Just an Ordinary Day: The Uncollected Stories of Shirley Jackson Read Online Free PDF

us,” Jeannie said delightedly. “He’ll spank us both.”
    She slid off her mother’s lap and landed on the floor, laughing and sitting. “Mommy,” she asked, “would you feel bad if I died like Tippie?”
    Mrs. Dawson reached out and touched Jeannie’s nose quickly and lightly. “Yes,” she said. “I would feel very bad indeed.”
    “Listen,” Jeannie said, scrambling to her feet, “there’s Carrie calling me. Why do you suppose she came over again just before dinner?”
    Scurrying, she raced through the dining room and through the hall and tugged open the front door. “Hi, Carrie,” she said.
    “I forgot Rosabelle Jemima,” Carrie said. “I had to come and get her so she wouldn’t catch cold being outside so late.”
    “Did you ask your mother could Tippie come over?”
    “Yes, but she said no,” Carrie said. “Did you?”
    “Yes, but she said no. Ask your mother can I come to your house for lunch tomorrow.”
    “I’ll ask her. And you ask your mother can I come to your house for lunch tomorrow. Then we can call each other on the telephone and say.”
    “All right. You can bring Rosabelle Jemima if she doesn’t catch cold.”
    “All right. Goodbye, Jeannie.”
    “Goodbye, Carrie.”
    Carrie turned the doll stroller and started off down the walk. “Listen,” Jeannie called, “you ask your mother.”
    “I will. And you ask yours.”
    “Don’t forget.”
    “You don’t forget either.”
    “Goodbye, Carrie.”
    “Goodbye, Jeannie.”
    “See you tomorrow.”
    “See you tomorrow.”
    “Goodbye, Rosabelle Jemima.”
    “Goodbye, Amelia Marian.”
    “Goodbye.”
    “Goodbye.”

I NDIANS L IVE IN T ENTS

    36 Elm St.
   Tuesday
    Dear Miss Griswold ,
    This is just a note of thanks, to say that I want you to know how much I certainly appreciate your kindness in letting me have this apartment. Every time I come home at night and look around my own little room-and-a-half I think of you, and I think of how if I didn’t speak to Timmy Richards and Timmy Richards hadn’t known Eve Martin and Eve Martin hadn’t gotten in touch with Bill Ireland and Bill Ireland hadn’t known you, then I would still be living out in Staten Island with my sister and her kids, and I remember how grateful I am to you for giving me your apartment. I wish you could see it now. Of course your stuff was good-looking, and I guess I could never make this place look as pretty as you had it, but of course the first thing I had to do was put away all that stuff with the ruffles and the curtains and things, and now I’ve got my ship models and my college pictures up and it sure looks swell. Whenever you want your stuff, of course, it’s right here. I wouldn’t touch it for anything .
    Well, thanks again, and I sure hope you’re happy in your new place. You sure were lucky to get it and whenever you want to send for your furniture I’ll send it along to you and then get my furniture from Bill Ireland and he can get his stuff from Timmy Richards and Timmy can get his back from his mother. So thanks again, and yours very sincerely ,
    Allan Burlingame
    101 Eastern Square
   Thursday
    Dear Mr. Burlingame ,
    I’m so glad you like my apartment, and of course I’m truly delighted that I was able to pass it along to you. Naturally I’m not even beginning to be settled here yet, so of course can’t send for my furniture right away. However, as soon as I get my sublease straightened out, we can fix everything. As you know, I’m having a little trouble with the landlord, because we didn’t want to tell him right away about how I was subleasing the place — he wanted it for his aunt or something — so of course it’s not really legal yet, my being here. As a result I’d be very grateful if you didn’t address your letters such as the last one to me direct. Address them to me care of Tuttle, which is the name of the people I’m subleasing from. Or better still, if you have any problems, telephone. The number is