The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

furniture is clean-looking and cheap.”
    “It’s better than most,” Emily said. “You’ve made yours look much nicer than mine.”
    “I’ve been here for three years,” Mrs. Allen said. “You’ve only been here a month or so, haven’t you?”
    “Six weeks,” Emily said.
    “The landlady’s told me about you. Your husband’s in the Army.”
    “Yes. I have a job here in New York.”
    “My husband was in the Army,” Mrs. Allen said. She gestured at a group of pictures on her maple dresser. “That was a long time ago, of course. He’s been dead for nearly five years.” Emily got up and went over to the pictures. One of them was of a tall, dignified-looking man in Army uniform. Several were of children.
    “He was a very distinguished-looking man,” Emily said. “Are those your children?”
    “I had no children, to my sorrow,” the old lady said. “Those are nephews and nieces of my husband’s.”
    Emily stood in front of the dresser, looking around the room. “I see you have flowers, too,” she said. She walked to the window and looked at the row of potted plants. “I love flowers,” she said. “I bought myself a big bunch of asters tonight to brighten up my room. But they fade so quickly.”
    “I prefer plants just for that reason,” Mrs. Allen said. “But why don’t you put an aspirin in the water with your flowers? They’ll last much longer.”
    “I’m afraid I don’t know much about flowers,” Emily said. “I didn’t know about putting an aspirin in the water, for instance.”
    “I always do, with cut flowers,” Mrs. Allen said. “I think flowers make a room look so friendly.”
    Emily stood by the window for a minute, looking out on Mrs. Allen’s daily view: the fire escape opposite, an oblique slice of the street below. Then she took a deep breath and turned around. “Actually, Mrs. Allen,” she said, “I had a reason for dropping in.”
    “Other than to make my acquaintance?” Mrs. Allen said, smiling.
    “I don’t know quite what to do,” Emily said. “I don’t like to say anything to the landlady.”
    “The landlady isn’t much help in an emergency,” Mrs. Allen said.
    Emily came back and sat on the bed, looking earnestly at Mrs. Allen, seeing a nice old lady. “It’s so slight,” she said, “but someone has been coming into my room.”
    Mrs. Allen looked up.
    “I’ve been missing things,” Emily went on, “like handkerchiefs and little inexpensive jewelry. Nothing important. But someone’s been coming into my room and helping themselves.”
    “I’m sorry to hear it,” Mrs. Allen said.
    “You see, I don’t like to make trouble,” Emily said. “It’s just that someone’s coming into my room. I haven’t missed anything of value.”
    “I see,” Mrs. Allen said.
    “I just noticed it a few days ago. And then last Sunday I was coming down from the roof and I saw someone coming out of my room.”
    “Do you have any idea who it was?” Mrs. Allen asked.
    “I believe I do,” Emily said.
    Mrs. Allen was quiet for a minute. “I can see where you wouldn’t like to speak to the landlady,” she said finally.
    “Of course not,” Emily said. “I just want it to stop.”
    “I don’t blame you,” Mrs. Allen said.
    “You see, it means someone has a key to my door,” Emily said pleadingly.
    “All the keys in this house open all the doors,” Mrs. Allen said. “They’re all old-fashioned locks.”
    “It has to stop,” Emily said. “If it doesn’t, I’ll have to do something about it.”
    “I can see that,” Mrs. Allen said. “The whole thing is very unfortunate.” She rose. “You’ll have to excuse me,” she went on. “I tire very easily and I must be in bed early. I’m so happy you came down to see me.”
    “I’m so glad to have met you at last,” Emily said. She went to the door. “I hope I won’t be bothered again,” she said. “Good night.”
    “Good night,” Mrs. Allen said.
    The following evening, when Emily came