Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Short Stories

    Uploaded by

    m. miu
    15 views27 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    15 views27 pages

    Short Stories

    Uploaded by

    m. miu

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 27
    Short Stories Daddy Brice Halona agers Pg sidtomo,“You'e sure you want coms? They don always kaow ntl ‘he blood eat coma back Bul wanted ake the day of Ths wasn ‘czaton Besides, wes s bea day. There wasn ta coud the ky We {Waka steetar then waked wobloek. nthe tees ovr Chater Avenue, Suet roles andobins eupes. 2a people waxing dogs ‘Stal ined on the windshields of parked crs held Pays Nana “Tenure cea Pag ‘eappeatea, heh Butthe doctor says she can area el. am. Youre gang abe edad lame, iissecner. Ase wakedhandin handto a sretear stop, | roteed again nat here wasnt aloud inte sky. and remembered thet Unight can ge you cancer Iwished oan unbela The Woes over Chester ‘Avenue were ti of squirrels androbins. The leas on squats can vansmt plague ids made metho of Wes Nevius And asa doa, Any one {tthom canbe can cary tas. As we cossedtne sve lated atthe ‘vers. Shap evome. less. Pag sald, "Youre hung my hands was Senry- and assened my gp Bunt much Mother (One aay as string othe Aa. heat a song "Oh, Longo See My Matern the Doorway” By God! Isai, lunderstand at 2g. have aton Ionged te sae my matner ne dosway. Aa a mateo fact shed stand trequenty in varous doorways looking me. She stood one dys, the tat oot the darkness he habway behind. was New Years ay. She Said saa yeu come ame adam. when youre seventeen what ime il ‘you coma nome when youve wen? Ge aoced th question wut humor Crmeanness, She had begun her woried repatatons ior deat She woulda! be present he tought wan was weny- So she wondered ‘Anthea she stod inte dooway omy 00m. hast sued apltcal ‘manos atacig the amis postion onthe Sault Union. She si, Goto ‘Seep for godsake, you dam fol you and your Commurist dees We saw em ates Pape and me, 005, We guessed al ‘te drat in chen she si, You neverish youre, Yourun around Senclesiy What wil become fou? "Natural forthe rest of my fe longed to see hex, nat only in doorways. na eat numer of placesin the ring foom wth my aus, a th window Ieokeg up and down the block. nthe county garden among 2ewias and ‘marge, nthe ng rom wth my athe. ‘Tay satin comfonable lather chairs. They were lstaning wo Mozer. They looked atone ances amazed, Raeemedto them thal ney ut corp ver on ‘Reboot. They ust area theft Engish words seemed for tel he had ust proud handed ma 100 percent canect exam tothe American ean peso sees os hou sd st gu he sop he | wish could sae hern the doorway ofthe ving oem. ‘Se stod here a mint, Then she sat beta in, They onnad an expansive ‘coord player. May were listening fo Bach. She said ohm, Tako me ite ‘We dont tak a0 mich anymore tm thea he sai. Cant you see? | saw maybe tity people oday. Al sek. all ‘tai stn ne mines Dot a re a pelt pics. Imre he sa Night Drive | anives home wih my britcase busing with papers, reports, sues, researen proposal, cortet My we no was layg soliateinbed glass ‘of wna onthe nightstand, el, winowt gartcng up rom theca, eu looked" The usual house sound: my daughter inher oom pace voice ‘modulation, quscrapnone muse fom my sons Yoom. Way dont You pu ‘dunt utaee my teased. Takeo thove cates, have ance gat ot whiskey. Youve gotoleamtorelax” | weottothebray. the placelnthe haus there ejay beingby mys, andas Ustad nashing opened resesch volume on he desk ut nee the letere and number was merely wating. "YOU never ap warking. i et your pares dont work hal as hasan hey eam the same My we came Intotherom, a less inher han. ‘Can tel here seve nner” ‘Tha maid served themealFrenc se My chlren had town up mye and | werefat "ifs that wine you tke,” he sai csclang her tongue wh pleasure Iysonaestor mane ting the cao course, my daughter sed trmoney thring the ue My wed sk for anything: we havea nt chsclong “hal we gotora rive?" asked her Knew she wouldn't go—i was time fr her o4p opera “om seounayouget os fone ave een ng buthecrcosta tune. thastobeuse. Im jatlass andlessavactodto maton. she repli ‘The chlren's cars were blocking the garage doo, revening me tom removing my ea-Imovedboth cars and parkes bem nesta. removed my a and pared nthe tect pu the oer two cas back nthe garage. ans ‘osed the doo Alte maneuvering lettme sgt erate, but when saw ‘ny ca’ jutng bumpers, the special home pated douse rtforcement. {ek my peat rece ih ewer | unad the gntion kay. f wae a power ‘motor that generated rent slenty beneath he serodynamic hood. AS ‘Ss. letwinoutknowing where woud go, Nhadio bee dered stat, ln hs oy wth mare people thn es. Net the Avenida Eras—too busy ‘cama o a poo lghtad see, heavy with dark ees, he petfect pot Aran ‘ora woman? Rimage We derenoe, veal, but no one wi the ight characterises appeared began fo gel tense. lays happened tha wy, fd | even thed he senaoof ele! was greater. Then | sa the wom oud beer, even though woman a las oxcling becuse sha was ease. She was walung ql ceming a package wrapped in cheap Paper Semathing tom he bakery cr tema Shewas woating ask and Bouse Thore were tees every twenty yards along the sidewalk, an intersting problem demanding area deal of expertise tuned of he heachahs an celta. She nl realzea was going tor her when she hearth sound ‘etteshitingtnecu.Icaughtherabovetneknees, ightinthe deat et legs, at more toward ine lftleg—s erect. head the pst breakne lrge bones, vecedrpldyiothelet. shat trou) pastonectine woes ana ‘Wes squealing, sed back ot he asp. The moter woul go fom 200 {2 ty in lesa nan seven seconds, ou estat he woman's broken body hRedeometorest,cavered winlood. on topofthelw wal infont of ahouse. Beckinthe garage took agoodiok atthecar Wihpdelanmyhandighly ‘ver he unmarked tenders andbumper. Few peopain the wor could match ny sla ving such aca. Tho tamay was watching aloo. “Oo you te! bet ater your spa my ‘teased, ying on te soa, staring tae athe TV stean, “tm oingtobed answered, goodnight everbody. Tomorrow's going tobe rough dy atthe ote” ‘The Story of An Hour Kate Chopin (1884) Knowing hat Wa. Malar was atict tha heat rouble, great cre was taken o beakto er as gant as posable the news ofherhusbana’s deat ‘was her sister Josephine who tld hr noken sentences: vee ‘at revesied i hateenceaing. Her husbands Wend Ficards was tare, 0, nearer twas he weahad been nthe newspaper afice when meligonce of the auoad dearer wae recsived, with Brarty Habart name ledge stoked" He had onl taken the tm to assure ansa ofts tth by ‘Second elepram,andhad hastened forestal ny les ar fas tender trend mbeatngine sad message ‘She dot hear the sory 3s many wren hae hetathe same, whe preyed inabity 0 accept ta sgnitcance. She wep atorce, with suse, (td abandon, inber stars arma When i som ora Nad pent Isl she went away the room alone Sha wouhave'no one fll het. ‘Tate stood, facing te open window, a comtotabl, com armchak. to {2s she sank pressed down ya pial exauston ht Nour he body ‘She could seein the open sauae bette her house he ops of wees thst wore a aquver ith he new sping fe, The daicousbreatnot ran was inthe ‘cin stet below a pode was eying wares. The notes oa dstant Song whic seme one wa singing reached her any. end countess partons ware bleringin te eves. ‘Tare were patches a lue sky showing here an hee tvough he clouds that had met anapied one above the er nie west acing her window. ‘She sat wtnherneadhrown back upon the cushion he cha, guile rmationess, except when asad came up na he oat end shook er, a¢ 8 (hd who has ed seta sleopcontruos seb nis reams ‘She was young, wi fst esl ac, whode Ines bespoke repression and ven acartan svngth, Butnow ete was a dllstare in er ees, whose (ze wae ad away of yonder on one hose pales cue sky. wes ot lance of etcton, butane incest a auepension of intaligent thought. ‘hore was something coming to he and she was wating frit. eal ‘inal was Snead notoow was oo swe and eluate name, But she {et creping outofthe sy, reaching twardher trough the sounds, he sents, he color ha ied ea. Newer bosom ose andl urultuousy. She was beining to ecopnize ‘his ting that was approaching to possess her, and she was sting beat t Baek wit er wi-os poweress ashe wo white slander hands wou have been When she abandoned here aite whspered word escaped het Slhty petedips. She said owe and over under hes breathe, ee, ‘tee The vacant stare andthe look otro that had ollwed wet rom ar eyes They say Ken aa bight. Her ules bea as andthe coursing Diced warmed and relaxed every inch ot herbed ‘Shedd ot stop to ack tt were or ware nat amonstous jo thathld he. ‘oa and exalegprcoponenabod eto dams the suggeson os Ui ‘Selnew that she would woep again when she sath kia tend hands folded indeath; the tace hat had never loked ave wih love upon hee ‘sndyay and dead But she saw beyond tat bilr mement along procession {tyearstocome hat woudbelangto er absoute And ahe opened and Spear arms cut hem nwecere ‘hore would be noone ove fr during those coming years she would ve {orherset There woudbe no power wilbendng hers nha ing pesistnce wth whlen men and women bese hey have aha impose a Diva wil upon afalow-restre. Akindintanton or a eral wonton mace React sconoless acme ate bed pensar moreno ‘Ad yt sb had ioved hi-someties. Oe she hadnt Wha it matert ‘Whateouov, the unsolved mystery, count forin the face ofthis possession of set-asertion wich she suddenly recognized asthe strongest Impuse other bing! "ree! Bay acd soul tee she kept whispamng, Josephine was keting before he closed door th her is tothe keyhole, imponng for aamisson. “Louse gen he dor beg: open he doo-you warm yourself What ere you dong Lause? For heavens see open the “Go away. am not making set” No:she was dintngin avery ob of Metrough hat open window. Hertancy was running at along tose dys ahead othe. Spring day, and Samer aye, anda sons ofaay ha woudbeher own. She bead a ‘ule prayer hatte might be on. was only yesterday she haa hough Ata ahuddr hate mightbe eng. ‘She aos stlengh and opened he door ioher sist’ imporuntles. There was aoversh triumph inher eyes and she cared hese unwtngl ie @ odessa Vitor. She clasped her asters was and together hey (dsoended tne str, chat stod watng orem tthe tom, ‘Some one was opening the ont oor with athe was rey Madars LnbelFe hedbeen arrow sane tthe scolar and nt even tow here ad been one He tod amazad at osephine’'s paring cyst ‘lena quck matonto sereen hi rom the vw otis le ‘en he doctors came hey sai he had ded hear sease~o! he oy theta ‘The Chaser ‘an Austen, 25 neous 38 akon, wet up catn dark and creaky sta In ‘he nelghbomnood of Pea Stet, and peered about aang ime onthe dine lanang before he fund he nama he wanted ween scarey on one othe He pushed opens door, ashehadbeen odie d,andtoundhimsetin ay ‘oom, wesc catanedno funiture bua Pain kichen tbl, 2 ocng cha, Sha an onary char On one of te ary buftclored wats woe a couple of Shelves. containg inal pehaps a dozen betes anja. snotamanstinnerocg ha. eadeganowspae Nan ou ar handed hm the car he had been gen "St down, MF. Austen," sald he mmanvery potty "am glatomaxe your acqualtancs” 1 nue askod Alan, "hat you have 8 ceraln mitre that has-er-qute ‘owaceinaryetets?” “My dea replied the old man, my stockin rade is ot vy age donk alin lxaves and toothngmiturs-but such as ts, ts vated | nk resting saline tects wach could be precisely desclbed as oy” “Wel he tots." began Aan “Hore, fr example, ntrupod the old man, reaching fr abot tom he shalt "Here 2 Squd coloress as welt, almost tastuss, quia imperceptible In cafes, wine, or ary oar Bovetage. Iris also que Impereptbleto any known metnod ot autopsy” “Da yournean tis apoon?" vad Aan very much hore, “Catt lovecleaner youl, sadthecld man indteranty. “Maybe loan goves. | have never ted. One might cll Me-leaex Les need ‘leaning sometimes" “want eshing of that sr sai Alan “Probably just wel sad the ald man, "Do you now the pie of is? Forone aspoontl whichis aufient ask vethausand dolla Nevers Notapenyless” "hope allyour mintures are nto expensive sd Aan apprehensive. “oh darn. sldthe od man. “would beno goodcharging that soot pice tors love pation for example. Young people who need stove potion very ‘edom have fv thousand dolar, Otherwise they would not need a love potion, "vam olad tear thao Alan “ook atl keh sld ne ald man, Please customer wih oneal, and hewilcomebackvhenne need anotnarEvenfitlemore cost) He wi se Uptor necessary oy" aa Alan, "you rely do sel ove ations ‘i dd net stove pation," sald the oldman, reaching or another bot,“ shouidnot have mentoned the ater materi you tic ony when ones na posttonta abligethat one can alord tobe so cian” “and nese potions ald Alan “They ate nous uate "Oh,no sane old nan. “Tha elects aepermanent andextndtar beyond ‘emerecasual npuse Buthoy include On, yes they nude. Boul InsstentyEverasinly” “Dear me said Alan, attempting look of clei detachment. “How very Interesting! "Butconsdethe pital sie sid the oldman "For inaterence” sald the old man, they substute devotion. For sor, ‘oraton. Give one tiny measure ct ie 1 the Young lads Navor Impereptble n orange jue, soup, or cocsals-and however gay and gay ‘Seis, she walchange alogether: She wilwant nang butsoktde ana you” “loan hardy bale sai Alan. “Shela so fonda partes” “he wana ke them ary more" ai th old man "She wale aa ofthe prety ils you may meet” "She wit actualy be jesious ced Alan narapte. “Otme?™ "Yea, she wilwanttobe everyting you" "Snel aesdy. Onlyshe does care aboutit* she wit whe interestin ie, haa taken th She wl care italy, Youle her sole Wondered Alan “she ll antto now allyou do," sath oldman. "Aathathas happened to you during the day. Every word off. She wl want to know what you ae {inka aout, why yous suc, why your are looking sad “Thais ove ered Alan, “Yes sid the od man."How earetuly she wil ook ate you! She wl nave son youtobe red, ostin araught oneal! yourfoe. youre an Rout iste he il be terled She wal tank ou are lle, or that Some sen has ceaugntyou" “ean haa imagine Danae hat! red Aan, overwhelmed ith oy. “Youwitnothavetouseyourenaginationsadneckiman “An, by the way, since there are aways tens, by any chance you souk ate on, sip a ite Younsednot won. She wliogve you, nthe end. ShevillsetemBly hut. ot {outse, bu showlliergv youn end ‘That wil not happen, sald Alan fervent. "Otcouse nt sald he oldman, ut, tl, you need not wory. She would ‘ever divorce you, Ohno And, ot couse, she wi ever ive Youth last tht ‘eryleas gourds to aneosiness" “andhow much, 4A ti wonder mice?” "isnot as dts he old man, ashe glove-ceane,oitetoane, 281 evatimes cali No- Tate tvefousand doar pave eperny iss, One hat {obeoder an your, o indulge n hat son oftang. Onehasosaveuptor "Bune love poton”” aid lan, "Oh, at sid he ckdman opening the drawerinthektchen bl ‘uta ty ater -oking phil "hats just a dol” "can tel you how gratetull am, sald Alan, watching hi fil "het oblige,” aid he ol man. “Then customers come back tor fe, ven they are beter end want move expensive things Hore you are. You wilted every etfecive™ “Tank you sais Alan “Goode” Hills Like White Elephants mest Hemingway ‘Thal aeross the valley ofthe Ebo' wee ong and wnt, On se hare ‘iounoshede nda tees andthe sation was between wo lines otaisin the Sun. Close against ne sie fhe staton ere waste warm shadow of he Balding and suri, made of tings of bamboo beads, hung avosstheepen oor io treba token out les. The Amercan andthe gt wih him saat {ableinthe shad ouside the build. was very hot and the express fom Barcelona would come in fory maoutes. stopped at his junction for Wo nuts and went onto Mac "nat should we dn e gi asked. She hed taken ot her hat and putltonthe able "Wsprety hot" the man sald “Lets ink "Bigones? a woman asked tom he doorway "Yer. Two anes" ‘The woman bought wo glasses of Deer and wo ftpads. Sb putthe {ettpads and ne ber gasses onthe able and looked she man andthe et "he it waslookng ot athe ne fa, They ware wnt nthe sun athe county was brown and dy. "They loo ke whe elephants "she sald "No, jouwounhave “might have the man sei. "Wst because you say I woul have ese prove anhing “Tha illoked atthe bead curtain. "Theyvepainte something ont sh sid" dows tay" “ana dl Tor. sae" “Could we yi ‘The man cad “Ustor tough the curtain. The women came out ‘rom tea. “We want tno Anis del Tor Win watar™ "Do you wantitwith water "dono," th git sai. Ist good wit water” "Ws alight "Youwant them yh water asked woman. "Yes, wit: Trasos le eae the gt sid andput he glass down. ‘Tha’ the way wih everyting. "esa the gi “Everything tastes of Score. Especial athe ‘rings youve wated slong fe abseth “On cattout "You stared te gsi. "Iwas bing amused. was having the “Welle ty andhave atine ime "Aight was ayn. I sald the mountains looked tke white ephanta Wasnt hat igh" "ina nas bight “YWvantedto ty his new dink. That's all we do, snlt—Iookatthings and wy new inks? iuesss" ‘The itiooked actos tthe ils "They%e lovely hls she sald. “They dont really look Ike white stearate coedng othe sintvough eee Should we “alg ‘The warm vind blew the bead ouan against he table ‘itslovely* eg saa its real an satay simple operation, J," the man sald. “snot realy anopecation at” "The iio at he ground the table logs reste on. "Mpew you woe mind, ig. steal notary, ts sttolet the arin! “The gt not ay anything. go wih you and stay with you all the tine, They ust ete a nand hen fs erect naira ‘tan what wwe do sherwaa?” "Wellbeing sherwar. Just ke we were before, "what makes youth so?" "That'stheony hing hatbothers us. ts the oly thing thats made us unapey ‘Te git ood atthe bead cual, puter handout and eck hl ot ‘wo tthe stings ofbeass. "Andou tn nen walbe all ight and be happy "Tht we wil You donthave be asd ve known ot of people Sohave | edhe gi. "Andaterwara hey were a app." "Well"the man sai," youdont want yougorthaveto. wouldnt have you do you dt want But know 'perecty simple” Aanyou realy wantto? “Thinkit'sthe ost hing do. Bt dont want youtedtfyoudon ally want” “Andi do yout be happy and things wal be Ike they were and youtiove me “Hove younow. You kaon lve you “Tipe Butt de ten wile ie agen say tings are tke vite elephants and you a 2" vei ligve snow but |justeant hink about You know how | worry" If do you woot aver wary “Iwont wey aboutihat because party sme” Then idole Because ldonteare about me” “nat ao yeu mean” “dor cate aboutme ‘Wer eave about you "oh yes. But dont care about me. And ldo and nen everything ibe foe “Ton want youto do tyou feat hat way.” ‘Te gt stood up and wake othe endothe tation. Across, onthe ‘nar sian werefiasotgranand wees lange ans afte eo. Fea, Sejond he ier, were meunains. The shadow of dou moved acoss the eliotn and she sath ver tough the ees. “and we cod have als she ad "And we could have everything sd over day we make more posse” “wats yousy™ "Vaaidwe could have eventing * ‘Wecanhaveevenheg” Wecanhave ne whole wor” et "Wecan goeverre No, wa san an ours sry mora." No, tart. Ad once they ke tana, you nave get thack* Buithey haven taken away." "wel waltand sa “Come onbacknhe shade" e sed. "You mus al that way” "donee anyway. th gil si. “ustkaom things.” "aon want yout de antng that you dont want to do—" Nor nats good tor me" she sad." Could we neve anther "Alright But youve goto realize realize the i aid "Cank we maybe sop taking?™ ‘They sown athetable andthe gilooked across tthe hl onthe Ary side cf the vale and the man ood thc and atthe ale "Youve otto ‘ealze,"hesald, hal dant wantyouto okt tyoudont want, Imperecty ling ogo tvcugh wt tt means ayn ta you" Doesnt itmean anything you? We cou eta, “Of couselt oes But dont want anybody bulyou dont want ny one se. An nowits prc sima es, younnow fs perecy angle” ‘its ight fer yout say hat, ut do know it* "would you d something forma now ‘dd anything fr you" sngntnts Bene nse poe este an peat taxing” Hea not ay anyhing but oked at ne bags spans he wal fhe staton. Thera wer abla on them tom al the hoes where they Med pant igs 0 sop "But dont want youl, *he sa, “Idont cae anything about.” scream" te it sa ‘The woman care ct tough th curtains witht gasses of beer and pu tam down on he camp ft pads. "The van comes Inve minutos” “Wha i she say asked net “That hetan is com ve minutos” ‘Thegit smiled bright athe woman, to thankhee "betrtake he bags overt the other side fhe staton,"the man *Allight. Then come back and welsh he beer” He picked up the wo heavy bags and eared them arounthe station to theothr racks Helookedup netacks butcouldnet see the wan. Coming Dock, ne waka hough he arr, where people wang for tetrain we ‘teuing. He rank an Aaa athe bar and loked the people, They ware a ‘rating teasonabh tortatain He wentouttwough he bead cura She was Sting athe tabi and raed at an "Doyeuteel beter? be asked "Veal she sid "Teves ating wrong wth me. eating” The Lottery ‘ShileyJecaon ‘Tee maming of une 2h was lar and sunny, wit the tes warmth fl ‘Simmer da: he flowers were blossoming prolusely andthe grass was chy {een The peopl at tevilage hogan gatherinhe square, between th ost ‘ice and fhe ang, around ten aioe nore towne there were 0 ay peopl the tery tok two days and hada be stated on June 26th, butlh {hs lage, where here wore only about twee hundred peopl, the whole lotr tooklss han wohous,colteauldbogi alten olcxin the maming and ile tvough in tmoto aw thovilagers get home for neon anne. ‘The chen assembled tat, of couse. School was racerly over fr the summer and he feat of bry sat uneasily on masta them: they tendo {athe opehor quit fora while betes they broke ne bases uy. 2nd {ex talkwa stl ofthe classroom andthe eecher, of books an reprimands. Bobby Martinnadateady ssf hs pockets uF stanes, andthe ater boys soon folowed his example, selecting the smootnest and roundest stones; ty and ary Jones and Die Delasroh te wagers pronounced ths name Delacoy"~evertully made area lef slones liane coma of he ‘Stuar and guarded agave! nai he cher boys The gs sod ate, taking among teracies, oking over the shure athe boy, and he ‘ery small ehleren rolled inthe dust or clung tothe hands of tel oir brothers asters ‘Sen the men began to gather, suvying the wn citer. speaking of lang snarain.vacors andes. They stoodtogether, away rom thepleo! ‘ones inthe comer, end he owes wee que! ad hey smiled rather than laugred:Thewomen, wearing fadechouse dresses en sealers. came shonly ert manta They gested one another andexchangedbtsct goss a¢ ‘hey wanton fer huabande, Soonthe women, standing by te husbands, bogantocltothe cite, andthe caren came rela, having abe cated four or ve tines. Bobby Marin ducted under ns mother’s gracing handand tn, auging, back fe pla stones His her spoke up shay. ‘nd Bobby camo qty and took his ace between his ate ands lest brother ‘The lotery was conducted a6 wore the square dances, he teen cub he Haloween pogam™oy Mr. Summes, wo had ue and energy to devote to ive actos, He was aoundaced, vil man ande ran the oa busines, fd people were sory ov hm cause he had na chien and his we was ¢ Soll, When he arvedin the square, caryng We ack weaden box. tees Strurmurofconversatonamongthe ager, andhewavedandcales “Uitte Ie taday toe The postr Mr. Graves flowed tim. carving a hee legeedstel andi stolwas pula he centr ofthe square aN Sureners feline back box down ot The vilgers ep the stance, leeving @ pace Betwccn hemscver andthe stool and when‘, Scnmera sad, Some of you {allows wart to ge me a hand? thee was anestaton beloe two men. Mk Mart ands eidest on, Bate, came award oho the bok steady onthe Stoo whe Me Summers sired up he papers isi. ‘The origin parapherata forthe try had been lost ong go, and ne black ox now resing.on the stool had beon put io use even below O's Man ‘Wirner, the oldest man ntown, was bon A, Summers spe requ © ‘Me wagers about mating new box bul no one kad to upset even as much ‘dion wes tpresened by the back box There was a sary thatthe present baxhad been maae wi some lees ofthe box at had preceded {heone at hadbeen constructed whenthefretpaopesetieddowntomate ‘lage ere. Every year after the ltay. Mr. Sureners began taking saan [shout anew box. but evry year he subject was alowed to fade off haut Ssyfhings beng done. Te lack box grew shabbir each yer:by now was ro longer completly black bt spinared bay along one seo show the ‘ginal wood clr, andi some paces aded or staned. Marin andi oldest sn, aster, ald he ick box securely onthe tal {ihe Sunmershed sredthepaprshevough wit hishand Becasse ‘much of heel had been ergoten or dlscarded, Mr. Surenes Ned been fccestl a having sips o! pape sussute othe chip of wood ha had Seon used geneatons. Chips ol wand M- Summers had eoued hea been slvery wel when the vtage was ty, ba ow tat the population was more ‘han tre hundred and katy to keep on gromin, was necessary 1 use Sermsthing hat woud more easly int he back box. The mht before the itary Mr Summer and Graves made up teslip of paper arp hom Inthe box andwas en taken he sale ot. Surars oa organ and Iecked up url hr Summers was read ake ite be square next moming ‘The eto he yar, the box was pt way. sometines one pace. sometines anotier thadepen' one yearini.Graves'sbam and anoter yer ungeiot ithpontais sndsoneinestivanoctonsohehn ean gore ad ‘Tore was agleat dea ousting © be done beer Mr. Summers declared the later open Tare wee the tle o make up-f head tame, head of houses in each family. members ofeach house in each fay. There twaathe rope weary snc Sunersby the postmaster asthe ctl ‘olor: one time, some poopie remembered, here had been rectal ot ‘one sot pertomedythechealotheloter,apertuctay,uneless chant ‘at ha been ated each year: some people Debeved hal heft ofthelatery used sland ustco when he sige angi others bllved that hewas upposedto wakcamongthe peope bul years and years agothis pat ot ‘erlualnadbeen atowedtolapse. hetehadboen also, eral salut which tne lcllotteloteryhadhadto wen addressing each person wn ce up ‘o¢ran tom he box, butthis aso Red changed wih ime, wl now twas recess enly forte ofl Io speak to each person approaching. Me. ‘Summers was vey good at al is; his lean whe eit andbue jeans, th tne hand resting carelea¥y onthe Blackbox he seemed very proper an lpacant as netakeaintrminebly to Mr Graves ana e Meine ust a8 Mr. Sunmers nly let off talking and tuned tothe assembled ‘agers in Hutson cane hey aang ep te sin, er ‘Sweater hvown overher shoulders, andsiainiplacein the backar herons, “Ciean forget what day was," sho aid to Mes, Delacroe who Sood next 0 ha and ney both aughed soy. “Thought my oldman was outback lacing ‘teed Mrs Hutchinson went on, “nd then oked othe window and the ‘ce was gone, and nen remembered waste twenty-seven end cae ‘unin She drecherhands onher pon, ands Delscroxssid, “Youre in timo, hough Theyre sil taxing away up hee Mea, Hutchinson crana her nack oa tough the erm aod found her husbandandehlren sanding nearthetont Shetappeds Oeacoxonthe fas afarel and bepan io ake he way trough th crowd, The people Scparated good-humoredy father tough two or tee peogla sadn ‘elces jst oud encugh lobe hewd atoss the crowd “Here comes Your ‘Manus, Hutchinson andB she made after Nes, uchneon reached her husband, and Mr. Summers, who had been walig, said cheery “Thought we wore gong te have to get on without You, Tessie” Mia Hutennson sl, ging, “Wows haveme eave mishos a ho sink, now, ‘wouldyou Joe? and sof ugher an hrugh the crowd asthe peopl sired Becki poston ater Mrs. Huchnson's aval, “Wel om: Mr, Sumer sld sober, "uss we beter gosta, gt his ‘overt so we can gobackto work Anybogy ant here? “Dunbar soveralpeope sid, Dunbar. Dunbar: Mk, Summers consulted his at. “hye Dunbar" nea. “Ma's igh He's broke Nala, hasithe? Who's drag i= “we. 1 guess a woman sid, and Me Summers tuned to look at har. “We ‘raweorher husband tr, Summer aid “Dont you ave a gown boy todo foryou Janey? Athough Mf. Summarsandeveryoneelein he vaage xe the answer precy wal a the busines oe oto fhe later to eae Such questons formally Nr Summers waited wth an expression of alte iors le Mes, Dunbar anewered, “Horac'sotbutsxeen yrs, Dube sldregetuly. "Guess igota a forthe oldman his year” “runt Sr. Sunmare sid. He made ano on te etna was hang. Then be sed, "atson boy drawing tis year” ‘Atal boy in th cond ried his hand. "Here" sd“ m dang for my Imaher and me Hetiekesis eyes nervously ang duckedhis head ea overal ‘ola inthe cond sald tings ke "Good elo, lack "and "Glad aoe your rman’ gotaman te doit” “We. Summers sid, quets thats everyone, Old Man Warmer make |Aaudden hush fone cond 28 Mr. Summers cleared staat and loked ttn at. “AN recy he called. "Now,P fea the nares-head of ames festand ihe men come up and ake a paper out fhe box. Keep the pape folded in your hand without looking st unl everyone has ad @ tum Evanghing ‘Te people ha done itso many times thet they oly haf tena tothe recon: most of hem were quit weting he Ips, At loking around ‘Then Summarsrasedonehanshigh ands, Adama "Aman dsengoged ‘moe rome crowd and cara foward Stove Nr. Summers a nd Mer duns sid "H. Joe” They gined alone another humavessy an newousi. Then i. Adams reached nate black box and ook ou a folded Paper He hl tml by one corer ashe ned ard wenthaslybacxia has Place nthe crowd, where he stood ate apart rom hs fam, not ookng “Soom tke there's no tne a al between ltares any mare” Mrs Dalaro ‘aide Mes Graves nthe beck. "Scoms ke we got though ith helastone ony last week” Time sure goes ast Mts. Graves sald “Tee goes my old mans, Deler sald. Sho hel er breath whe her husband went forward “Dunbar, Mr. Summers sid and Mrs, Dunbar want steal tothe box while lonecrine women sald "Goon, Janey and nce si, Tere she goes.” ttm be ade othe bx, gested Summers grvely and elcid ip ot Paper omthebox. By sll hvough the cond here were men holding the ‘Salted papersin het aige hand, uring them over and over neously Mrs. Dunbar and ner two sons sood together, Mrs. Dunbar holding the sip of paver. “Get up tare, Mes Hutchinson ai, andthe pple nar her aughed “Thay dosey."Me Adams sadto Old Man Wamer, who soa nettohim,"at ‘overintheradh vilage theyre talang of lung Up the try. (OcMan Warne sroed. “Packt ry fos "he sat “Ustenngtothe young {ala nohing’s good enough other Next thing you iow, they be wanting {ogo backs ing Inceves, nobody werk ary more ve ha way oa hile Used be saying stout Ltr in dune, co beneavy soon.” Fst hg you ‘now, weal be eating stewed chicioed and ecm. There's alays bean 8 Ita ne sae pelt "od encugh a See youn Joe Suen up hare Jong wih everybody” Some places have steady quilts Mis, Adams sl “ating but wouble hat ld Man Waar sad stout. “Pack of young “Marta And Bobby Marin wstcad his father go forward “Overy. Pater” “twiah tnaybuen Mrs, Dunbar aida here on, wish heyy" “Thaye almost trough, "her son sak “You ge dy trun tel Das. Durbar sa ‘Me. Sunmars called his own name and hen stepped foward pracy and Saced asip tom ne box Thenhecaled, Warner” “Seventy-seven yea been nthe lotr Old Man Warner sid ashe went tough he cow “Seventy-seven me “watson The tal boy came awkwardly through the cmd. Someone Sal, “Donte aarveus Jack: and Mr Summer sad “Take youre son" tan ‘Aer that_ tere was along pause, a breamies pause, wt Mr Sunes holdings sips paper inthe a, aid Alogtelows. “For amnute, noone ‘moved, and fen athe sips of paper were opened. Sudden a he women Dogantospeakat once, saving Whois? "We's gotten Dunbar? “sitine Watsons? Thenfievoces began says Huchingon sl" uennzon's got." “cote yourfathr Ms. Dunbar said to her lderson People began to look sound to see the Hutchinsons. Bil Hutchinson was ‘andng qut, sting down af the paper in his hand. Suddenly, Teese Futehineonsnoutedto hr, Summers, Youd .give imme enought tae any paper he wanted saw you. wash iit” “Be agood sport Tessie" Me, Delain and Ms. Graves sad “Alotus "Shutup, Tess." Hutchinson sald “Wal eveyone“. Summers sad hat was dane prety at anda we've otto be hurying a itle move eget done ine." He consulta his nex Is. Bi he sad. "you draw for the Hutchinson family. You got any oer “Tres Don and va." Ms. Hutchinson yelled. “Make hem ake tel chance” Daughters dram wih thelr husbands! fames, Tesi” Mr. Summers sald ‘enty"Youknon thas wel a anyone ele." “tewaant Tele a “ques not JoeBiutcinson saidreretily. "hy daughter raws wither hisband'stamlythats only fae Andtve gt ng ther famayoxceptne ds." “Then, ar a draingrfamiesis concemad is you Mr Sunmars sain ‘explanation “andastar as rawingtrhouenolsls concord, has you, 10, ign “fight Bi Hutchinson sai “How many kids, BH?" Me, Summers asked toad “Tae Hutchinson a, “Theres Brand Nory, andite Deve. An Tessie and me” “Aaah, thn” Mr Summers sald "Hay, yougot thal ekets back?” Mr. Graves nodded an hed up ne sips of papet.Putthem nthe bo, then” Me Summers rected "Take Bis and put tins “ttnkwe aughto startover Ms. Hutchinson ad, squat ashe could“ tallyout wasnt fer. You dt gve hen time enough to chose. Everybody Mr. Graves ha selected nee sips andputthem nthe box, ene dopped tthe paper but hase oa the ground, where the booze caught them and ited tem of, “Listen, everybody. Mrs Hutchinson was saying othe pope around hs “Ready 287 Sunn aba, rd Beso, wth ona kg “RernmbesMr-Summers sald akethe dps and ep am oldedunt each personas taken one. Hay youl itteDave. "Mr Graves took the hot {eit boy, who came wing with um upto te box Take a paper ut ot ‘box, Davy. Sunes sat Devyputhis hanno the ox ardauahed “Take ust one paper” Mr. Summers id. “ary, you ho fo Pim Graves tok he cd's hand and removed he elded paper rom the ight it Sind hela F while Ie Dave stood nest to hm and looked up at Mm wondering. “Nancy next” Mi. Summers sald. Nancy was mele, sr her schoo ends treated nearly as she went forward swthing her skit. and Took asp ‘arty tomthebox BJ. Mr, Summers sad and Bay, aface ed enahis feet overlge, nea noched the box aver a be gol pepe out Tesla Mr. ‘Summars sad, She hesitated or minut. aking found dint, and thn Scinaripe and wentuptothebox shesneiched paper out ange behind “Bile, Summers said, and Bl Hutchinson reached it the box and fat ‘dn. bringing hs handout a last wah te po paperin ‘The coma was quet. Al whispered, "IhopeltsnotNancy. andthe soundot ‘he wnisperYeachod ih edges le Cows “spot the way tused to be." Old Man Warne sald early. “People ln the vy hey used tobe “Aleit. Me Sumeners sald. “Open he papers. Hay, yougpen itt Dave's” ‘Graves openedne sp of paper and there was a general sign hough the {Goudas he held tup and everyone cou aoe tal wasbank Noney and BE Sir opened thes at he same tine and both beamed and lughed, tuning “rounds tnecrowdanaholdng ii sps af paper above he hed. “Tessie Mr. Summer sas. There was a pause, anhen tr. Summers looked sl Hutchinson, anaBlurolde his paper andshowed was lank il i, Sumas ai, andi vote was hushed. “Show us he pepe, Bl Hutchinson went over to he wile and forced the slp of paper out ther and had tack spot ont the black spot Surmers had mado he ight tore wth he heey penciin the coal company fice. Bl Hutcnnson Net Upvandinere was asirinthe rows “nage Me. Summers sid. “Le sti quick” -Athough he vlagrs na forgotton the tua an ios the onal back box ‘hay sil membered 1o se stones. The peo sions ho boys had rade she was ead thare were stones onthe ound wih he blowing saps aver tad tne cute he box Delacronceacted atone solate shehad {o plcitup with both hands and wnedto Mes, Dunbar "Came on” che sald “Hurry up." ra, Duna nadsmalstonesinbothhands, sndshe sai. gsepng foes ‘anit atal:Youthaveto go ahead andi eaten up wih yeu" ‘The cron had stones aleady. And someone gave ite Davy Hutchinson 9 sew pebble. “essieHutcinson wasn the contr ot acleare space by now. nd shehelsher hands cut desperate as the vaagersmovedinn hr tisn ta she sad A Hone ithe on thes ofthe head Md Man Wane wes saying, "Come on ome o, everyone." Stave Adama waste oto th crowd of vilagars ‘ith ie Graves beside an stint lan ight Ma, Hutchinson creamed, andten they were upon ‘Private Experience ‘Chimsmanda gon Asche ‘Chika cimbs in trough the store window fst and hen lds the shutr as {he woman chs inate he, Te ore lok asf was desenedongbeore erie stared npn con share covered yen is. {Citas wallcn closet Back nome. The woman cine in and the widow Shutters squeak a= Chika lets go a them. Chika’ hanas ate embing, hat ‘ales burg alr the unsteady run fom the market inher Nghnecled Snail. Shewantso an ne woman, lr sloping her ase dashed pas ot fying “No run tat way!" and for leading her, instead to te empty sore ‘hore they coud id. But before she can say tha you, the woman say, ‘eachingouttoteuchherbarenack "My neckace lst when tm runing "dropped eventing” Chika says. “I was buying oranges and | ‘oppose ranges and my handbag" She does nt ad that heharabogas § Burery an orginl one that her mather had bought ona ecen pt ‘The woman sghs end Chika imagines tha she I thaking of ee aca, probed plasticbeadstreededonepiceosting, Evenwinoutine ‘womans song Hause accor. Chia can el he Iss Nahr. om he rarrowness of er face, te unarla ieofhrcheebones an tht shee Must, because ofthe Scat nhangsarcunathe woman's eck now, Dawes probably woundicosey rounder ace bette coverng heres Alon, insy fine and black scart withthe garish protiness of cheap binge Chika wonders Ite woman's lolang at hr as wal fhe woman ean flor her ight ‘omplodonandtheslvetagerfosary har methane she wear that hele abo and Chistian. Later, Cha wi lean thal as she and the woman are Sesking, Hausa Nislims are hacking down Igbo Christan with machetes, ‘boing them wi tones Bu now she say. "Thank You fr eal me Everytinghappenedso fast andeverybodyan andl was sudden alone en ‘dant inow wnat was coi. Thar you" “This place sane woman says, na vole thts so ott sounds koa wncper "Them nat ging to smaltsmal Shap, oly big sop an maket" "Yes Chika say. Bu she net etson to ares or dagies, she knows nothing Sbou ashe closet sha has comes he prodemocts aly he univer afew weeks ago, where she hea held aight green branch and jones in chanting “The matry must go! Abacha must go! Democracy ow Besides, se would ot even have parcpatein at ale star ‘Nad hadnt been an ofthe organisers whohadgonettom hosel hestlto handout fers andtalkto students bout he inportanca of navng ou voles Chita’ hands ar stil wembing usta an hour go, she wasinthe ‘mate! wih Need. Sho was buying ofenges and Ned had wakea torher ‘down fouy grounds and hen thre was shoutg ev Engen pidgin, auc, i gba. “lt! Treubes coming, oh They have ied a man Then poople around her were running, pushing agai! one ance. overturning ‘weeelbarows fl of yams, leaving behind bulsed vogetabls thay haa is barganed nario Chika sated te sweat andoar an shea, oa, sess ide eves fo this narow one, whch she esd et was angereus Ul ‘She andthe woman san sont inthe stor for awh, ooking out of he window they ava teamed trough, ta squseky wooden shuters Suingng in hear The sets qt at re shan hy hear he sound of runing feet. They both move away om the window. nstnivey, afiough (Chit can sa ea a man and a worn walking pas, ihe woman hedng het ‘eapper up above he nes, a baby He oer back. The man ls speaking ‘itn gbo and all Chika hear "She may have unio Uncle's nous “Choe window" the wonsa ays" Chika shut the windows and'ithout he sr om he atest towing ln,hedutinthe room s suasely sock she can ee, blowing above hor ‘The eoms sty and smalsnotung he the sets outside, which smal ike the Kd of syecolouted smoke tat wats around during Chimes when oopl tvow goatcrcassesino ives o bum then of the skin. Te sets twhoreshe an bind) not sure nufichdrecion Nnednadrun not sue ne ‘man unning edge her was stand ar an enemy, not ure aha ould top Sand pick up one of ie bewlderedookng chldten separated fram tha ‘motereiatheush,oteven sure wh was who or who weakling whom, Later she wit on he hue of burned ar, jagged holes In place thakwindows and whdeheda, and she wa magi i burning cars tng ‘heciy ie enc bones, stot witnesses to so much She wilndcutithad allstanod atthe motor park whenaman cove over copy athe Haly Koran ‘at nad been dropped onthe rosdige, aman whe happeed abe bo and (Cascton Te men nary, man who sat rund allay paying daughs, mon \weohappened obe tsi puledhim ut espekiptuck culhsheedot ‘itn one hot machete sndcaiad the mth, aking others ool Inthe iio nad deseeats tn Hely Book Chkawilimsgne te man’shead, Isso ashen in dat, and she wil vow up and rete ul her stomach Is S16. But non shea the woman, "Can yous smalthe smoke?” Yes" woman say, She untesher green wrapper andspredsiton tne aunty for. Sea one aBouse an ashen back sip athe Chic looks athe threadbare wrapper onthe oor is probably one ‘oft wothe woman owns She loks down ather an genun stand; fhitembossedit apr of te Stetue of bey, bemtwrchshebought luhen se and Nnea spent afew summer weoks wih rlaves in New Yor "No. yourwrepper wl get ary he aye "Site woman say. "We are wating here long ine” "Doyeunave andeatawong “Thigh or tomorow momning CChiaraseshernandiahertreheed, 2: though checking oramaiata {ever The touch of he 90! pam usualy cams er, but sine her palms moist and sweaty "lef my sister buying groundnuts. !dont know where she “Rletpganastepce “Wy soter. Hername's Nest” "Ned" he woman repeats, and her Hausa accent sheaths the bo amin etstbary geoness Later Cat wil comb the hosptal mortals loking for Nek she villgotonewspaperofices euching hepato atherel and Ned taken a ‘edinglusthe weekbetor, tne one whereshshas setupiemieylpan et {ace because Nned pitched het ust bolore he oto was taken. the wo ot ‘hom wearng matcnng theshouder Ankara gow. She Mi Tape fhocopia othe phot onthe wa the market andthe nary stores She ‘tnt td tne ‘She ws aver nd Noes. Butnow she saystotne wars, “Nnedl and came up here ast week ows au ante. We are on vecabon "mere yougo school” he woman asks, ‘Weare atthe Universo Lagos. am resing esicine. Ned in poical scence Chka wonders the woman even jews what gong fo rnverty mens. An ne wonders, ane manoned school ony ted hese the realy ene needs now-atne sot stn at. at Noes ‘se somevree proba aughng ater easy, mautal-open ay, probsDy making one of her poi argument. Lk Now the goverment of Genel ‘Abaca was using foreign pally to legimise tat In the yes of oer ‘Ascan counties, Or hon tne huge popuariyn londha atachments Wasa direct est of rt colonia "Wehave ot spenta weet here wth or sul, we have never even beentokanobelore’ Chuasoy,andsheresisestal wate leet she nar site shold not be alee y tort Psa ts were what he ‘ead abutn newspapers. Rots tvs wee whathappenedtoaer peop ~ourauria inane the waman asa No, oh's at wok Shes erate ort Chika raises hernanata er renead aga She lerahecsel ands, much cose tone ttoman than she ersnaiy wouss have, 0 stort er body erly on the rapper. She smels someting onthe woman, someting hash and dean ie ‘eborsoap he housgtuaesto wath eed inen ou utes gang st pace “Yea Chika sb. The cones sees sues se fee st shes watcha stl canbebeve ual happening. ate "the woman stareg sagt ahead Even aboutheis tng and slender, hr ingestehed Gt not ofhe,hringars wh henna ined ‘alo her tet is work nse says tly. ‘hts wonders fata he woman hin ofthe its, hati se aes hem sto She wes Nos were her, She ages he oon BrownotNnedseyeslighing up her ips moving uch expaiing tots one ngpen vacuum ht elgon an ety ae ofen polled becausethe ers sael ti hungry raed are king one another. Then Ca feos pick of gu for wonderin ts womans mn large enough fo fas ay of a. In sad youre seeing sick people now he woman aks Chika aves her gaze auiky 20 tha he woman wil no se he surprise hy cio? Yao, we lated lat yer, We ee parts athe “eacningHowptl* Se does a ot ae ntl tact nce, ttatshe douches atthe becktthe group of sor seven students viding Serir reper eyes, hoping she wi fate asked o exe a pat nd ‘veer deena agnor am wader the worian sas. “Tm ling onions ‘Cita ston fo sarcasm o reproach Inthe one, ut heel none. “Theol stad and as ow, a woman seni ting wnat she dos. “ihope they at notdestoy markt stats" Crkareples she doesnot nom wnat eae. "Everytime when hey ave ting, they beak market the woman (Chika wants to ask he womanhow many Hos shehas witnessed but she does nl Shehas ead about th ters nthe past: Havas Mus eats ‘Stacking gbo Cision, and sometimes gba Cslan going on muraerous tissonsolrvenge. Se doas not wart aconvercalono namingnames. "My nipples burning ke popper." the woman says "My pl is bung ke pepper Before Cnxa can swalow he bubble supine thst and say snyting he wornan ple up her blouse and unnaoks the ont asp of & {vendor black bra Se bongs ou he money ta and twenty-nine, {olde inside er ba bere tesig her ures "uming-buning Ike poppe” sho says. cuping har breasts and leanngtowardhka as haughinanotleng Chast. She rerarbers tna pedaticfotaton ony a week ag he sen eis. Dr Ounoyo, wants Ste stom to foe the stage 4 heart murmur ofa te boy, who w ‘aching trem win crous eyes. Th doco’ asked her 1 go stand she Secume sweaty, he mnd bank, no onge aut where the hear was. Stead finaly paced smakyhandon helt te ott boy snipe, andthe rot

    You might also like