$s that seem relevant to my o!n aesthetic& At one point !hen Flau ert !as !ritin$ /adame +ovary, he !ould (noc( o"" at midni$ht or one in the mornin$ and !rite letters to his mistress, Houise Colet, a out the construction o" the oo( and his $eneral notion o" aesthetics& One passa$e he !rote her that really struc( me !as !hen he said, BThe artist in his !or( must e li(e 8od in his creation 6invisi le and all po!er"ulG he must e every!here "elt ut no!here seen&C : li(e the last part o" that especially& Theres another interestin$ remar( !hen Flau ert is !ritin$ to his editors at the ma$aAine that pu lished the oo( in installments& They !ere #ust $ettin$ ready to serialiAe /adame +ovary and !ere $oin$ to ma(e a lot o" cuts in the te%t ecause they !ere a"raid they !ere $oin$ to e closed do!n y the $overnment i" they pu lished it #ust as Flau ert !rote it, so

Flau ert tells them that i" they ma(e the cuts they cant pu lish the oo(, ut theyll still e "riends& The last line o" this letter is: B: (no! ho! to distin$uish et!een literature and literary usinessC6another insi$ht : respond to& Jven in these letters his prose is astonishin$: B*rose must stand upri$ht "rom one end to the other, li(e a !all !hose ornamentation continues do!n to its very ase&C B*rose is architecture&C BJverythin$ must e done coldly, !ith poise&C BHast !ee( : spent "ive days !ritin$ one pa$e&C One o" the interestin$ thin$s a out the Flau ert oo( is the !ay it demonstrates ho! sel",consciously he !as settin$ out to do somethin$ very special and di""erent !ith prose& )e consciously tried to ma(e prose an art "orm& :" you loo( at !hat else !as ein$ pu lished in Jurope in +811, !hen /adame +ovary !as pu lished, you realiAe !hat an achievement the oo( really is& & & &
HARR< MCCAFFJR<&

Another distinctive "eature o" your !or( is that you usually present characters asically inarticulate, !ho cant

that most !riters dont deal !ith6that is, people !ho are

ver aliAe their pli$hts, !ho o"ten dont seem to really $rasp !hat is happenin$ to them&
RA<MO;D CARLJR&

: dont thin( o" this as ein$ especially BdistinctiveC or nontraditional ecause :

"eel per"ectly com"orta le !ith these people !hile :m !or(in$& :ve (no!n people li(e this all my li"e& Jssentially, : am one o" those con"used, e"uddled people, : come "rom people li(e that, those are the people :ve !or(ed !ith and earned my livin$ eside "or years& Thats !hy :ve never had any interest !hatsoever in !ritin$ a story or a poem that has anythin$ to do !ith the academic li"e, !ith teachers or students and so "orth& :m #ust not that interested& The thin$s that have made an indeli le impression on me are the thin$s : sa! in lives : !itnessed ein$ lived around me, and in the li"e : mysel" lived& These !ere lives !here people really were scared !hen someone (noc(ed on their door, day or ni$ht, or !hen the telephone ran$G they didnt (no! ho! they !ere $oin$ to pay the rent or !hat they could do i" their re"ri$erator !ent out& Anatole 'royard tries to criticiAe my story B*reservationC y sayin$, B7o the re"ri$erator rea(s6!hy dont they #ust call a repairman and $et it "i%edEC That (ind o" remar( is dum & <ou rin$ a repairman out to "i% your re"ri$erator and its si%ty uc(s to fi) itG and !ho (no!s ho! much i" the thin$ is completely ro(enE Well, 'royard may not e a!are o" it, ut some people cant a""ord to rin$ in a repairman i" its $oin$ to cost them si%ty uc(s, #ust li(e they dont $et a doctor i" they dont have insurance, and their teeth $o ad ecause they cant a""ord to $o to a

dentist !hen they need one& That (ind o" situation doesnt seem unrealistic or arti"icial to me& :t also doesnt seem that, in "ocusin$ on this $roup o" people, : have really een doin$ anythin$ all that di""erent "rom other !riters& Che(hov !as !ritin$ a out a su mer$ed population a hundred years a$o& 7hort story !riters have al!ays een doin$ that& ;ot all o" Che(hovs stories are a out people !ho are do!n and out, ut a si$ni"icant num er o" them deal !ith that su mer$ed population :m tal(in$ a out& )e !rote a out doctors and usinessmen and teachers sometimes, ut he also $ave voice to people !ho !ere not so articulate& )e "ound a means o" lettin$ those people have their say as !ell& 7o in !ritin$ a out people !ho arent so articulate and !ho are con"used and scared, :m not doin$ anythin$ radically di""erent&
HARR< MCCAFFJR<&

Arent there "ormal pro lems in !ritin$ a out this $roup o" peopleE : mean, you

cant have them sit around in dra!in$ rooms endlessly analyAin$ their situations, the !ay Dames does, or, in a di""erent sense, the !ay 'ello! does& : suppose settin$ the scene, composin$ it, must e especially important "rom a technical standpoint&
RA<MO;D CARLJR&

:" you mean literally #ust settin$ the scene, thats the least o" my !orries& The

scene is easy to set: : #ust open the door and see !hats inside& : pay a lot o" attention to tryin$ to ma(e the people tal( the ri$ht !ay& 'y this : dont mean #ust what they say, ut how they say it, and why! : $uess tone is !hat :m tal(in$ a out, partly& Theres never any chit,chat in my stories& Jverythin$ said is "or a reason and adds, : !ant to thin(, to the overall impression o" the story&
7:;DA 8RJ8OR<&

*eople usually emphasiAe the realistic aspects o" your !or(, ut : "eel theres a

Fuality a out your "iction that is not asically realistic& :ts as i" somethin$ is happenin$ almost o"" the pa$e, a dreamy sense o" irrationality, almost li(e Ka"(as "iction&
RA<MO;D CARLJR&

*resuma ly my "iction is in the realistic tradition /as opposed to the really "ar,out

side5, ut #ust tellin$ it li(e it is ores me& :t really does& *eople couldnt possi ly read pa$es o" description a out the !ay people really tal(, a out !hat really happens in their lives& Theyd #ust snore a!ay, o" course& :" you loo( care"ully at my stories, : dont thin( youll "ind people tal(in$ the !ay people do in real li"e& *eople al!ays say that )emin$!ay had a $reat ear "or dialo$ue, and he did& 'ut no one ever tal(ed in real li"e li(e they do in )emin$!ays "iction& At least not until a"ter theyve read )emin$!ay&

ON REWRITING

.he followin# para#raph comes from Carvers afterword to Fires 319@$4! : li(e to mess around !ith my stories& :d rather tin(er !ith a story a"ter !ritin$ it, and then tin(er some more, chan$in$ this, chan$in$ that, than have to !rite the story in the "irst place& That initial !ritin$ #ust seems to me the hard place : have to $et to in order to $o on and have "un !ith the story& Re!ritin$ "or me is not a chore6its somethin$ : li(e to do& : thin( y nature :m more deli erate and care"ul than : am spontaneous, and may e that e%plains somethin$& May e not& May e theres no connection e%cept the one :m ma(in$& 'ut : do (no! that revisin$ the !or( once its done is somethin$ that comes naturally to me and is somethin$ : ta(e pleasure in doin$& May e : revise ecause it $radually ta(es me into the heart o" !hat the story is about& : have to (eep tryin$ to see i" : can "ind that out& :ts a process more than a "i%ed position&

ON CATHEDRAL
.his para#raph comes from an interview conducted by Hay +onetti, published in "aturday 5eview, "eptemberAOctober 19@$! There !as a period o" several months !hen : didnt !rite anythin$& And then the "irst story that : !rote !as BCathedral,C !hich is unli(e anythin$ : have ever done e"ore& All the stories in this oo( =the oo(, li(e this story, is called Cathedral@ are "uller and more interestin$, someho!& They are more $enerous& Theyre not Fuite so pared do!n& : !ent as "ar in the other direction as : !anted to $o& My li"es chan$ed to a de$ree since : started $ivin$ my !or( to a !oman in 7yracuse !ho has a !ord processor& 7he is a le to type up the story and $ive me the "air copy, and : can mar( it up and chan$e it to my hearts content and $ive it ac( to her, and a "e! hours later : can have "air copy ac( a$ain& :ve never een a le to !or( that !ay e"ore, and :m sure that that accounts to a de$ree "or the "act that : !as a le to do, "or me, so many stories in a "airly short period o" time& 'ut the re!ritin$ and revisin$ is somethin$ very dear to my heart and somethin$ close to the hearts o" many !riters o" my acFuaintance& Hoo(in$ at the "irst dra"ts o" $reat !riters is very heartenin$ and very instructive ecause there are so many chan$es& Tolstoy made so many chan$es in his proo" that Fuite o"ten the entire material !ould have to e set a$ain, ecause he !as revisin$ ri$ht do!n to the time o" pu lication& Dohn 8ardner !or(ed that !ay& Any num er o" !riters& :m never Fuite "inished !ith the !or(&

ALICE

MUNRO:

TWO

STORIES,

AN

ESSAY,

AND

AN

INTERVIEW
ALICE MUNRO
(lice /unro was born in 19$1 in =in#ham, Ontario, Canada, a relatively rural community and the sort of place in which she sets much of her fiction! "he be#an publishin# stories when she was an under#raduate at the Cniversity of =estern Ontario! "he left =estern after two years, wor ed in a library and in a boo store, then married, moved to Iictoria, +ritish Columbia, and founded a boo store there! "he continued to write while raisin# three children! "he divorced and remarriedE much of her fiction concerns marria#e or divorce, which is to say it concerns shiftin# relationships in a bafflin# world! We print t!o stories, an essay, and an intervie!&

1o$s and Girls

[1960]

My "ather !as a "o% "armer& That is, he raised silver "o%es, in pensG and in the "all and early !inter, !hen their "ur !as prime, he (illed them and s(inned them and sold their pelts to the )udsons 'ay Company or the Montreal Fur Traders& These companies supplied us !ith heroic calendars to han$, one on each side o" the (itchen door& A$ainst a ac($round o" cold lue s(y and lac( pine "orests and treacherous northern rivers, plumed adventurers planted the "la$s o" Jn$land or o" FranceG ma$ni"icent sava$es ent their ac(s to the porta$e& For several !ee(s e"ore Christmas, my "ather !or(ed a"ter supper in the cellar o" our house& The cellar !as !hite!ashed, and lit y a hundred,!att ul over the !or(ta le& My rother Haird and : sat on the top step and !atched& My "ather removed the pelt inside,out "rom the ody o" the "o%, !hich loo(ed surprisin$ly small, mean and rat,li(e, deprived o" its arro$ant !ei$ht o" "ur& The na(ed, slippery odies !ere collected in a sac( and uried at the dump& One time the hired man, )enry 'ailey, had ta(en a s!ipe at me !ith this sac(, sayin$, BChristmas presentIC My mother thou$ht that !as not "unny& :n "act she disli(ed the !hole peltin$ operation6that !as !hat the (illin$, s(innin$, and preparation o" the "urs !as called6and !ished it did not have to ta(e place in the house& There !as the smell& A"ter the pelt had een stretched inside,out on a lon$ oard my "ather scraped a!ay delicately, removin$ the little clotted !e s o" lood vessels, the u les o" "atG the smell o" lood and

animal "at, !ith the stron$ primitive odor o" the "o% itsel", penetrated all parts o" the house& : "ound it reassurin$ly seasonal, li(e the smell o" oran$es and pine needles& )enry 'ailey su""ered "rom ronchial trou les& )e !ould cou$h and cou$h until his narro! "ace turned scarlet, and his li$ht lue, derisive eyes "illed up !ith tearsG then he too( the lid o"" the stove, and, standin$ !ell ac(, shot out a $reat clot o" phle$m6hsss6strai$ht into the heart o" the "lames& We admired him "or this per"ormance and "or his a ility to ma(e his stomach $ro!l at !ill, and "or his lau$hter, !hich !as "ull o" hi$h !histlin$s and $ur$lin$s and involved the !hole "aulty machinery o" his chest& :t !as sometimes hard to tell !hat he !as lau$hin$ at, and al!ays possi le that it mi$ht e us& A"ter !e had een sent to ed !e could still smell "o% and still hear )enrys lau$h, ut these thin$s, reminders o" the !arm, sa"e, ri$htly lit do!nstairs !orld, seemed lost and diminished, "loatin$ on the stale cold air upstairs& We !ere a"raid at ni$ht in the !inter& We !ere not a"raid o" outside thou$h this !as the time o" year !hen sno!dri"ts curled around our house li(e sleepin$ !hales and the !ind harassed us all ni$ht, comin$ up "rom the uried "ields, the "roAen s!amp, !ith its old u$ ear chorus o" threats and misery& We !ere a"raid o" inside, the room !here !e slept& At this time the upstairs o" our house !as not "inished& A ric( chimney !ent up one !all& :n the middle o" the "loor !as a sFuare hole, !ith a !ooden railin$ around itG that !as !here the stairs came up& On the other side o" the stair!ell !ere the thin$s that no ody had any use "or anymore6a soldiery roll o" linoleum, standin$ on end, a !ic(er a y carria$e, a "ern as(et, china #u$s and asins !ith crac(s in them, a picture o" the 'attle o" 'alaclava, very sad to loo( at& : had told Haird, as soon as he !as old enou$h to understand such thin$s, that ats and s(eletons lived over thereG !henever a man escaped "rom the country #ail, t!enty miles a!ay, : ima$ined that he had someho! let himsel" in the !indo! and !as hidin$ ehind the linoleum& 'ut !e had rules to (eep us sa"e& When the li$ht !as on, !e !ere sa"e as lon$ as !e did not step o"" the sFuare o" !orn carpet !hich de"ined our edroom,spaceG !hen the li$ht !as o"" no place !as sa"e ut the eds themselves& : had to turn out the li$ht (neelin$ on the end o" my ed, and stretchin$ as "ar as : could to reach the cord& 1 :n the dar( !e lay on our eds, our narro! li"e ra"ts, and "i%ed our eyes on the "aint li$ht comin$ up the stair!ell, and san$ son$s& Haird san$ BDin$le 'ells,C !hich he !ould sin$ any time, !hether it !as Christmas or not, and : san$ BDanny 'oy&C : loved the sound o" my o!n voice, "rail and

supplicatin$, risin$ in the dar(& We could ma(e out the tall "rosted shapes o" the !indo!s no!, $loomy and !hite& When : came to the part, =hen I am dead, as dead I well may be 6a "it o" shiverin$ caused not y the cold sheets ut y pleasura le emotion almost silenced me& Joull neel and say, an (ve there above me 6What !as an AveE Jvery day : "or$ot to "ind out& Haird !ent strai$ht "rom sin$in$ to sleep& : could hear his lon$, satis"ied, u ly reaths& ;o! "or the time that remained to me, the most per"ectly private and perhaps the est time o" the !hole day, : arran$ed mysel" ti$htly under the covers and !ent on !ith one o" the stories : !as tellin$ mysel" "rom ni$ht to ni$ht& These stories !ere a out mysel", !hen : had $ro!n a little olderG they too( place in a !orld that !as reco$niAa ly mine, yet one that presented opportunities "or coura$e, oldness and sel",sacri"ice, as mine never did& : rescued people "rom a om ed uildin$ /it

discoura$ed me that the real !ar had $one on so "ar a!ay "rom Du ilee5& : shot t!o ra id !olves !ho !ere menacin$ the schoolyard /the teachers co!ered terri"ied at my ac(5& : rode a "ine horse spiritedly do!n the main street o" Du ilee, ac(no!led$in$ the to!nspeoples $ratitude "or some yet, to, e,!or(ed,out piece o" heroism /no ody ever rode a horse there, e%cept Kin$ 'illy in the Oran$emens Day+ parade5& There !as al!ays ridin$ and shootin$ in these stories, thou$h : had only een on a horse t!ice6 are ac( ecause !e did not o!n a saddle6and the second time : had slid ri$ht around and dropped under the horses "eetG it had stepped placidly over me& : really !as learnin$ to shoot, ut : could not hit anythin$ yet, not even tin cans on "ence posts& Alive, the "o%es inha ited a !orld my "ather made "or them& :t !as surrounded y a hi$h $uard "ence, li(e a medieval to!n, !ith a $ate that !as padloc(ed at ni$ht& Alon$ the streets o" this to!n !ere ran$ed lar$e, sturdy pens& Jach o" them had a real door that a man could $o throu$h, a !ooden ramp alon$ the !ire, "or the "o%es to run up and do!n on, and a (ennel6somethin$ li(e a clothes chest !ith airholes6!here they slept and stayed in !inter and had their youn$& There !ere "eedin$ and !aterin$ dishes attached to the !ire in such a !ay that they could e emptied and cleaned "rom the outside& The dishes !ere made o" old tin cans, and the ramps and (ennels o" odds and ends o" old lum er& Jverythin$ !as tidy and in$eniousG my "ather !as tirelessly inventive and his "avorite oo( in the !orld !as Ro inson Crusoe& )e had "itted a tin drum on a !heel arro!, "or rin$in$ !ater to the pens& This !as my #o in summer, !hen the "o%es had to have !ater t!ice a day& 'et!een nine and ten ocloc( in the mornin$, and a$ain a"ter supper, : "illed the drum at the pump and trundled it

do!n throu$h the arnyard to the pens, !here : par(ed it, and "illed my !aterin$ can and !ent alon$ the streets& Haird came too, !ith his little cream and $reen $ardenin$ can, "illed too "ull and (noc(in$ a$ainst his le$s and sloppin$ !ater on his canvas shoes& : had the real !aterin$ can, my "athers, thou$h : could only carry it three,Fuarters "ull& The "o%es all had names, !hich !ere printed on a tin plate and hun$ eside their doors& They !ere not named !hen they !ere orn, ut !hen they survived the "irst years peltin$ and !ere added to the reedin$ stoc(& Those my "ather had named !ere called names li(e *rince, 'o , Wally and 'etty& Those : had named !ere called 7tar or Tur(, or Maureen or Diana& Haird named one Maud a"ter a hired $irl !e had !hen he !as little, one )arold a"ter a oy at school, and one Me%ico, he did not say !hy& ;amin$ them did not ma(e pets out o" them, or anythin$ li(e it& ;o ody ut my "ather ever !ent into the pens, and he had t!ice had lood,poisonin$ "rom ites& When : !as rin$in$ them their !ater they pro!led up and do!n on the paths they had made inside their pens, ar(in$ seldom6they saved that "or ni$httime, !hen they mi$ht $et up a chorus o" community "renAy6 ut al!ays !atchin$ me, their eyes urnin$, clear $old, in their pointed, malevolent "aces& They !ere eauti"ul "or their delicate le$s and heavy, aristocratic tails and the ri$ht "ur sprin(led on dar( do!n their ac(s6!hich $ave them their name6 ut especially "or their "aces, dra!n e%Fuisitely sharp in pure hostility, and their $olden eyes& +? 'esides carryin$ !ater : helped my "ather !hen he cut the lon$ $rass, and the lam s Fuarter and "lo!erin$ money,mus(, that $re! et!een the pens& )e cut !ith the scythe and : ra(ed into piles& Then he too( a pitch"or( and thre! "resh,cut $rass all over the top o" the pens to (eep the "o%es cooler and shade their coats, !hich !ere ro!ned y too much sun& My "ather did not tal( to me unless it !as a out the #o !e !ere doin$& :n this he !as Fuite di""erent "rom my mother, !ho, i" she !as "eelin$ cheer"ul, !ould tell me all sorts o" thin$s6the name o" a do$ she had !hen she !as a little $irl, the names o" oys she had $one out !ith later on !hen she !as $ro!n up, and !hat certain dresses o" hers had loo(ed li(e6she could not ima$ine no! !hat had ecome o" them& Whatever thou$hts and stories my "ather had !ere private, and : !as shy o" him and !ould never as( him Fuestions& ;evertheless : !or(ed !illin$ly under his eyes, and !ith a "eelin$ o" pride& One time a "eed salesman came do!n into the pens to tal( to him and my "ather said, BHi(e to have you meet my

ne! hired man&C : turned a!ay and ra(ed "uriously, red in the "ace !ith pleasure& BCould o" "ooled me,C said the salesman& B: thou$ht it !as only a $irl&C A"ter the $rass !as cut, it seemed suddenly much later in the year& : !al(ed on stu le in the earlier evenin$, a!are o" the reddenin$ s(ies, the enterin$ silences, o" "all& When : !heeled the tan( out o" the $ate and put the padloc( on, it !as almost dar(& One ni$ht at this time : sa! my mother and "ather standin$ on the little rise o" $round !e called the $an$!ay, in "ront o" the arn& My "ather had #ust come "rom the meathouseG he had his sti"" loody apron on, and a pail o" cut,up meat in his hand& :t !as an odd thin$ to see my mother do!n at the arn& 7he did not o"ten come out o" the house unless it !as to do somethin$6han$ out the !ash or di$ potatoes in the $arden& 7he loo(ed out o" place, !ith her are lumpy le$s, not touched y the sun, her apron still on and damp across the stomach "rom the supper dishes& )er hair !as tied up in a (erchie", !isps o" it "allin$ out& 7he !ould tie her hair up li(e this in the mornin$, sayin$ she did not have time to do it properly, and it !ould stay tied up all day& :t !as true, tooG she really did not have time& These days our ac( porch !as piled !ith as(ets o" peaches and $rapes and pears, ou$ht in to!n, and onions and tomatoes and

cucum ers $ro!n at home, all !aitin$ to e made into #elly and #am and preserves, pic(les and chili sauce& :n the (itchen there !as a "ire in the stove all day, #ars clin(ed in oilin$ !ater, sometimes a cheesecloth a$ !as strun$ on a pole et!een t!o chairs strainin$ lue, lac( $rape pulp "or #elly& : !as $iven #o s to do and : !ould sit at the ta le peelin$ peaches that had een soa(ed in the hot !ater, or cuttin$ up onions, my eyes smartin$ and streamin$& As soon as : !as done : ran out o" the house, tryin$ to $et out o" earshot e"ore my mother thou$ht o" !hat she !anted me to do ne%t& : hated the hot dar( (itchen in summer, the $reen linds and the "lypapers, the same old oilcloth ta le and !avy mirror and umpy linoleum& My mother !as too tired and preoccupied to tal( to me, she had no heart to tell a out the ;ormal 7chool 8raduation DanceG s!eat tric(led over her "ace and she !as al!ays countin$ under her reath, pointin$ at #ars, dumpin$ cups o" su$ar& :t seemed to me that !or( in the house !as endless, dreary and peculiarly depressin$G !or( done out o" doors, and in my "athers service, !as ritualistically important& : !heeled the tan( up to the arn, !here it !as (ept, and : heard my mother sayin$, BWait till Haird $ets a little i$$er, then youll have a real help&C

+1

What my "ather said : did not hear& : !as pleased y the !ay he stood listenin$, politely as he !ould to a salesman or a stran$er, ut !ith an air o" !antin$ to $et on !ith his real !or(& : "elt my mother had no usiness do!n here and : !anted him to "eel the same !ay& What did she mean a out HairdE )e !as no help to any ody& Where !as he no!E 7!in$in$ himsel" sic( on the s!in$, $oin$ around in circles, or tryin$ to catch caterpillars& )e never once stayed !ith me till : !as "inished& BAnd then : can use her more in the house,C : heard my mother say& 7he had a dead,Fuiet, re$ret"ul !ay o" tal(in$ a out me that al!ays made me uneasy& B: #ust $et my ac( turned and she runs o""& :ts not li(e : had a $irl in the "amily at all&C : !ent and sat on a "eed a$ in the corner o" the arn, not !antin$ to appear !hen this

conversation !as $oin$ on& My mother, : "elt, !as not to e trusted& 7he !as (inder than my "ather and more easily "ooled, ut you could not depend on her, and the real reasons "or the thin$s she said and did !ere not to e (no!n& 7he loved me, and she sat up late at ni$ht ma(in$ a dress o" the di""icult style : !anted, "or me to !ear !hen school started, ut she !as also my enemy& 7he !as al!ays plottin$& 7he !as plottin$ no! to $et me to stay in the house more, althou$h she (ne! : hated it /because she (ne! : hated it5 and (eep me "rom !or(in$ "or my "ather& :t seemed to me she !ould do this simply out o" perversity, and to try her po!er& :t did not occur to me that she could e lonely, or #ealous& ;o $ro!n,up could eG they !ere too "ortunate& : sat and (ic(ed my heels monotonously a$ainst a "eed a$, raisin$ dust, and did not come out till she !as $one& At any rate, : did not e%pect my "ather to pay any attention to !hat she said& Who could ima$ine Haird doin$ my !or(6Haird remem erin$ the padloc( and cleanin$ out the !aterin$ dishes !ith a lea" on the end o" a stic(, or even !heelin$ the tan( !ithout it tum lin$ overE :t sho!ed ho! little my mother (ne! a out the !ay thin$s really !ere& : have "or$otten to say !hat the "o%es !ere "ed& My "athers loody apron reminded me& They !ere "ed horsemeat& At this time most "armers still (ept horses, and !hen a horse $ot too old to !or(, or ro(e a le$ or $ot do!n and !ould not $et up, as they sometimes did, the o!ner !ould call my "ather, and he and )enry !ent out to the "arm in the truc(& 9sually they shot and utchered the horse there, payin$ the "armer "rom "ive to t!elve dollars& :" they had already too much meat on hand, they !ould rin$ the horse ac( alive, and (eep it "or a "e! days or !ee(s in our sta le, until the meat !as needed& A"ter the !ar the "armers !ere uyin$ tractors and $radually $ettin$ rid o" horses alto$ether,

so it sometimes happened that !e $ot a $ood healthy horse, that there !as #ust no use "or any more& :" this happened in the !inter !e mi$ht (eep the horse in our sta le till sprin$, "or !e had plenty o" hay and i" there !as a lot o" sno!6and the plo! did not al!ays $et our road cleared6it !as convenient to e a le to $o to to!n !ith a horse and cutter&-? The !inter : !as eleven years old !e had t!o horses in the sta le& We did not (no! !hat names they had had e"ore, so !e called them Mac( and Flora& Mac( !as an old lac( !or(horse, sooty and indi""erent& Flora !as a sorrel mare, a driver& We too( them oth out in the cutter& Mac( !as slo! and easy to handle& Flora !as $iven to "its o" violent alarm, veerin$ at cars and even at other horses, ut !e loved her speed and hi$h,steppin$, her $eneral air o" $allantry and a andon& On 7aturdays !e !ent do!n to the sta le and as soon as !e opened the door on its cosy, animal,smellin$ dar(ness Flora thre! up her head, rolled her eyes, !hinnied despairin$ly and pulled hersel" throu$h a crisis o" nerves on the spot& :t !as not sa"e to $o into her stallG she !ould (ic(& This !inter also : e$an to hear a $reat deal more on the theme my mother had sounded !hen she had een tal(in$ in "ront o" the arn& : no lon$er "elt sa"e& :t seemed that in the minds o" the people around me there !as a steady undercurrent o" thou$ht, not to e de"lected, on this one su #ect& The !ord #irl had "ormerly seemed to me innocent and un urdened, li(e the !ord childE no! it appeared that it !as no such thin$& A $irl !as not, as : had supposed, simply !hat : !asG it !as !hat : had to ecome& :t !as a de"inition, al!ays touched !ith emphasis, !ith reproach and

disappointment& Also it !as a #o(e on me& Once Haird and : !ere "i$htin$, and "or the "irst time ever : had to use all my stren$th a$ainst himG even so, he cau$ht and pinned my arm "or a moment, really hurtin$ me& )enry sa! this, and lau$hed, sayin$, BOh, that there Hairds $onna sho! you, one o" these daysIC Haird !as $ettin$ a lot i$$er& 'ut : !as $ettin$ i$$er too& My $randmother came to stay !ith us "or a "e! !ee(s and : heard other thin$s& B8irls dont slam doors li(e that&C B8irls (eep their (nees to$ether !hen they sit do!n&C And !orse still, !hen : as(ed some Fuestions, BThats none o" $irls usiness&C : continued to slam the doors and sit as a!(!ardly as possi le, thin(in$ y such measures : (ept mysel" "ree& When sprin$ came, the horses !ere let out in the arnyard& Mac( stood a$ainst the arn !all tryin$ to scratch his nec( and haunches, ut Flora trotted up and do!n and reared at the "ences, clatterin$ her hooves a$ainst the rails& 7no! dri"ts d!indled Fuic(ly, revealin$ the hard $ray and

ro!n earth, the "amiliar rise and "all o" the $round, plain and are a"ter the "antastic landscape o" !inter& There !as a $reat "eelin$ o" openin$,out, o" release& We #ust !ore ru ers no!, over our shoesG our "eet "elt ridiculously li$ht& One 7aturday !e !ent to the sta le and "ound all the doors open, lettin$ in the unaccustomed sunli$ht and "resh air& )enry !as there, #ust idlin$ around loo(in$ at his collection o" calendars !hich !ere tac(ed up ehind the stalls in a part o" the sta le my mother had pro a ly never seen& BCome to say $ood ye to your old "riend Mac(EC )enry said& B)ere you $ive him a taste o" oats&C )e poured some oats in Hairds cupped hands and Haird !ent to "eed Mac(& Mac(s teeth !ere in ad shape& )e ate very slo!ly, patiently shi"tin$ the oats around in his mouth, tryin$ to "ind a stump o" a molar to $rind it on& B*oor old Mac(,C said )enry mourn"ully& BWhen a horses teeths $one, hes $one& Thats a out the !ay&C -1 BAre you $oin$ to shoot him todayEC : said& Mac( and Flora had een in the sta le so lon$ : had almost "or$otten they !ere $oin$ to e shot& )enry didnt ans!er me& :nstead he started to sin$ in a hi$h, trem ly, moc(in$,sorro!"ul voice& Oh, theres no more wor , for poor Cncle Ked, hes #one where the #ood dar ies #o! Mac(s thic(, lac(ish ton$ue !or(ed dili$ently at Hairds hand& : !ent out e"ore the son$ !as ended and sat do!n on the $an$!ay& : had never seen them shoot a horse, ut : (ne! !here it !as done& Hast summer Haird and : had come upon a horses entrails e"ore they !ere uried& We had thou$ht it !as a i$ lac( sna(e, coiled up in the sun& That !as around in the "ield that ran up eside the arn& : thou$ht that i" !e !ent inside the arn, and "ound a !ide crac( or a (nothole to loo( throu$h, !e !ould e a le to see them do it& :t !as not somethin$ : !anted to seeG #ust the same, i" a thin$ really happened, it !as etter to see, and (no!& My "ather came do!n "rom the house, carryin$ the $un& BWhat are you doin$ hereEC he said& .? B;othin$&C B8o on up and play around the house&C )e sent Haird out o" the sta le& : said to Haird& BDo you !ant to see them shoot Mac(EC and !ithout !aitin$ "or an ans!er led him around to the "ront door o" the arn, opened it care"ully, and

!ent in& B'e Fuiet or theyll hear us,C : said& We could hear )enry and my "ather tal(in$ in the sta leG then the heavy, shu""lin$ steps o" Mac( ein$ ac(ed out o" his stall& :n the lo"t it !as cold and dar(& Thin crisscrossed eams o" sunli$ht "ell throu$h the crac(s& The hay !as lo!& :t !as a rollin$ country, hills and hollo!s, slippin$ under our "eet& A out "our "eet up !as a eam $oin$ around the !alls& We piled hay up in one corner and : oosted Haird up and hoisted mysel"& The eam !as not very !ideG !e crept alon$ it !ith our hands "lat on the arn !alls& There !ere plenty o" (notholes, and : "ound one that $ave me the vie! : !anted6a corner o" the arnyard, the $ate, part o" the "ield& Haird did not have a (nothole and e$an to complain& : sho!ed him a !idened crac( et!een t!o oards& B'e Fuiet and !ait& :" they hear you youll $et us in trou le&C .1 My "ather came in si$ht carryin$ the $un& )enry !as leadin$ Mac( y the halter& )e dropped it and too( out his ci$arette papers and to accoG he rolled ci$arettes "or my "ather and himsel"& While this !as $oin$ on Mac( nosed around in the old, dead $rass alon$ the "ence& Then my "ather opened the $ate and they too( Mac( throu$h& )enry led Mac( a!ay "rom the path to a patch o" $round and they tal(ed to$ether, not loud enou$h "or us to hear& Mac( a$ain e$an searchin$ "or a mouth"ul o" "resh $rass, !hich !as not to e "ound& My "ather !al(ed a!ay in a strai$ht line, and stopped short a distance !hich seemed to suit him& )enry !as !al(in$ a!ay "rom Mac( too, ut side!ays, still ne$li$ently holdin$ on to the halter& My "ather raised the $un and Mac( loo(ed up as i" he had noticed somethin$ and my "ather shot him& Mac( did not collapse at once ut s!ayed, lurched side!ays and "ell, "irst on his sideG then he rolled over on his ac( and, amaAin$ly, (ic(ed his le$s "or a "e! seconds in the air& At this )enry lau$hed, as i" Mac( had done a tric( "or him& Haird, !ho had dra!n a lon$, $roanin$ reath o" surprise !hen the shot !as "ired, said out loud, B)es not dead&C And it seemed to me it mi$ht e true& 'ut his le$s stopped, he rolled on his side a$ain, his muscles Fuivered and san(& The t!o men !al(ed over and loo(ed at him in a usinessli(e !ayG they ent do!n and e%amined his "orehead !here the ullet had $one in, and no! : sa! his lood on the ro!n $rass& B;o! they #ust s(in him and cut him up,C : said& BHets $o&C My le$s !ere a little sha(y and : #umped $rate"ully do!n into the hay& B;o! youve seen ho! they shoot a horse,C : said in a con$ratulatory !ay, as i" : had seen it many times e"ore& BHets see i" any arn cats had (ittens in

the hay&C Haird #umped& )e seemed youn$ and o edient a$ain& 7uddenly : remem ered ho!, !hen he !as little, : had rou$ht him into the arn and told him to clim the ladder to the top eam& That !as in the sprin$, too, !hen the hay !as lo!& : had done it out o" a need "or e%citement, a desire "or somethin$ to happen so that : could tell a out it& )e !as !earin$ a little ul(y ro!n and !hite chec(ed coat, made do!n "rom one o" mine& )e !ent all the !ay up #ust as : told him, and sat do!n on the top eam !ith the hay "ar elo! him on one side, and the arn "loor and some old machinery on the other& Then : ran screamin$ to my "ather& BHairds up on the top eamIC My "ather came, my mother came, my "ather !ent up the ladder tal(in$ very Fuietly and rou$ht Haird do!n under his arm, at !hich my mother leaned a$ainst the ladder and e$an to cry& They said to me, BWhy !erent you !atchin$ himEC ut no ody ever (ne! the truth& Haird did not (no! enou$h to tell& 'ut !henever : sa! the ro!n and !hite chec(ed coat han$in$ in the closet, or at the ottom o" the ra$ a$, !hich !as !here it ended up, : "elt a !ei$ht in my stomach, the sadness o" une%orcised $uilt& : loo(ed at Haird, !ho did not even remem er this, and : did not li(e the loo( on his thin, !inter, paled "ace& )is e%pression !as not "ri$htened or upset, ut remote, concentratin$& BHisten,C : said, in an unusually ri$ht and "riendly voice, Byou arent $oin$ to tell, are youEC B;o,C he said a sently& 4? B*romise&C B*romise,C he said& : $ra ed the hand ehind his ac( to ma(e sure he !as not crossin$ his "in$ers& Jven so, he mi$ht have a ni$htmareG it mi$ht come out that !ay& : decided : had etter !or( hard to $et all thou$hts o" !hat he had seen out o" his mind6!hich, it seemed to me, could not hold very many thin$s at a time& : $ot some money : had saved and that a"ternoon !e !ent into Du ilee and sa! a sho!, !ith Dudy Canova,. at !hich !e oth lau$hed a $reat deal& A"ter that : thou$ht it !ould e all ri$ht& T!o !ee(s later : (ne! they !ere $oin$ to shoot Flora& : (ne! "rom the ni$ht e"ore, !hen : heard my mother as( i" the hay !as holdin$ out all ri$ht, and my "ather said& BWell, a"ter tomorro! therell #ust e the co!, and !e should e a le to put her out to $rass in another !ee(&C 7o : (ne! it !as Floras turn in the mornin$& This time : didnt thin( o" !atchin$ it& That !as somethin$ to see #ust one time& : had not thou$ht a out it very o"ten since, ut sometimes !hen : !as usy !or(in$ at school, or standin$ in

"ront o" the mirror com in$ my hair and !onderin$ i" : !ould e pretty !hen : $re! up, the !hole scene !ould "lash into my mind: : !ould see the easy, practiced !ay my "ather raised the $un, and hear )enry lau$hin$ !hen Mac( (ic(ed his le$s in the air& : did not have any $reat "eelin$ o" horror and opposition, such as a city child mi$ht have hadG : !as too used to seein$ the death o" animals as a necessity y !hich !e lived& <et : "elt a little ashamed, and there !as a ne! !ariness, a sense o" holdin$,o"", in my attitude to my "ather and his !or(& :t !as a "ine day, and !e !ere $oin$ around the yard pic(in$ up tree ranches that had een torn o"" in !inter storms& This !as somethin$ !e had een told to do, and also !e !anted to use them to ma(e a teepee& We heard Flora !hinny, and then my "athers voice and )enrys shoutin$, and !e ran do!n to the arnyard to see !hat !as $oin$ on& 41 The sta le door !as open& )enry had #ust rou$ht Flora out, and she had ro(en a!ay "rom him& 7he !as runnin$ "ree in the arnyard, "rom one end to the other& We clim ed up on the "ence& :t !as e%citin$ to see her runnin$, !hinnyin$, $oin$ up on her hind le$s, prancin$ and threatenin$ li(e a horse in a Western movie, an un ro(en ranch horse, thou$h she !as #ust an old driver, an old sorrel mare& My "ather and )enry ran a"ter her and tried to $ra the dan$lin$ halter& They tried to !or( her into a corner, and they had almost succeeded !hen she made a run et!een them, !ild,eyed, and disappeared around the corner o" the arn& We heard the rail clatter do!n as she $ot over the "ence, and )enry yelled& B7hes into the "ield no!IC That meant she !as in the lon$ H,shaped "ield that ran up y the house& :" she $ot around the center, headin$ to!ard the lane, the $ate !as openG the truc( had een driven in the "ield this mornin$& My "ather shouted to me, ecause : !as on the other side o" the "ence, nearest the lane& B8o shut the $ateIC : could run very "ast& : ran across the $arden, past the tree !here our s!in$ !as hun$, and #umped across a ditch into the lane& There !as the open $ate& 7he had not $ot out, : could not see her up the roadG she must have run to the other end o" the "ield& The $ate !as heavy, : li"ted it out o" the $ravel and carried it across the road!ay& : had it hal"!ay across !hen she came in si$ht, $allopin$ strai$ht to!ard me& There !as #ust time to $et the chain on& Haird came scram lin$ throu$h the ditch to help me& :nstead o" shuttin$ the $ate, : opened it as !ide as : could& : did not ma(e any decision to do this,

it !as #ust !hat : did& Flora never slo!ed do!nG she $alloped strai$ht past me, and Haird #umped up and do!n, yellin$ B7hut it, shut itIC even a"ter it !as too late& My "ather and )enry appeared in the "ield a moment too late to see !hat : had done& They only sa! Flora headin$ "or the to!nship road& They !ould thin( : had not $ot there in time& They did not !aste any time as(in$ a out it& They !ent ac( to the arn and $ot the $un and the (nives they used, and put these in the truc(G then they turned the truc( around and came ouncin$ up the "ield to!ard us& Haird called to them& BHet me $o too, let me $o tooIC and )enry stopped the truc( and they too( him in& : shut the $ate a"ter they !ere all $one& 1? : supposed Haird !ould tell& : !ondered !hat !ould happen to me& : had never diso eyed my "ather e"ore, and : could not understand !hy : had done it& Flora !ould not really $et a!ay& They !ould catch up !ith her in the truc(& Or i" they did not catch her this mornin$ some ody !ould see her and telephone us this a"ternoon or tomorro!& There !as no !ild country here "or her to run to, only "arms& What !as more, my "ather had paid "or her, !e needed the meat to "eed the "o%es, !e needed the "o%es to ma(e our livin$& All : had done !as ma(e more !or( "or my "ather !ho !or(ed hard enou$h already& And !hen my "ather "ound out a out it he !as not $oin$ to trust me any moreG he !ould (no! that : !as not entirely on his side& : !as on Floras side, and that made me no use to any ody, not even to her& Dust the same, : did not re$ret itG !hen she came runnin$ at me and : held the $ate open, that !as the only thin$ : could do& : !ent ac( to the house, and my mother said& BWhats all the commotionEC : told her that Flora had (ic(ed do!n the "ence and $ot a!ay& B<our poor "ather,C she said, Bno! hell have to $o chasin$ over the countryside& Well, there isnt any use plannin$ dinner e"ore one&C 7he put up the ironin$ oard& : !anted to tell her, ut thou$ht etter o" it and !ent upstairs, and sat on my ed& Hately : had een tryin$ to ma(e my part o" the room "ancy, spreadin$ the ed !ith old lace curtains, and "i%in$ mysel" a dressin$ ta le !ith some le"tovers o" cretonne "or a s(irt& : planned to put up some (ind o" arricade et!een my ed and Hairds, to (eep my section separate "rom his& :n the sunli$ht, the lace curtains !ere #ust dusty ra$s& We did not sin$ at ni$ht any more& One ni$ht !hen : !as sin$in$ Haird said, B<ou sound silly,C and : !ent ri$ht on ut the ne%t ni$ht : did not start& There !as not so much need to any!ay, !e !ere no lon$er a"raid& We (ne! it !as #ust old "urniture over there, old #um le and con"usion& We did not (eep to the rules& : still stayed a!a(e a"ter

Haird !as asleep and told mysel" stories, ut even in these stories somethin$ di""erent !as happenin$, mysterious alterations too( place& A story mi$ht start o"" in the old !ay, !ith a spectacular dan$er, a "ire or !ild animals, and "or a !hile : mi$ht rescue peopleG then thin$s !ould chan$e around, and instead, some ody !ould e rescuin$ me& :t mi$ht e a oy "rom our class at school, or even Mr& Camp ell, our teacher, !ho tic(led $irls under the arms& And at this point the story concerned itsel" at $reat len$th !ith !hat : loo(ed li(e6ho! lon$ my hair !as, and !hat (ind o" dress : had onG y the time : had these details !or(ed out the real e%citement o" the story !as lost& :t !as later than one ocloc( !hen the truc( came ac(& The tarpaulin !as over the ac(, !hich meant there !as meat in it& My mother had to heat dinner up all over a$ain& )enry and my "ather had chan$ed "rom their loody overalls into ordinary !or(in$ overalls in the arn, and they !ashed their arms and nec(s and "aces at the sin(, and splashed !ater on their hair and com ed it& Haird li"ted his arm to sho! o"" a strea( o" lood& BWe shot old Flora,C he said, Band cut her up in "i"ty pieces&C BWell : dont !ant to hear a out it,C my mother said& BAnd dont come to my ta le li(e that&C 11 My "ather made him $o and !ash the lood o""& We sat do!n and my "ather said $race and )enry pasted his che!in$ $um on the end o" his "or(, the !ay he al!ays didG !hen he too( it o"" he !ould have us admire the pattern& We e$an to pass the o!ls o" steamin$, overcoo(ed ve$eta les& Haird loo(ed across the ta le at me and said proudly, distinctly& BAny!ay it !as her "ault Flora $ot a!ay&C BWhatEC my "ather said& B7he could o" shut the $ate and she didnt& 7he #ust open it up and Flora run out&C B:s that ri$htEC my "ather said& 3? Jvery ody at the ta le !as loo(in$ at me& : nodded, s!allo!in$ "ood !ith $reat di""iculty& To my shame, tears "looded my eyes& My "ather made a curt sound o" dis$ust& BWhat did you do that "orEC : did not ans!er& : put do!n my "or( and !aited to e sent "rom the ta le, still not loo(in$ up& 'ut this did not happen& For some time no ody said anythin$, then Haird said matter,o","actly, B7hes cryin$&C B;ever mind,C my "ather said& )e spo(e !ith resi$nation, even $ood humor, the !ords !hich a solved and dismissed me "or $ood& B7hes only a $irl,C he said&

31

: didnt protest that, even in my heart& May e it !as true&

TO*:C7 FOR CR:T:CAH T):;K:;8 A;D WR:T:;8

+& ,What does the narrator mean !hen she says, BThe !ord #irl had "ormerly seemed to me innocent and un urdened, li(e the !ord childE no! it appeared that it !as no such thin$& A $irl !as not, as : had supposed, simply !hat : !asG it !as !hat : had to ecomeCE -& ,The narrator says that she Bcould not understandC !hy she diso eyed her "ather and allo!ed the horse to escape& Can you e%plain her action to herE :" so, do so& .& ,CharacteriAe the mother&

The "hildren &ta$

[199.]

Thirty years a$o, a "amily !as spendin$ a holiday to$ether on the east coast o" Lancouver :sland& A youn$ "ather and mother, their t!o small dau$hters, and an older couple, the hus ands parents& What per"ect !eather& Jvery mornin$, every mornin$ its li(e this, the "irst pure sunli$ht "allin$ throu$h the hi$h ranches, urnin$ a!ay the mist over the still !ater o" 8eor$ia 7trait& :" it !erent "or the tide, it !ould e hard to remem er that this is the sea& <ou loo( across the !ater to the mountains on the mainland, the ran$es that are the !estern !all o" the continent o" ;orth America& These humps and pea(s comin$ clear no! throu$h the mist are o" interest to the $rand"ather and to his son, 'rian& The t!o men are continually tryin$ to decide !hich o" these shapes are actual continental mountains and !hich are impro a le hei$hts o" the islands that ride in "ront o" the shore& There is a map, set up under the $lass, et!een the cotta$es and the each& <ou can stand there loo(in$ at the map, then loo(in$ at !hats in "ront o" you and ac( at the map a$ain, until you $et thin$s sorted out& The $rand"ather and 'rian usually $et into an ar$ument6thou$h youd thin( there !ould not e much room "or disa$reement !ith the map ri$ht there& 1 'rians mother !ont loo( at the map& 7he says it o$$les her mind& )er concern is al!ays a out !hether any ody is hun$ry yet, or thirsty, !hether the children have their sun hats on and have een ru ed !ith protective lotion& 7he ma(es her hus and !ear a "loppy cotton hat and thin(s that 'rian should !ear one, too6she reminds him o" ho! sic( he $ot "rom the sun that summer they !ent to the O(ana$an, !hen he !as a child& 7ometimes 'rian says to her& BOh, dry up, Mother&C )is tone is

mostly a""ectionate, ut his "ather may as( him i" thats the !ay he thin(s he can tal( to his mother no!adays& B7he doesnt mind,C says 'rian& B)o! do you (no!EC says his "ather& BOh, "or *etes sa(e,C says his mother& *auline, the youn$ mother, slides out o" ed as soon as shes a!a(e every mornin$, slides out o" reach o" 'rians lon$, sleepily searchin$ arms and le$s& What !a(es her is the "irst sFuea(s and mutters o" the a y, Mara, in the childrens room, then the crea( o" the cri as Mara6si%teen months old no!, $ettin$ to the end o" a yhood6pulls hersel" up to stand han$in$ on to the railin$& 7he continues her so"t amia le tal( as *auline li"ts her out6Caitlin, nearly "ive, shi"tin$ a out ut not !a(in$, in her near y ed6and as she is carried into the (itchen to e chan$ed, on the "loor& Then she is settled into her stroller, !ith a iscuit and a ottle o" apple #uice, !hile *auline $ets into her sundress and sandals, $oes to the athroom, com s out her hair6all as Fuic(ly and Fuietly as

possi le& They leave the cotta$e and head "or the umpy unpaved road that runs ehind the cotta$es, a mile or so north till it stops at the an( o" the little river that runs into the sea& The road is still mostly in deep mornin$ shado!, the "loor o" a tunnel under "ir and cedar trees& +? The $rand"ather, also an early riser, sees them "rom the porch o" his cotta$e, and *auline sees him& 'ut all that is necessary is a !ave& )e and *auline never have much to say to each other /thou$h sometimes theres an a""inity they "eel, in the midst o" some lon$,dra!n out antics o" 'rians or some apolo$etic ut insistent "uss made y the $randmother, theres an a!areness o" not loo(in$ at each other, lest their loo( reveal a lea(ness that !ould discredit others5& On this holiday *auline steals time to e y hersel"6 ein$ !ith Mara is still almost the same thin$ as ein$ y hersel"& Jarly mornin$ !al(s, the late mornin$ hour !hen she !ashes and han$s out the diapers& 7he could have had another hour or so in the a"ternoons, !hile Mara is nappin$& 'ut 'rian has "i%ed up a shelter on the each, and he carries the playpen do!n every day, so that Mara can nap there and *auline !ont have to a sent hersel"& )e says his parents mi$ht e o""ended i" shes al!ays snea(in$ o""& )e a$rees, thou$h, that she does need some time to $o over her lines "or the play shes $oin$ to e in, ac( in Lictoria, this 7eptem er& *auline is not an actress& This is an amateur production, and she didnt even try out "or the role&

7he !as as(ed i" she !ould li(e to e in this play y a man she met at a ar ecue, in Dune& The people there !ere mostly teachers, and their !ives or hus ands6it !as held at the house o" the principal o" the hi$h school !here 'rian tau$ht& The !oman !ho tau$ht French !as a !ido!6she had rou$ht her $ro!n son, !ho !as stayin$ "or the summer !ith her and !or(in$ as a ni$ht cler( in a do!nto!n hotel& 7he told every ody that he had $ot a #o teachin$ colle$e in !estern Washin$ton 7tate and !ould e $oin$ there in the "all& De""rey Toom !as his name& BWithout the M ,C he said, as i" the staleness o" the #o(e !ounded him& What !as he $oin$ to teachE +1 BDram,ah,C he said, dra!in$ the !ord out in a moc(in$ !ay& )e spo(e o" his present #o dispara$in$ly as !ell& B:ts a pretty sordid place,C he said& BMay e you heard6a hoo(er !as (illed there last Fe ruary& And then !e $et the usual losers chec(in$ in to O&D& or ump themselves o""&C *eople did not Fuite (no! !hat to ma(e o" this !ay o" tal(in$ and dri"ted a!ay "rom him& J%cept "or *auline& B:m thin(in$ a out puttin$ on a play,C he said& )e as(ed her i" she had ever heard o" BJurydice&C -? *auline said, B<ou mean AnouilhsEC and he !as un"latterin$ly surprised& )e immediately said he didnt (no! i" it !ould ever !or( out& B: #ust thou$ht it mi$ht e interestin$ to see i" you could do somethin$ di""erent here in the land o" ;oOl Co!ard&C *auline did not remem er !hen there had een a play y ;oOl Co!ard put on in Lictoria, thou$h she supposed there had een several& 7he said, BWe sa! MThe Duchess o" Mal"i last !inter at the colle$e&C B<eah& Well,C he said, "lushin$& 7he had thou$ht he !as older than she !as, at least as old as 'rian6!ho !as thirty, thou$h people !ere apt to say he didnt act it6 ut as soon as he started tal(in$ to her, in this o""hand, dismissive !ay, never Fuite meetin$ her eyes, she suspected that he !as youn$er than hed li(e to appear& ;o!, !ith that "lush, she !as sure o" it& As it turned out, he !as a year youn$er than she !as& T!enty,"ive& 7he said that she couldnt e Jurydice6she couldnt act& 'ut 'rian came over to see !hat the

conversation !as a out and said at once that she must try it& -1 B7he #ust needs a (ic( in the ehind,C 'rian said to De""rey& B7hes li(e a little mule6its hard to $et her started& ;o, seriously, shes too sel",e""acin$& : tell her that all the time& 7hes very smart& 7hes actually a lot smarter than : am&C At that De""rey did loo( directly into *aulines eyes6impertinently and searchin$ly6and she !as the one !ho !as "lushin$& )e had chosen her immediately as his Jurydice ecause o" the !ay she loo(ed& 'ut it !as not ecause she !as eauti"ul& B:d never put a eauti"ul $irl in that part,C he said& B: dont (no! i" :d ever put a eauti"ul $irl onsta$e in anythin$& :ts distractin$&C 7o !hat did he mean a out the !ay she loo(edE )e said it !as her hair, !hich !as lon$ and dar( and rather ushy /not in style at that time5, and her pale s(in /B7tay out o" the sun this summerC5 and, most o" all, her eye ro!s& B: never li(ed them,C said *auline, not Fuite sincerely& )er eye ro!s !ere level, dar(, lu%uriant& They dominated her "ace& Hi(e her hair, they !ere not in style& 'ut i" she had really disli(ed them, !ouldnt she have pluc(ed themE .? De""rey seemed not to have heard her& BThey $ive you a sul(y loo( and thats distur in$,C he said& BAlso your #a!s a little heavy and thats sort o" 8ree(& :t !ould e etter in a movie, !here : could $et you close up& The routine thin$ "or Jurydice !ould e a $irl !ho loo(ed ethereal& : dont !ant ethereal&C As she !al(ed Mara alon$ the road, *auline did !or( at the lines& There !as a lon$ speech at the end that !as $ivin$ her trou le& 7he umped the stroller alon$ and repeated to hersel", B<ou are terri le, you (no!, you are terri le li(e the an$els& <ou thin( every odys $oin$ "or!ard, as rave and ri$ht as you are6oh, dont loo( at me, please, darlin$, dont loo( at me6*erhaps :m not !hat you !ish : !as, ut :m here, and :m !arm, :m (ind and : love you& :ll $ive you all the happiness : can& Dont loo( at me& Dont loo(& Het me live&C 7he had le"t somethin$ out& B*erhaps :m not !hat you !ish : !as, ut you "eel me here, dont youE :m !arm and :m (ind6C 7he had told De""rey that she thou$ht the play !as eauti"ul& )e said, BReallyEC What shed said didnt please or surprise him6he seemed to "eel it !as

predicta le, and super"luous& )e !ould never descri e a play in that !ay& )e spo(e o" it more as a hurdle to e $ot over& Also a challen$e to e "lun$ at various enemies& At the academic snots, as he called them, !ho had done BThe Duchess o" Mal"i&C And at the social t!its, as he called them, in the little theatre& )e sa! himsel" as an outsider heavin$ his !ei$ht a$ainst these people, puttin$ on his play6he called it his6in the teeth o" their contempt and opposition& :n the e$innin$ *auline thou$ht that this must e all in his ima$ination& Then somethin$ !ould happen that could e, ut mi$ht not e, a coincidence6repairs to e done on the church hall !here the play !as to e

per"ormed, ma(in$ it uno taina le, and une%pected increase in the cost o" printin$ advertisin$ posters6and she "ound hersel" seein$ it his !ay& :" you !ere $oin$ to e around him much, you almost had to see it his !ay6ar$uin$ !as dan$erous and e%haustin$& .1 B7ons o" itches,C said De""rey et!een his teeth, ut !ith some satis"action& B:m not surprised& :m $oin$ to $et to the ottom o" this&C The rehearsals !ere help upstairs in an old uildin$ on Fis$ard 7treet& 7unday a"ternoon !as the only time that every ody could $et there, thou$h there !ere "ra$mentary rehearsals durin$ the !ee(& *auline had to depend on sometimes undependa le hi$h,school a ysitters6"or the "irst si% !ee(s o" the summer 'rian !as usy teachin$ summer school& And De""rey himsel" had to e at his hotel #o y

ei$ht ocloc( in the evenin$& 'ut on 7unday a"ternoons they !ere all there, la orin$ in the dusty hi$h,ceilin$ed room on Fis$ard 7treet& The !indo!s !ere rounded at the top as in some plain and di$ni"ied church, and propped open in the heat !ith !hatever o #ects could e "ound6led$er oo(s "rom the nineteen,t!enties, elon$in$ to the hat shop that had once operated do!nstairs, pieces o" !ood le"t over "rom picture "rames made y the artist !hose canvases !ere no! stac(ed a$ainst one !all and apparently a andoned& The $lass !as $rimy, ut outside the sunli$ht ounced o"" the

side!al(s, the empty $ravelled par(in$ lots, the lo! stuccoed uildin$s, !ith !hat seemed a special 7unday ri$htness& )ardly any ody moved throu$h these do!nto!n streets& ;othin$ !as open e%cept the occasional hole,in,the,!all co""ee shop or lac(adaisical, "lyspec(ed convenience store& *auline !as the one !ho !ent out at the rea( to $et so"t drin(s and co""ee& 7he !as the one !ho had the least to say a out the play and the !ay it !as $oin$6even thou$h she !as the only one !ho had read it e"ore6 ecause she alone had never done any actin$& 7o it seemed proper "or her to volunteer& 7he en#oyed her short !al( in the empty streets6she "elt as i" she had ecome an ur an

person, someone detached and solitary, !ho lived in the $lare o" an important dream& 7ometimes she thou$ht o" 'rian at home, !or(in$ in the $arden and (eepin$ an eye on the children& Or perhaps he had ta(en them to Dallas Road6she recalled a promise6to sail oats on the pond& That li"e seemed ra$$ed and tedious compared to !hat !ent on in the rehearsal room6the hours o" e""ort, the concentration, the sharp e%chan$es, the s!eatin$ and tension& Jven the taste o" co""ee, its scaldin$ itterness, and the "act that it !as chosen y nearly every ody in pre"erence to a "resher,tastin$ and may e more heal"ul drin( out o" the cooler, seemed satis"yin$ to her& When she said that she had to $o a!ay "or the t!o,!ee( holiday, De""rey loo(ed thunderstruc(, as i" he had never ima$ined that thin$s li(e holidays could come into her li"e& Then he turned $rim and sli$htly satirical, as i" this !ere #ust another lo! that he mi$ht have e%pected& *auline e%plained that she !ould miss only the one 7unday6the one in the middle o" the t!o !ee(s6 ecause she and 'rian !ere drivin$ up the :sland on a Monday and comin$ ac( on a 7unday mornin$& 7he promised to $et ac( in time "or rehearsal& *rivately she !ondered ho! she !ould do this6it al!ays too( so much lon$er than you e%pected to pac( up and $et a!ay& 7he !ondered i" she could possi ly come ac( y hersel", on the mornin$ us& That !ould pro a ly e too much to as( "or& 7he didnt mention it& 7he couldnt as( him i" it !as only the play he !as thin(in$ a out, only her a sence "rom a rehearsal that caused the thundercloud& At the moment, it very li(ely !as& When he spo(e to her at rehearsals there !as never any su$$estion that he ever spo(e to her in any other !ay& The only di""erence in his treatment o" her !as that perhaps he e%pected less o" her, o" her actin$, than he did o" the others& And that !ould e understanda le to any ody& 7he !as the only one chosen out o" the lue, "or the !as she loo(ed6the others had all sho!n up at the audition he had advertised on si$ns put up in ca"es and oo(stores around to!n& 4? <et she thou$ht they all (ne! !hat !as $oin$ on, in spite o" De""reys o""hand and a rupt and none too civil !ays& They (ne! that a"ter every one o" them had stra$$led o"" home he !ould !al( across the room and olt the staircase door& /At "irst *auline had pretended to leave !ith the rest and had even $ot into her car and circled the loc(, ut later such a tric( had come to seem insultin$, not #ust to hersel" and De""rey ut to the others, !hom she !as sure !ould never etray her, ound as they all !ere under the temporary ut potent spell o" the play&5 De""rey crossed the room and olted the door& Jvery time, this !as li(e a ne! decision that he had

to ma(e& 9ntil it !as done, she !ouldnt loo( at him& The sound o" the olt ein$ pushed into place, the ominous or "atalistic sound o" metal hittin$ metal, $ave her a localiAed shoc( o" capitulation& 'ut she didnt ma(e a move, she !aited "or him to come ac( to her !ith the !hole story o" the a"ternoons la or drainin$ out o" his "ace, the e%pression o" matter,o","act and customary disappointment cleared a!ay, replaced y the live ener$y she al!ays "ound surprisin$& B7o& Tell us !hat this play o" yours is a out,C 'rians "ather said& B:s it one o" those ones !here they ta(e their clothes o"" on the sta$eEC B;o!, dont tease her,C said 'rians mother& 'rian and *auline had put the children to ed and !al(ed over to his parents cotta$e "or an evenin$ drin(& The sunset !as ehind them, ehind the "orests o" Lancouver :sland, ut the

mountains in "ront o" them, all clear no! and hard cut a$ainst the s(y, shone in its pin( li$ht& 7ome hi$h inland mountains !ere capped !ith pin( summer sno!& 41 BThe story o" Orpheus and Jurydice is that Jurydice died,C *auline said& BAnd Orpheus $oes do!n to the under!orld to try to $et her ac(& And his !ish is $ranted, ut only i" he promises not to loo( at her& ;ot to loo( ac( at her& 7hes !al(in$ ehind him6C BT!elve paces,C said 'rian& BAs is only ri$ht&C B:ts a 8ree( story, ut its set in modern times,C said *auline& BAt least this version is& More or less modern& Orpheus is a musician travelin$ around !ith his "ather6theyre oth musicians6and Jurydice is an actress& This is in France&C BTranslatedEC 'rians "ather said& B;o,C said 'rian& B'ut dont !orry, its not in French& :t !as !ritten in Transylvanian&C 1? B:ts so hard to ma(e sense o" anythin$,C 'rians mother said !ith a !orried lau$h& B:ts so hard, !ith 'rian around&C B:ts in Jn$lish,C *auline said& BAnd youre !hats,her,nameEC 7he said, B:m Jurydice&C B)e $et you ac( O&K&EC 11 B;o,C she said& B)e loo(s ac( at me and then : have to stay dead&C BOh, an unhappy endin$,C 'rians mother said&

B<oure so $or$eousEC said 'rians "ather s(eptically& B)e cant stop himsel" "rom loo(in$ ac(EC B:ts not that,C said *auline& 'ut at this point she "elt that somethin$ had een achieved y her "ather,in,la!, he had done !hat he meant to do, !hich !as the same thin$ that he nearly al!ays meant to do, in any conversation she had !ith him& And that !as to rea( throu$h the care"ul structure o" some e%planation he had as(ed her "or, and she had un!illin$ly ut patiently $iven, and !ith a seemin$ly ne$li$ent (ic( (noc( it into ru le& )e had een dan$erous to her "or a lon$ time in this !ay, thou$h he !asnt particularly so toni$ht& 'ut 'rian did not (no! that& 'rain !as still "i$urin$ out ho! to come to her rescue& 3? B*auline is $or$eous,C 'rian said& B<es indeed,C said his mother& BMay e i" shed $o to the hairdresser,C his "ather said& 'ut *aulines lon$ hair !as such an old o #ection o" his that it had ecome a "amily #o(e& Jven *auline lau$hed& 7he said, B: cant a""ord to till !e $et the veranda roo" "i%ed&C And 'rian lau$hed oisterously, "ull o" relie" that she !as a le to ta(e all this as a #o(e& :t !as !hat he had al!ays told her to do& BDust (id him ac(& :ts the only !ay to handle him&C B<eah, !ell, i" youd $ot yourselves a decent house,C said his "ather& 'ut this, li(e *aulines hair, !as such a "amiliar sore point that it couldnt rouse any ody& 'rian and *auline had ou$ht a handsome house in ad repair on a street in Lictoria !here old mansions !ere ein$ turned into ill, used apartment uildin$s& The house, the street, the messy old 8arry oa(s, the "act that no asement had een lasted out under the house, !as all a horror to 'rians "ather& 7o !hat he said no! a out a decent house mi$ht e some (ind o" peace si$nal& Or could e ta(en so& 31 'rian !as an only son& )e !as a math teacher& )is "ather !as a civil en$ineer, and part o!ner o" a contractin$ company& :" he had hoped that he !ould have a son !ho !as an en$ineer and mi$ht come into the company, there !as never any mention o" it& *auline had as(ed 'rian !hether he thou$ht the carpin$ a out their house, and her hair, and the oo(s she read, mi$ht e a cover "or this lar$er disappointment, ut 'rian had said, B;ope& :n our "amily !e complain a out #ust !hatever !e !ant to complain a out& We aint su tle, Maam&C *auline still !ondered, !hen she head his mother tal(in$ a out ho! teachers ou$ht to e the

most honored people in the !orld and they did not $et hal" the credit they deserved and that she didnt (no! ho! 'rian mana$ed it, day a"ter day& Then his "ather mi$ht say, BThats ri$ht,C or B: sure !ouldnt !ant to do it, : can tell you that& They couldnt pay me to do it&C And 'rian !ould turn that into a #o(e, as he turned nearly everythin$ into a #o(e& BDont !orry, Dad& They dont pay you much&C 'rian in his everyday li"e !as a much more dramatic person than De""rey& )e dominated his classes y (eepin$ up a parade o" #o(es and antics, e%tendin$ the role that he had al!ays played, *auline elieved, !ith his mother and "ather& )e acted dum , he ounced ac( "rom pretended humiliations, he traded insults& )e !as a ully in a $ood cause6a chivyin$, cheer"ul, indestructi le ully& >? B<ou oy has certainly made his mar( !ith us,C the principal said to *auline& B)e has not #ust survived, !hich is somethin$ in itsel"& )e has made his mar(&C <our oy& )e called his students oneheads& )is tone !as a""ectionate, "atalistic& )e said that his "ather !as the Kin$ o" the *hilistines, a pure and natural ar arian& And that his mother !as a dishra$, $ood, natured and !orn out& 'ut ho!ever he dismissed such people, he could not e lon$ !ithout them& )e too( his students on campin$ trips& And he could not ima$ine a summer !ithout this shared holiday& )e !as mortally a"raid, every year, that *auline !ould re"use to $o alon$& Or that, havin$ a$reed to $o, she !as $oin$ to e misera le, ta(e o""ense at somethin$ his "ather said, complain a out ho! much time she had to spend !ith his mother, sul( ecause there !as no !ay they could do anythin$ y themselves& 7he mi$ht decide to spend all day in their o!n cotta$e, readin$, and pretendin$ to have a sun urn& All those thin$s had happened, on previous holidays& 'ut this year she !as easin$ up& )e told her he could see that, and he !as $rate"ul to her& B: (no! its an e""ort,C he said& B:ts di""erent "or me& Theyre my parents and :m used to not ta(in$ them seriously&C >1 *auline came "rom a "amily that too( thin$s so seriously that her parents had $ot a divorce& )er mother !as no! dead& 7he had a distant, thou$h cordial, relationship !ith her "ather and her t!o much older sisters& 7he said that they had nothin$ in common& 7he (ne! 'rian could not understand

ho! that could e a reason& 7he sa! that com"ort it $ave him, this year, to see thin$s $oin$ so !ell& 7he had thou$ht it !as laAiness or co!ardice that (ept him "rom rea(in$ the arran$ement, ut no! she sa! that it !as somethin$ "ar more positive& )e needed to have his !i"e and his parents and his children ound to$ether li(e this, he needed to involve *auline in his li"e !ith his parents and to rin$ his parents to some reco$nition o" her6thou$h the reco$nition, "rom his "ather, !ould al!ays e mu""led and contrary, and "rom his mother too pro"use, too easily come y, to mean much& Also he !anted *auline to e connected6and the children, too6to his o!n childhood& )e !anted these holidays to e lin(ed to the holidays o" his youth !ith their luc(y or unluc(y !eather, car trou les, oatin$ scares, ee stin$s, marathon Monopoly $ames, to all the thin$s that he told his mother he !as ored to death hearin$ a out& )e !anted pictures "rom this summer to e ta(en, and "itted into his mothers al um, a continuation o" all the other pictures that he $roaned at the mention o"& The only time they could tal( to each other !as in ed, late at ni$ht& 'ut they did tal( then, more than !as usual !ith them at home, !here 'rian !as so tired that o"ten he "ell immediately asleep& And in ordinary dayli$ht it !as hard to tal( to him ecause o" his #o(es& 7he could see the #o(e ri$htenin$ his eyes& /)is colorin$ !as very li(e hers6dar( hair and pale s(in and $ray eyes6 ut her eyes !ere cloudy and his !ere li$ht, li(e clear !ater over stones&5 7he could see it pullin$ at the corners o" his mouth as he "ora$ed amon$ your !ords to catch a pun or the start o" a rhyme6 anythin$ that could ta(e the conversation a!ay, into a surdity& )is !hole ody, tall and loosely #oined to$ether and still almost as s(inny as a teena$ers, t!itched !ith comic propensity, 'e"ore she married him, *auline had a "riend named 8racie, a rather $rumpy,loo(in$ $irl, su versive a out men& 'rian had thou$ht her a $irl !hose spirits needed a oost, and so he made even more than the usual e""ort& And 8racie said to *auline, B)o! can you stand the non,stop sho!EC BThats not the real 'rian,C *auline had said& B)es di""erent !hen !ere alone&C 'ut, loo(in$ ac(, she !ondered ho! true that had ever een& )ad she said it simply to de"end her choice, as you did !hen you had made up your mind to $et marriedE Jven in the cotta$e, !ith the !indo! open on the un"amiliar dar(ness and stillness o" the ni$ht, he teased a little& )e had to spea( to De""rey as Monsieur le Directeur, !hich made the play, or the "act that it !as a French play, sli$htly ridiculous& Or perhaps it !as De""rey himsel", De""reys seriousness a out the play, that had to e called into Fuestion&

*auline didnt care& :t !as such a pleasure and a relie" to her to mention De""reys name& 8? Thou$h most o" the time she didnt mention him, she circled around that pleasure& 7he descri ed all the others instead& The hairdresser and the har or pilot and the us oy and the old man !ho claimed to have once acted on the radio& )e played OrphPes "ather, and $ave De""rey the most trou le, ecause he had the stu ornest notions o" his o!n a out actin$& The middle,a$ed impresario, M& Dulac, !as played y a t!enty,"our,year,old travel a$ent& And Mathias, !ho !as Jurydices "ormer oy"riend, presuma ly around her o!n a$e, !as played y the mana$er o" a shoe store, !ho !as married and a "ather& BWhy didnt Monsieur le Directeur cast those t!o the other !ay roundEC said 'rian& BThats the !ay he does thin$s,C *auline said& BWhat he sees in us is somethin$ di""erent "rom the o vious&C For instance, she said the us oy !as a di""icult OrphPe& 81 B)es only nineteen, hes terri ly shy, ut hes determined to e an actor& Jven i" its li(e ma(in$ love to his $randmother& De""rey has to (eep at him& MKeep your arms around her a little lon$er, stro(e her a little6C B)e mi$ht $et to li(e it,C 'rian said& BMay e : should come around and (eep an eye on him&C At this *auline snorted& When she had started to Fuote De""rey she had "elt a $ivin$,!ay in her !om or the ottom o" her stomach, a shoc( that had traveled oddly up!ard and hit her vocal cords& 7he had to cover up this Fua(in$ y $ro!lin$ in a !ay that !as supposed to e an imitation /thou$h De""rey never $ro!led or ranted or carried on in any theatrical !ay at all5& 7tro(e her a little& B'ut theres a point a out him ein$ so innocent,C she said hurriedly& B'ein$ not so physical& 'ein$ a!(!ard&C 7he e$an to tal( a out OrphPe in the play, not the us oy6OrphPes pro lems !ith love and reality& OrphPe !ill not put up !ith anythin$ less than per"ection& )e !ants a love that is outside o" ordinary li"e& )e !ants a per"ect Jurydice& 0? BJurydice is more realistic& 7hes carried on !ith Mathias and !ith M& Dulac& 7hes een around her mother and her mothers lover& 7he (no!s !hat people are li(e& 'ut she loves OrphPe& 7he loves him etter, in a !ay, than he loves her& 7he loves him etter ecause shes not such a "ool& 7he loves him li(e a human person&C

B7hes slept !ith those other $uysEC BWell, !ith M& Dulac she had to, she couldnt $et out o" it& 7he didnt !ant to, ut pro a ly a"ter a !hile she en#oyed it, ecause a"ter a certain point she couldnt help en#oyin$ it& Dust ecause shes slept !ith those men doesnt mean shes corrupt,C *auline said& B7he !asnt in love then& 7he hadnt met OrphPe& Theres one speech !here he tells her that everythin$ shes done is stic(in$ to her, and its dis$ustin$& Hies shes told him& The other men& :ts all stic(in$ to her "orever& And then o" course M& )enri plays up to that& )e tells OrphPe that hell e #ust as ad and that one day hell !al( do!n the street !ith Jurydice and hell loo( li(e a man !ith a do$ hes tryin$ to lose&C 'rian lau$hed& )e said, BThat could e true&C B'ut not inevita ly,C said *auline& BThats !hats silly& :ts not inevita le at all&C 01 7o OrphPe is at "ault, *auline said decidedly& )e loo(s ac( at Jurydice on purpose to (ill her and $et rid o" her ecause she isnt per"ect& 'ecause o" him she has to die a second time& 'rian, on his ac( and !ith his eyes !ide open /she (ne! that ecause o" the tone o" his voice5, said, B'ut doesnt he die, tooEC B<es& )e chooses to&C B7o then theyre to$etherEC B<es& Hi(e Romeo and Duliet& OrphPe is !ith Jurydice at last& Thats !hat M& )enri says& Thats the last line o" the play& Thats the end&C *auline rolled over onto her side and touched her chee( to 'rians shoulder6not to start anythin$ ut to emphasiAe !hat she said ne%t& B:ts a eauti"ul play in one !ay ut in another its so silly& And it isnt really li(e MRomeo and Duliet, ecause it isnt ad luc( or circumstances& :ts on purpose& 7o they dont have to $o on !ith li"e and $et married and have (ids and uy an old house and "i% it up and6C +?? BAnd have a""airs,C said 'rian& BA"ter all, theyre French&C Then he said, BAnd e li(e my parents&C *auline lau$hed& BDo they have a""airsE : cant ima$ine&C BOh, sure,C said 'rian& B: meant their li"e&C BOh&C +?1 BHo$ically : can see (illin$ yoursel" so you !ont turn into your parents& : #ust dont elieve any ody !ould do it&C

They !ent on speculatin$, and com"orta ly ar$uin$, in a !ay that !as not usual,

ut not

alto$ether un"amiliar to them& They had done this e"ore, at lon$ intervals in their married li"e6 tal(ed hal" the ni$ht a out 8od or "ear o" death or ho! children should e educated or !hether money !as important& At last they admitted to ein$ too tired to ma(e sense any lon$er, and arran$ed themselves in a comradely cuddle and !ent to sleep& Finally a rainy day& 'rian and his parents !ere drivin$ into Camp ell River to $et $roceries, and $in, and to ta(e 'rians "athers car to a $ara$e& 'rian had to $o alon$, !ith his car, #ust in case the other car had to e le"t in the $ara$e overni$ht& *auline said that she had to stay home ecause o" Maras nap& 7he persuaded Caitlin to lie do!n, too6allo!in$ her to ta(e her music o% to ed !ith her i" she played it under the covers& Then *auline spread the script on the (itchen ta le, and dran( co""ee and !ent over the scene in !hich OrphPe says that its intolera le, at last, to stay in t!o s(ins, t!o envelopes !ith their o!n lood and o%y$en sealed up in their solitude, and Jurydice tells him to e Fuiet& BDont tal(& Dont thin(& Dust let your hand !ander, let it e happy on its o!n&C ++? <our hand is my happiness, says Jurydice& Accept that& Accept your happiness& O" course he says he cannot& Caitlin called out "reFuently to as( !hat time it !as, and *auline could hear the music o%& 7he hurried to the edroom door and hissed at her to turn it o"", not to !a(e Mara& B:" you play it li(e that a$ain :ll ta(e it a!ay "rom you& O&K&EC 'ut Mara !as already rustlin$ around in her cri and in the ne%t "e! minutes there !ere sounds o" so"t, encoura$in$ conversation "rom Caitlin, desi$ned to $et her sister !ide a!a(e& Then o" Mara rattlin$ the cri railin$, pullin$ hersel" up, thro!in$ her ottle out onto the "loor, and startin$ the ird cries that !ould $ro! more and more desolate until they rou$ht her mother& ++1 B: didnt !a(e her,C Caitlin said& B7he !as a!a(e all y hersel"& :ts not rainin$ anymore& Can !e $o do!n to the eachEC 7he !as ri$ht& :t !asnt rainin$& *auline chan$ed Mara, told Caitlin to $et her athin$ suit on and "ind her sand pail& 7he $ot into her o!n athin$ suit and put on her shorts on top o" it, in case the rest o" the "amily arrived home !hile she !as do!n there& /BDad doesnt li(e the !ay some !omen

#ust $o ri$ht out o" their cotta$es in their athin$ suits,C 'rians mother had said to her& B: $uess he and : #ust $re! up in other times&C5 7he pic(ed up the script to ta(e it alon$, then laid it do!n& 7he !as a"raid that she !ould $et too a sor ed in it and ta(e her eye o"" the children "or a moment too lon$& The thou$hts that came to her, o" De""rey, !ere not really thou$hts at all6they !ere more li(e alterations in her ody& This could happen !hen she !as sittin$ on the each /tryin$ to stay in the hal" shade o" a ush and so preserve her pallor, as De""rey had ordered5& Or !hen she !as !rin$in$ out diapers, or !hen she and 'rian !ere visitin$ his parents& :n the middle o" Monopoly $ames, 7cra le $ames, card $ames& 7he !ent ri$ht on tal(in$, listenin$, !or(in$, (eepin$ trac( o" the children, !hile some memory o" her secret li"e distur ed her li(e a radiant e%plosion& Then a !arm !ei$ht settled, reassurance "illin$ up all her hollo!s& 'ut it didnt last, this com"ort lea(ed a!ay, and she !as li(e a miser !hose !ind"all has vanished and !ho is convinced such luc( can never stri(e a$ain& Hon$in$ uc(led her up and drove her to the discipline o" countin$ days& 7ometimes she even cut the days into "ractions to "i$ure out more e%actly ho! much time had $one& 7he thou$ht o" $oin$ in to Camp ell River, ma(in$ some e%cuse, so that she could $et to a phone ooth and call him& The cotta$es had no phones6the only pu lic phone !as in the hall o" the Hod$e, across "rom the entrance to the dinin$ room& 'ut she did not have the num er o" the hotel !here De""rey !or(ed& And, esides that, she could never $et a!ay to Camp ell River in the evenin$& 7he !as a"raid that i" she called him at home in the daytime his mother the French teacher mi$ht ans!er& )e said she hardly ever le"t the house in the summer& Dust once, she had ta(en the "erry to Lancouver "or the day& De""rey had phoned *auline to as( her to come over& 'rian !as teachin$ and Caitlin !as at her play $roup& *auline said, B: cant& : have Mara&C +-? BCouldnt you rin$ her alon$EC he as(ed& 7he said no& BWhy notE Couldnt you rin$ some thin$s "or her to play !ithEC ;o, said *auline& B: couldnt,C she said& B: #ust couldnt&C :t seemed too dan$erous to her, to trundle her a y alon$ on such a $uilty e%pedition& To a house !here cleanin$ "luids !ould not e esto!ed on hi$h shelves and all pills and cou$h syrups and ci$arettes and uttons put sa"ely out o"

reach& And even i" she escaped poisonin$ or cho(in$, Mara mi$ht

e storin$ up time om s6

memories o" a stran$e house !here she !as stran$ely disre$arded, o" a closed door, noises on the other side o" it& B: #ust !anted you,C De""rey said, B: #ust !anted you in my ed&C +-1 7he said a$ain, !ea(ly, B;o&C Those !ords o" his (ept comin$ ac( to her& : !anted you in my ed& A hal",#o(in$ ur$ency in his voice ut also a determination, a practicality, as i" Bin my edC meant somethin$ more, the ed he spo(e o" ta(in$ on lar$e, less material dimensions& )ad she made a $reat mista(e, !ith that re"usalE With that reminder o" ho! "enced in she !as, in !hat any ody !ould call her real li"eE The each !as nearly empty6people had $ot used to its ein$ a rainy day& The sand !as too heavy "or Caitlin to ma(e a castle or di$ an irri$ation system6pro#ects she !ould underta(e only !ith her "ather, any!ay, ecause she sensed that his interest in them !as !holehearted, and *aulines !as not& 7he !andered a it "orlornly at the ed$e o" the !ater, missin$ the presence o" other children, the nameless instant "riends and occasional stone,thro!in$, !ater,(ic(in$ enemies, the shrie(in$ and splashin$ and "allin$ a out& A oy a little i$$er than she !as and apparently all y himsel" stood (nee deep in the !ater "arther do!n the each& :" these t!o could $et to$ether it mi$ht e all ri$ht, the !hole each e%perience mi$ht e retrieved& *auline couldnt tell i" Caitlin !as no! ma(in$ those little splashy runs into the !ater "or his ene"it, or !hether he !as !atchin$ her !ith interest or scorn& Mara didnt need company, at least "or no!& 7he stum led to!ard the !ater, "elt it touch her "eet and chan$ed her mind, stopped, loo(ed around, and spotted *auline& B*a!& *a!,C she said, in happy reco$nition& B*a!C !as !hat she said "or B*auline,C instead o" BMotherC or BMommy&C Hoo(in$ around over alanced herG she sat do!n hal" on the sand and hal" in the !ater, made a sFua!( o" surprise !hich turned into an announcement, and then, y some determined un$race"ul maneuvers that involved puttin$ her !ei$ht on her hands, rose to her "eet, !averin$ and triumphant& 7he had een !al(in$ "or hal" a year, ut $ettin$ around on the sand !as still a challen$e& ;o! she came ac( to!ard *auline, ma(in$ some reasona le casual remar(s in her o!n lan$ua$e& +.? B7and,C said *auline, holdin$ up a clot o" it& BHoo(& Mara& 7and&C

Mara corrected her, callin$ it somethin$ else6it sounded li(e B!hap&C )er thic( diaper under her plastic pants and her terry,cloth playsuit $ave her a "at ottom, and that, alon$ !ith her plump chee(s and shoulders and her sidelon$ important e%pression, made her loo( li(e a ro$uish matron& *auline ecame a!are o" someone callin$ her name& :t had een called t!o or three times, ut ecause the voice !as un"amiliar she had not reco$niAed it& 7he stood up and !aved& :t !as the !oman !ho !or(ed in the store at the Hod$e& 7he !as leanin$ over the porch rail callin$, BMrs& Keatin$& Mrs& Keatin$E Telephone, Mrs& Keatin$&C *auline hoisted Mara onto her hip and summoned Caitlin& 7he and the little oy !ere a!are o" each other no!: they !ere oth pic(in$ up stones "rom the ottom and "lin$in$ them out into the !ater& At "irst she didnt hear *auline, or pretended not to hear& B7tore,C called *auline& BCaitlin& 7tore&C When she !as sure Caitlin !ould "ollo!6it !as the !ord BstoreC that had done it, the reminder o" the tiny store in the Hod$e !here you could uy ice cream and candy6she e$an the tre( across the sand and up the "li$ht o" !ooden steps& )al"!ay up she stopped, said, BMara, you !ei$h a ton,C and shi"ted the a y to her other hip& Caitlin "ollo!ed, an$in$ a stic( a$ainst the railin$& +.1 BCan : have a Fud$sicleE MotherE Can :EC BWell see&C The pu lic phone !as eside a ulletin oard on the other side o" the main hall and across "rom the door to the dinin$ room& A in$o $ame had een set up in there, ecause o" the rain& B)ope hes still han$in$ on,C the !oman !ho !or(ed in the store called out& 7he !as unseen no! ehind her counter& *auline, still holdin$ Mara, pic(ed up the dan$lin$ receiver and said reathlessly, B)elloEC 7he !as e%pectin$ to hear 'rian tellin$ her a out some delay in Camp ell River or as(in$ her !hat it !as she had !anted him to $et at the dru$store& :t !as #ust the one thin$6calamine lotion6so he had not !ritten it do!n& +4? B*auline,C said De""rey& B:ts me&C Mara !as umpin$ and scram lin$ alon$ *aulines side, ea$er to $et do!n& Caitlin came alon$ the hall and !ent into the store, leavin$ !et sandy "ootprints& *auline said, BDust a minute, #ust a minute&C 7he let Mara slide do!n and hurried to close the door that led to the steps& 7he did not

remem er tellin$ De""rey the name o" this place, thou$h she had told him rou$hly !here it !as& 7he heard the !oman in the store spea(in$ to Caitlin in a sharper voice than she !ould use to children !hose parents !ere eside them& BDid you "or$et to put your "eet under that tapEC B:m here,C said De""rey& B: didnt $et alon$ so !ell !ithout you& : didnt $et alon$ at all&C Mara made "or the dinin$ room, as i" the male voice callin$ out B9nder the ;C !ere a direct invitation to her& +41 B)ere& WhereEC said *auline& 7he read the si$ns that !ere tac(ed up on the ulletin oard eside the phone: ;o *erson 9nder Fourteen <ears o" A$e ;ot Accompanied y Adult Allo!ed in 'oats or Canoes& Fishin$ Der y& 'a(e and Cra"t 7ale, 7t& 'artholome!s Church& <ou li"e is in your hands& *alms and Cards read& Reasona le and Accurate& Call Claire& B:n a motel& :n Camp ell River&C *auline (no!s !here she is e"ore she opens her eyes& ;othin$ surprises her& 7he has slept, ut not deeply enou$h to let $o o" anythin$& 7he had !aited "or 'rian in the par(in$ area o" the Hod$e, !ith the children in to!, and then she had as(ed "or the (eys& 7he told him in "ront o" his parents that there !as somethin$ else she needed, "rom Camp ell River& )e as(ed !hat !as itE And did she have any moneyE BDust somethin$,C she said, so he !ould thin( that it !as tampons or irth,control supplies, somethin$ that she didnt !ant to mention& +1? B7ure& O&K&, ut youll have to put some $as in,C he said& Hater she had to spea( to him on the phone& De""rey said she had to do it& B'ecause he !ont ta(e it "rom me& )ell thin( : (idnapped you or somethin$& )e !ont elieve it&C 'ut the stran$est thin$ o" all the thin$s that day !as that 'rian did seem, immediately, to elieve it& 7tandin$ !here she had stood not so lon$ e"ore, in the pu lic hall!ay o" the Hod$e6the in$o $ame over no!, ut people $oin$ past, she could hear them, people on their !ay out o" the dinin$

room a"ter dinner6'rian had said, BOh& Oh& Oh& O&K&,C in a voice that !ould have to e Fuic(ly controlled ut that seemed to dra! on a supply o" "atalism or "ore(no!led$e that !ent "ar eyond that necessity& BO&K&,C he said& BWhat a out the carEC +11 )e said somethin$ else, somethin$ impossi le, and then hun$ up, and she came out o" the phone ooth eside a ro! o" $as pumps in Camp ell River& BThat !as Fuic(,C De""rey said& BJasier than you e%pectedEC *auline said, B: dont (no!&C B)e may have (no!n it su consciously& *eople do (no!&C 7he shoo( her head, to tell him not to say any more, and he said, B7orry&C They !al(ed alon$ the street not touchin$ or tal(in$& +3? ;o!, loo(in$ around at leisure6the "irst real leisure or "reedom shes had since she came into that room6*auline sees that there isnt much o" anythin$ in it& Dust a #un(y dresser, the ed !ithout a head oard, an armless upholstered chair& On the !indo! a Lenetian lind !ith a ro(en slat& Also a noisy air,conditioner6De""rey turned it o"" in the ni$ht and le"t the door open on the chain, since the !indo! !as sealed& The door is shut no!& )e must have $ot up in the ni$ht and shut it& This is all she has& )er connection !ith the cotta$e !here 'rian lies no! asleep or not asleep is ro(en& Also her connection !ith the house that has een an e%pression o" her li"e !ith 'rian, o" the !ay they !anted to live& 7he has cut hersel" o"" "rom all the lar$e solid acFuisitions, li(e the !asher and dryer and the oa( ta le and the re"inished !ardro e and the chandelier that is a copy o" the one in a paintin$ y Lermeer& And #ust as much "rom those thin$s that !ere particularly hers6the pressed,$lass tum lers that she had een collectin$ and the prayer ru$ that !as pro a ly not

authentic, ut eauti"ul& Jspecially "rom those thin$s& The s(irt and louse and sandals she put on "or the trip to Camp ell River mi$ht as !ell e all she has no! to her name& 7he !ould never $o ac( to lay claim to anythin$& :" 'rian $ot in touch !ith her to as( !hat !as to e done !ith thin$s, she !ould tell him to do !hat he li(ed6thro! everythin$ into $ar a$e a$s and ta(e it to the dump, i" that !as !hat he li(ed& /:n "act she (no!s that he !ill pro a ly pac( up a trun(, !hich he does, sendin$ on, scrupulously, not only her !inter coat and oots ut thin$s li(e the !aist cincher she !ore at her !eddin$ and never since, !ith the prayer ru$ draped on top o" everythin$ li(e a "inal

statement o" his $enerosity, either natural or calculated&5 7he elieves that she !ill never a$ain care a out !hat sort o" rooms she lives in or !hat sort o" clothes she puts on& 7he !ill not e loo(in$ "or that sort o" help to $ive any ody an idea o" !ho she is, !hat she is li(e& ;ot even to $ive hersel" an idea& What she has done !ill e enou$h, it !ill e the !hole thin$& What she has done !ill e !hat she has heard a out and read a out& :t !ill e !hat Anna Karenina did and !hat Mme& 'ovary !anted to do& And !hat a teacher at 'rians school did, !ith the school secretary& )e ran o"" !ith her& That !as !hat it !as called& Runnin$ o"" !ith& Ta(in$ o"" !ith& :t !as spo(en o" dispara$in$ly, humorously, enviously& :t !as adultery ta(en one step "urther& The people !ho did had almost certainly een havin$ an a""air already, committin$ adultery "or Fuite some time e"ore they ecame desperate or coura$eous enou$h to ta(e this step& Once in a lon$ !hile a couple mi$ht claim their love !as unconsummated and technically pure, ut these people !ould e thou$ht o"6i" any ody elieved them6as ein$ not only very serious and hi$h,minded ut almost devastatin$ly "oolish, almost in a class !ith those !ho $ave up everythin$ to $o and !or( in some poor and dan$erous country& The others, the adulterers, !ere seen as irresponsi le, immature, sel"ish, or even cruel& Also luc(y& They !ere luc(y ecause the se% they had een havin$ in par(ed cars or the lon$ $rass or in each others sullied marria$e eds or most li(ely in motels li(e this one must surely have een splendid& Other!ise they !ould never have $ot such a yearnin$ "or each others company at all costs or such a "aith that their shared "uture !ould e alto$ether etter and di""erent in (ind "rom !hat they had in the past& +31 Di""erent in (ind& That is !hat *auline must elieve no!6that there is this ma#or di""erence in lives or in marria$es or unions et!een people& That some o" them have a necessity, a "ate"ulness a out them, !hich others do not have& O" course she !ould have said the same thin$ a year a$o& *eople did say that, they seemed to elieve that, and to elieve that their o!n cases !ere all o" the "irst, the special (ind, even !hen any ody could see that they !ere not& :t is too !arm in the room& De""reys ody is too !arm& Conviction and contentiousness seem to radiate "rom it, even in sleep& )is torso is thic(er than 'rians, he is pud$ier around the !aist& More "lesh on the ones, yet not so slac( to the touch& ;ot so $ood,loo(in$ in $eneral6she is sure most

people !ould say that& And not so "astidious& 'rian in ed smells o" nothin$& De""reys s(in, every time shes een !ith him, has had a a(ed,in, sli$htly oily or nutty smell& )e didnt !ash last ni$ht6 ut, then, neither did she& There !asnt time& Did he even have a tooth rush !ith himE 7he didnt, ut she had not (no!n she !as stayin$& When she met De""rey here it !as still in the ac( o" her mind that she had to concoct some colossal lie to serve her !hen she $ot home& And she6they6had to hurry& When De""rey said to her that he had decided that they must stay to$ether, that she !ould come !ith him to Washin$ton 7tate, that they !ould have to drop the play ecause thin$s !ould e too di""icult "or them in Lictoria, she had loo(ed at him #ust in the lan( !ay youd loo( at some ody the moment that an earthFua(e started& 7he !as ready to tell him all the reasons !hy this !as not possi le, she still thou$ht she !as $oin$ to tell him that, ut her li"e !as comin$ adri"t in that moment& To $o ac( !ould e li(e tyin$ a sac( over her head& All she said !as BAre you sureEC )e said, B7ure&C )e said sincerely, B:ll never leave you&C +>? That did not seem the sort o" thin$ that he !ould say& Then she realiAed he !as Fuotin$6may e ironically6"rom the play& :t !as !hat OrphPe says to Jurydice !ithin a "e! moments o" their "irst meetin$ in the station u""et& 7o her li"e !as "allin$ "or!ard, she !as ecomin$ one o" those people !ho ran a!ay& A !oman !ho shoc(in$ly and incomprehensi ly $ave everythin$ up& For love, o servers !ould say !ryly& Meanin$, "or se%& ;one o" this !ould happen i" it !erent "or se%& And yet !hats the $reat di""erence thereE :ts not such a varia le procedure, in spite o" !hat youre told& 7(ins, motions, contact, results& *auline isnt a !oman "rom !hom its di""icult to $et results& 'rian $ot them& *ro a ly any ody !ould, !ho !asnt !ildly inept or morally dis$ustin$& 'ut nothin$s the same, really& With 'rian6especially, !ith 'rian, to !hom she has dedicated a sel"ish sort o" $ood !ill, !ith !hom shes lived in married complicity6there can never e this strippin$ a!ay, the inevita le "li$ht, the "eelin$s she doesnt have to strive "or ut only to $ive in to li(e reathin$ or dyin$& That she elieves can only come !hen the s(in is on De""rey, the motions made y De""rey, and the !ei$ht that ears do!n on her has De""reys heart in it, also his ha its, thou$hts, peculiarities, his am ition and loneliness /that "or all she (no!s may have mostly to do !ith

his youth5& For all she (no!s& Theres a lot she doesnt (no!& 7he hardly (no!s anythin$ a out !hat he li(es to eat or !hat music he li(es to listen to or !hat role his mother plays in his li"e /no dou t a mysterious ut important one, li(e the role o" 'rians parents5& One thin$ shes pretty sure o": !hatever pre"erences or prohi itions he has !ill e de"inite& *lates in his armor& +>1 7he slides out "rom under De""reys hand and "rom under the top sheet, !hich has a harsh smell o" leach, slips do!n to the "loor !here the edspread is lyin$ and !raps hersel" Fuic(ly in that ra$ o" $reenish,yello! chenille& 7he doesnt !ant him to open his eyes and see her "rom ehind and note the droop o" her uttoc(s& )es seen her na(ed e"ore, ut $enerally in a more "or$ivin$ moment& 7he rinses her mouth and !ashes hersel", usin$ the ar o" soap that is a out the siAe o" t!o thin sFuares o" chocolate and "irm as stone& 7hes hard used et!een the le$s, s!ollen and stin(in$& 9rinatin$ ta(es an e""ort and it seems shes constipated& Hast ni$ht !hen they !ent out and $ot ham ur$ers she "ound she could not eat& *resuma ly shell learn to do all these thin$s a$ain, theyll resume their natural importance in her li"e& At the moment its as i" she cant Fuite spare the attention& 7he has some money in her purse& 7he has to $o out and uy a tooth rush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo& Also va$inal #elly& Hast ni$ht they used condoms the "irst t!o times ut nothin$ the third time& 7he didnt rin$ her !atch and De""rey doesnt !ear one& Theres no cloc( in the room, o" course& 7he thin(s its early6theres still an early loo( to the li$ht in spite o" the heat& The stores pro a ly !ont e open, ut therell e someplace !here she can $et co""ee& De""rey has turned onto his other side& 7he must have !a(ened him, #ust "or a moment& +8? Theyll have a edroom& A (itchen, an address& )ell $o to !or(& 7hell $o to the laundromat& May e shell $o to !or(, too& 7ellin$ thin$s, !aitin$ on ta les, tutorin$ students& 7he (no!s French and Hatin6do they teach French and Hatin in American hi$h schoolsE Can you $et a #o i" youre not and AmericanE De""rey isnt& 7he leaves him the (ey& 7hell have to !a(e him to $et ac( in& Theres nothin$ to !rite a note !ith, or on& :t is early& The motel is on the hi$h!ay at the north end o" to!n, eside the rid$e& Theres no

tra""ic yet& 7he scu""s ac( and "orth under the cotton!ood trees at the ed$e o" the lot "or Fuite a !hile e"ore a vehicle o" any (ind rum les over the rid$e6thou$h the tra""ic on it shoo( their re$ularly late into the ni$ht& 7omethin$ is comin$ no!& A truc(& 'ut not #ust a truc(6theres a lar$e lea( "act comin$ at her& And it has not arrived out o" no!here6its een !aitin$, cruelly nud$in$ at her ever since she !o(e up or even all ni$ht& Caitlin and Mara& +81 Hast ni$ht on the phone, a"ter spea(in$ in such a "lat and controlled and almost a$reea le voice 6as i" he prided himsel" on not ein$ shoc(ed, not o #ectin$ or pleadin$6'rian crac(ed open& )e said !ith contempt and "ury and no concern "or !hoever mi$ht hear him, BWell, then6!hat a out the (idsEC The receiver e$an to sha(e a$ainst *aulines ear& 7he said, BWell tal(6C ut he did not seem to hear her& BThe children,C he said, in this same shiverin$ and vindictive voice& Chan$in$ the !ord B(idsC to BchildrenC !as li(e slammin$ a oard do!n on her6a heavy, "ormal, ri$hteous threat& BThe children stay,C 'rian said& B*auline& Did you hear meEC +0? B;o,C said *auline& B<es& : heard you, ut6C BAll ri$ht& <ou heard me& Remem er& The children stay&C :t !as all he could do& To ma(e her see !hat she !as doin$, !hat she !as endin$, and to punish her i" she did so& ;o ody !ould lame him& There mi$ht e "ina$lin$, there mi$ht e ar$ainin$, there !ould certainly e hum lin$ o" hersel", ut there it !as, li(e a round cold stone in her $ullet, li(e a cannon all& And it !ould remain there unless she chan$ed her mind entirely& The children stay& Their car6hers and 'rians6is still sittin$ in the motel par(in$ lot& 'rian !ill have to as( his "ather or his mother to drive him up here today to $et it& 7he has the (eys in her purse& There are spare (eys6he !ill surely rin$ them& 7he unloc(s the car door and thro!s her (eys on the seat, then loc(s the door "rom the inside and shuts it& ;o! she cant $o ac(& 7he cant $et into the car and drive ac( and say that shed een insane& :" she did that he !ould "or$ive her ut hed never $et over it and neither !ould she& Theyd $o on, ed

thou$h, as people did& +01 7he !al(s out o" the par(in$ lot, she !al(s alon$ the side!al(, into to!n& The !ei$ht o" Mara on her hip yesterday& The si$ht o" Caitlins "ootprints on the "loor& *a!& *a!& 7he doesnt need the (eys to $et ac( to them, she doesnt need the car& 7he could e$ a ride on the hi$h!ay& 8ive in, $ive in, $et ac( to them any !ay at all6ho! can she not do thatE A sac( over her head& -?? This is acute pain& :t !ill ecome chronic& Chronic means that it !ill e permanent ut perhaps not constant& :t may also mean that you !ont die o" it& <ou !ont $et "ree o" it ut you !ont die o" it& <ou !ont "eel it every minute ut you !ont spend many days !ithout it, either& And youll learn some tric(s to dull it or anish it or else youll end up destroyin$ !hat youve $ot& What you incurred this pain to $et& :t isnt his "ault& )es still an innocent or a sava$e, !ho doesnt (no! theres a pain so dura le in the !orld& 7ay to yoursel", <ou lose them any!ay& They $ro! up& For a mother theres al!ays !aitin$ this private, sli$htly ridiculous desolation& Theyll "or$et this time, in one !ay or another theyll diso!n you& Or han$ around till you dont (no! !hat to do a out them, the !ay 'rian has& And, still, !hat pain& To carry alon$ and $et used to until its only the past youre $rievin$ "or and no lon$er any possi le present& )er children have $ro!n up& They dont hate her& For $oin$ a!ay or stayin$ a!ay& They dont "or$ive her, either& *erhaps they !ouldnt have "or$iven her any!ay, ut it !ould have een a out somethin$ di""erent& Caitlin remem ers a little a out the summer at the Hod$e, Mara nothin$& Caitlin calls it Bthat place 8randma and 8randpa stayed at&C BThe place !e !ere at !hen you !ent a!ay,C she says& BOnly !e didnt (no! you !ent a!ay !ith the man !ho !as OrphPe&C -?1 *auline has told them a out the play& *auline says, B:t !asnt OrphPe&C B:t !asnt OrphPeE Oh, !ell& : thou$ht it !as&C B;o&C

BWho !as it, thenEC -+? BDust a man connected,C says *auline& B:t !asnt him&C

TO*:C7 FOR CR:T:CAH T):;K:;8 A;D WR:T:;8

+& ,*auline is interested in havin$ an a""air& Does Munro $ive any hints that somethin$ is missin$ "rom *aulines li"eE Another !ay o" puttin$ this Fuestion: :" an author says that a character is interested in havin$ an a""air, is the author o li$ated to su$$est in !hat !ays the characters li"e is unsatis"actoryE -& ,CharacteriAe 'rian& Why do you suppose *auline married himE .& ,:s it your $uess that men di""er "rom !omen in their responses to this storyE *lease e%plain your vie!&

.his essay ori#inated as a lecture that was revised for publication in 6ohn /etcalfs /a in# It Kew' Contemporary Canadian "tories 319@24!

!hat Is Real2

[1903]

Whenever people $et an opportunity to as( me Fuestions a out my !ritin$, : can e sure that some o" the Fuestions as(ed !ill e these: BDo you !rite a out real peopleEC BDid those thin$s really happenEC BWhen you !rite a out a small to!n are you really !ritin$ a out Win$hamEC /Win$ham is the small to!n in Ontario !here : !as orn and $re! up, and it has o"ten een assumed, y people !ho should (no! etter, that : have simply B"ictionaliAedC this place in my !or(& :ndeed, the local ne!spaper has ta(en me to tas( "or ma(in$ it the B utt o" a soured and cruel introspection&C5 1 The usual thin$, "or !riters, is to re$ard these either as very naive Fuestions, as(ed y people !ho really dont understand the di""erence et!een auto io$raphy and "iction, !ho cant reco$niAe the device o" the "irst,person narrator, or else as catch,you,out Fuestions posed y #ournalists !ho hope to stir up e%actly the sort o" dreary /and to outsiders, sli$htly comic5 indi$nation voiced y my home,to!n paper& Writers ans!er such Fuestions patiently or crossly accordin$ to temperament and the mood theyre in& They say, no, you must understand, my characters are compositesG no, those thin$s didnt happen the !ay : !rote a out themG no, o" course not, that isnt Win$ham /or !hatever

other place it may e that has had the Fueer unsou$ht,a"ter distinction o" hatchin$ a !riter5& Or the !riter may, ris(ily, as( the Fuestioners !hat is real, any!ayE ;one o" this seems to e very

satis"actory& *eople $o on as(in$ these same Fuestions ecause the su #ect really does interest and e!ilder them& :t !ould seem to e Fuite true that they dont (no! !hat "iction is& And ho! could they (no!, !hen !hat it is, is chan$in$ all the time, and !e di""er amon$ ourselves, and !e dont really try to e%plain ecause it is too di""icultE What : !ould li(e to do here is !hat : cant do in t!o or three sentences at the end o" a readin$& : !ont try to e%plain !hat "iction is, and !hat short stories are /assumin$, !hich !e cant, that there is any "i%ed thin$ that it is and they are5, ut !hat short stories are to me, and ho! : !rite them, and ho! : use thin$s that are Breal&C : !ill start y e%plainin$ ho! : read stories !ritten y other people& For one thin$, : can start readin$ them any!hereG "rom e$innin$ to end, "rom end to e$innin$, "rom any point in et!een in either direction& 7o o viously : dont ta(e up a story and "ollo! it as i" it !ere a road, ta(in$ me some!here, !ith vie!s and neat diversions alon$ the !ay& : $o into it, and move ac( and "orth and settle here and there, and stay in it "or a !hile& :ts more li(e a house& Jvery ody (no!s !hat a house does, ho! it encloses space and ma(es connections et!een one enclosed space and another and presents !hat is outside in a ne! !ay& This is the nearest : can come to e%plainin$ !hat a story does "or me, and !hat : !ant my stories to do "or other people& 7o !hen : !rite a story : !ant to ma(e a certain (ind o" structure, and : (no! the "eelin$ : !ant to $et "rom ein$ inside that structure& This is the hard part o" the e%planation, !here : have to use a !ord li(e B"eelin$,C !hich is not very precise, ecause i" : attempt to e more intellectually

respecta le : !ill have to e dishonest& BFeelin$C !ill have to do& There is no lueprint "or the structure& :ts not a Fuestion o", B:ll ma(e this (ind o" house ecause i" : do it ri$ht it !ill have this e""ect&C :ve $ot to ma(e, :ve $ot to uild up, a house, a story, to "it around the indescri a le B"eelin$C that is li(e the soul o" the story, and !hich : must insist upon in a do$$ed, em arrassed !ay, as ein$ no more de"ina le than that& And : dont (no! !here it comes "rom& :t seems to e already there, and some unli(ely clue, such as a shop !indo! or a it o" conversation, ma(es me a!are o" it& Then : start accumulatin$ the material and puttin$ it to$ether& 7ome o" the material : may have lyin$ around already, in memories and o servations, and some : invent, and some : have to $o dili$ently loo(in$ "or /"actual details5, !hile some is dumped in my lap

/anecdotes, its o" speech5& : see ho! this material mi$ht $o to$ether to ma(e the shape : need, and : try it& : (eep tryin$ and seein$ !here : !ent !ron$ and tryin$ a$ain& +? : suppose this is the place !here : should tal( a out technical pro lems and ho! : solve them& The main reason : cant is that :m never sure : do solve anythin$& Jven !hen : say that : see !here : !ent !ron$, :m ein$ misleadin$& : never "i$ure out ho! :m $oin$ to chan$e thin$s, : never say to mysel", BThat pa$e is heavy $oin$, that para$raphs clumsy, : need some dialo$ue and shorter sentences&C : "eel a part thats !ron$, li(e a so$$y !ei$htG then : pay attention to the story, as i" it !ere really happenin$ some!here, not #ust in my head, and in its o!n !ay, not mine& As a result, the sentences may indeed $et shorter, there may e more dialo$ue, and so on& 'ut thou$h :ve tried to pay attention to the story, : may not have $ot it ri$htG those shorter sentences may e an evasion, a mista(e& Jvery "inal dra"t, every pu lished story, is still only an attempt, an approach, to the story& : did promise to tal( a out usin$ reality& BWhy, i" Du liee isnt Win$ham, has it $ot 7huter 7treet in itEC people !ant to (no!& Why have : descri ed some odys real ceramic elephant sittin$ on the mantelpieceE : could say : $et momentum "rom doin$ thin$s li(e this& The "ictional room, to!n, !orld, needs a it o" starter dou$h "rom the real !orld& :ts a device to help the !riter6at least it helps me6 ut it arouses a certain aul(ed "ury in the people !ho really do live on 7huter 7treet and the lady !ho o!ns the ceramic elephant& BWhy do you put in somethin$ true and then $o on and tell liesEC they say, and any ody !ho has een on the receivin$ end o" this (ind o" thin$ (no!s ho! they "eel& B: do it "or the sa(e o" my art and to ma(e this structure !hich encloses the soul o" my story, that :ve een tellin$ you a out,C says the !riter& BThat is more important than anythin$&C ;ot to every ody, it isnt& 7o : can see there mi$ht e a case, once youve !ritten the story and $ot the momentum, "or $oin$ ac( and chan$in$ the elephant to a camel /thou$h theres al!ays a chance the lady mi$ht complain that you made a nasty camel out o" a eauti"ul elephant5, and chan$in$ 7huter 7treet to 'lan( 7treet& 'ut !hat a out the i$ chun(s o" reality, !ithout !hich your story cant e%istE :n the story 5oyal +eatin#s, : use a i$ chun( o" reality: the story o" the utcher, and o" the youn$ men !ho may have een e$$ed on to B$etC him& This is a story out o" an old ne!spaperG it really did happen in a to!n : (no!& There is no le$al di""iculty a out usin$ it ecause it has een printed in a ne!spaper,

and esides, the people !ho "i$ure in it are all lon$ dead& 'ut there is a di""iculty a out o""endin$ people in that to!n !ho !ould "eel that use o" this story is a deli erate e%posure, taunt and insult& Other people !ho have no connection !ith the real happenin$ !ould say, BWhy !rite a out anythin$ so hideousEC And lest you thin( that such an o #ection could only e raised y simple "ol( !ho read nothin$ ut )arleFuin Romances, let me tell you that one o" the Fuestions most "reFuently as(ed at universities is, BWhy do you !rite a out thin$s that are so depressin$EC *eople can accept almost any amount o" u$liness i" it is contained in a "amiliar "ormula, as it is on television, ut !hen they come closer to their o!n place, their o!n lives, they are much o""ended y a lac( o" editin$& +1 There are !ays : can de"end mysel" a$ainst such o #ections& : can say, B: do it in the interests o" historical reality& That is !hat the old days !ere really li(e&C Or, B: do it to sho! the dar( side o" human nature, the east let loose, the evil !e can run up a$ainst in communities and "amilies&C :n certain countries : could say, B: do it to sho! ho! ad thin$s !ere under the old system !hen there !ere prosperous utchers and youn$ "ello!s han$in$ around livery sta les and no ody thou$ht a out uildin$ a ne! society&C 'ut the "act is, the minute : say to show : am tellin$ a lie& : dont do it to sho! anythin$& : put this story at the heart o" my story ecause : need it there and it elon$s there& :t is the lac( room at the center o" the house !ith all other rooms leadin$ to and a!ay "rom it& That is all& A stran$e de"ense& Who told me to !rite this storyE Who "eels any need o" it e"ore it is !rittenE : do& : do, so that : mi$ht $ra o"" this piece o" horrid reality and install it !here : see "it, even i" )at ;ettleton and his "riends !ere still around to ma(e me sorry& The ans!er seems to e as con"usin$ as ever& Hots o" true ans!ers are& <es and no& <es, : use its o" !hat is real, in the sense o" ein$ really there and really happenin$, in the !orld, as most people see it, and : trans"orm it into somethin$ that is really there and really happenin$, in my story& ;o, : am not concerned !ith usin$ !hat is real to ma(e any sort o" record or prove any sort o" point, and : am not concerned !ith any methods o" selection ut my o!n, !hich : cant "ully e%plain& This is Fuite presumptuous, and i" !riters are not allo!ed to e so6and Fuite o"ten, in many places, they are not 6: see no point in the !ritin$ o" "iction& 6ohn /etcalf interviewed (lice /unro and published the interview in the 6ournal of Canadian Fiction 1'L 3Fall, 19G24' 5LAB2! =e reprint a passa#e that is especially concerned with differences between men and women as writers!

A "onversation
MJTCAHF

[19.3]

)o! has ein$ a !oman a""ected the acceptance o" your !or( or the rate o" !or(

produced y youE
M9;RO

: dont thin( its a""ected the acceptance at all ut : suppose its a""ected the rate, you

(no!, my productivity ecause o" my li"e as a child,rearin$ person ut on the other hand : have not had to e a !a$e,earnin$ person so : al!ays !onder a out this & & & i" : have any ri$ht to claim that :ve had a tou$her time& Thou$h : thin( its possi le i" you are a man to $et a Canada Council 8rant and say this is the year :m $oin$ to !rite and usually one has a co,operative !i"e !ho (eeps the (ids a!ay& This is my, perhaps, my & & & Fuite unreal vision o" a mans li"e in that he $oes into his room and loc(s the door and he !rites& Well, a !oman never does this&
MJTCAHF M9;RO MJTCAHF M9;RO MJTCAHF M9;RO

Would you descri e yoursel" as a "eministE :m not really sure !hat a "eminist is& <ouve $ot to de"ine that "urther& O&K& )ave you had any "ormal relationship !ith the Womens Hi eration movementE <es :m in $eneral, sympathetic& 'ut not particularly active in any political sort o" & & & E 'ut not active ecause :m not a political person& May e this is a cop out& May e :

should e active ut : dont have enou$h ener$y to stand o"" in any other direction&
MJTCAHF

Do you thin( its really possi le "or a !oman to com ine

ein$ married in a

conventional, traditional sense o" !hat ein$ married has meant and ein$ a !riterE
M9;RO

:ts very hard & & & um & & & its not #ust hard in the Fuestion o" !hen do : $et time to !rite

or !ill my !ritin$ a""ect my hus ands e$o or, you (no!, all these sort o" sur"ace pro lems you can deal !ith& 'ut : thin( its hard to e a married !oman and a !riter ecause : "eel that in traditional marria$e, as its een up to no!, as it is !ith most !omen in my $eneration & & & a !oman a dicates, in a !ay, & & & she & & & This is turnin$ out to e hard to say & & & she is no lon$er a completely un iased o server& 7he has somethin$ to de"end& There may e truths that she sees that she !ould pre"er not to seeG that she cant see i" she !ants to maintain her situation and a !riter, o" course, has to e "ree o" shac(les o" this sort& : dont (no! i" the same mi$ht apply to a married man ut : have noticed that men have & & & al!ays seem "reer to tell the truth& They tell the truth a out their marria$es and a out themselves, a out their odies& Men !rite these novels

in !hich they tell a out ho! & & & they "eel physically and a out ho! hellish they loo( !hen they loo( in the mirror & & & and all this sort o" crap& Women have een ound y Fuite a di""erent set o" conventions& :ts much more di""icult to e%plore your li"e honestly and i" youre married it is #ust that much more di""icult ecause you live !ithin a certain "rame!or( that is pretty hard to Fuestion ecause i" you start Fuestionin$ it too "ar you may e in i$ trou le& Or your marria$e may e in trou le&
MJTCAHF M9;RO

Does it "ri$hten you that many success"ul !omen !riters have led very a,typical livesE <es& :t does "ri$hten me ecause :m a "airly security,demandin$ person& : dont thin(

:m in any dan$er o" ever leadin$ a iAarre li"e& : tend to e a person o" rather dull ha its #ust ecause : !ant to !or( so much& : dont endan$er this y havin$ an e%citin$ li"e&
MJTCAHF

Do you "eel that its purely and simply the traditional social set up and the traditional

roles !hich are played y men and !omen !hich have driven !omen !riters in the past into rather stran$e li"estylesE :s it merely the con"lict et!een Ba !omans placeC and & & &
M9;RO

;o& : thin( its a con"lict "or all !riters& Really, isnt it, "or men and !omenE Dont

almost as many men !riters lead "airly a,typical livesE

MJTCAHF

Well, in terms o" the !or(,a,day !orld, yes& Writers are usually e%tremely e$otistical

people& When you come across a !oman !ho has said : am this and : am creatin$ this and : am doin$ this a traditional male reaction to this is to say this !oman is insane or & & & voracious, or destructive or & & &
M9;RO

<eah& 7o i" you are a !oman !ho is li(e this, you either ecome latantly so and say to

hell !ith them or you develop dis$uises !hich is the !ay :ve mana$ed so "ar& 'ut there is pro a ly a contradiction in many !omen !riters in the !oman herself & & & 'et!een the !oman !ho is am itious and the !oman !ho is there !ho is also & & & !ell, !hat, !as called traditionally "eminine, !ho is passive, !ho !ants to e dominated, !ho !ants to have someone et!een her and the !orld& And : (no! Im li(e this& : have the t!o !omen& 7o & & &
MJTCAHF

Larious people, not in the academic !orld, ut people !ho have read Fives of 1irls and

=omen !ith deli$ht and interest have remar(ed to me that they !ere surprised y the !ay in !hich the rother and the "ather seemed to disappear someho! & & & or !ere shunted o"" to the "o% "arm& They dont seem to "i$ure very lar$ely& ;o! : dont really (no! i" :m as(in$ an

auto io$raphical Fuestion here or a Fuestion !hich is concerned !ith the artistic purpose o" the oo(& Could you comment on thatE
M9;RO

Well, :m not sure !hat the ans!er is either& :n the oo(, : "ound, : didnt really intend

to do this at the e$innin$, ut : "ound that my emphasis, my interest !as shi"tin$ so much to the mother that : had to e a le to deal !ith her alone& : couldnt deal !ith oth parents& : have a "airly narro! "ocus or somethin$ so the "ather tended to, sort o", "ade a!ay& 'ut : thin( there is & & & !ell, you can see this in B'oys and 8irlsC too, the "ather pic(s the rother and their li"e is separated&
MJTCAHF M9;RO

)e trains the son into the model that he is to ecome& This is certainly !hat happened in my "amily and !hat happens in most traditional, say,

"arm "amilies&
MJTCAHF

: heard a tape that you made some time a$o that !as on the C&'&C& !here : elieve you

said that !omen cannot create men characters as !ell as men can create !omen characters&
M9;RO

)ellI Did : say that, Well, : must have een craAy ecause : dont thin( men can create

!omen characters either& : must have een !orn do!n !hen : said that & & & ecause !hen people come up to me and say, as people have, you (no! at coc(tail parties and thin$s and say & & & !ell there arent any real men in that oo( & & & : say, !ell, sho! me the real !oman in a mans oo(& ;ot very many !riters, the $reat ones can create characters o" oth se%es& 'ut it doesnt o"ten happen, : thin(&
MJTCAHF

What do you thin( o" D&)& Ha!rences !omenE :ve al!ays "ound them the most iAarre

and peculiar creatures&

M9;RO

Oh& Theyre impossi le& 'ut there a$ain, : suppose theyre personi"ications o" ideas&

J%cept "or the mother in "ons and Fovers, : "ind a real character& 7he is the only one : can thin( o"& Can you thin( o" any very $ood and convincin$ "emale characters created y menE

Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth

Flannery OConnor 1

+? Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Manuscript pa$e "rom Flannery OConnors BA 8ood Man :s )ard to Find&C +1 Flannery OConnor -? -1 Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth .? .1 4? Flannery OConnor 41 1? 11 Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth 3? 31 >? Flannery OConnor >1 8? 81 Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth 0? 01 Flannery OConnor +?? +?1

++? ++1 Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth +-? +-1 +.? Flannery OConnor +.1 +4? Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth 1 +? Flannery OConnor +1 -? Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth -1 Flannery OConnor .? .1 4? 41 Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth 1? 11 Flannery OConnor 3? 31 >?

Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth >1 8? 81 Flannery OConnor 0? 01 +?? Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth +?1 ++? ++1 Flannery OConnor +-? +-1 +.? Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth +.1 +4? +41 Flannery OConnor +1? +11 +3? +31 +>? Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth +>1 +8?

Flannery OConnor +81 +0? Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth On Fiction: Remar(s "rom Jssays and Hetters Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth On Fiction: Remar(s "rom Jssays and Hetters Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth On :nterpretin$ BA 8ood Man :s )ard to FindC Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth

Raymond Carver Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Raymond Carver Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Raymond Carver Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Raymond Carver Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Raymond Carver Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Raymond Carver Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Tal(in$ A out 7tories Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth On Re!ritin$ Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth

Alice Munro

Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth +Oran

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The Oran$e 7ociety is named "or William o" Oran$e, !ho, as Kin$ William ::: o"

Jn$land, de"eated Dames :: o" Jn$land at the 'attle o" the 'oyne on +- Duly +3?0& :t sponsors an annual procession on +- Duly& Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro -%&''!r a small slei$h& Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth .(&)$ Can*+a American comedian, popular in "ilms in the +04?s& Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro

Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth Alice Munro Chapter 8 Q Three Fiction Writers in Depth