9/6/2016

TheDaemonLoverbyShirleyJackson|LiteraryFictions

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ShortStories,ReviewsandVintageMiscellany

TheDaemonLoverbyShirleyJackson
(h ps://literaryctions.les.wordpress.com/2011/08/shirleyjackson319161965.jpg)
ShirleyJackson(19161965)
~TheDaemonLover~
AClassicAmericanShortStorybyShirleyJackson
She had not slept well; from onethirty, when Jamie left and she went lingeringly to bed, until seven,
whensheatlastallowedherselftogetupandmakecoee,shehadslepttfully,stirringawaketoopen
her eyes and look into the halfdarkness, remembering over and over, slipping again into a feverish
dream.Shespentalmostanhouroverhercoeetheyweretohavearealbreakfastonthewayand
then,unlessshewantedtodressearly,hadnothingtodo.Shewashedhercoeecupandmadethebed,
looking carefully over the clothes she planned to wear, worried unnecessarily, at the window, over
whetheritwouldbeaneday.Shesatdowntoread,thoughtthatshemightwriteale ertohersister
instead,andbegan,inhernesthandwriting,DearestAnne,bythetimeyougetthisIwillbemarried.
Doesntitsoundfunny?Icanhardlybelieveitmyself,butwhenItellyouhowithappened,youllsee
itsevenstrangerthanthat
Si ing,peninhand,shehesitatedoverwhattosaynext,readthelinesalreadywri en,andtoreupthe
le er.Shewenttothewindowandsawthatitwasundeniablyandday.Itoccurredtoherthatperhaps
she ought not to wear the blue silk dress; it was too plain, almost severe, and she wanted to be soft,
feminine.Anxiouslyshepulledthroughthedressinthecloset,andhesitatedoveraprintshehadworn
thesummerbefore;itwastooyoungforherandithadaruedneck,anditwasveryearlyintheyear
foraprintdress,butstill
She hung the two dresses side by side on the outside of the closet door and opened the glass doors
carefully closed upon the small closet that was her kitchene e. She turned on the burner under the
coeepot, and went to the window; it was sunny. When the coeepot began to crackle she came back
andpouredherselfcoee,intoacleancup.IllhaveaheadacheifIdontgetsomesolidfoodsoon,she
thought,allthiscoee,smokingtoomuch,norealbreakfast.Aheadacheonherweddingday;shewent
andgotthetinboxofaspirinfromthebathroomclosetandslippeditintoherbluepocketbook.Shed
havetochangetoabrownpocketbookifsheworetheprintdress,andtheonlybrownpocketbookshe
hadwasshabby.Helplessly,shestoodlookingfromthebluepocketbooktotheprintdress,andthenput
the pocketbook down and went and got her coee and sat near the window, drinking her coee, and
looked carefully around the oneroom apartment. They planned to come back here tonight and
everythingmustbecorrect.Withsuddenhorrorsherealizedshehadforgo entoputcleansheetsonthe
bed;thelaundrywasfreshlybackandshetookcleansheetsandpillowcasesfromthetopshelfofthe
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closetandstrippedthebed,workingquicklytoavoidthinkingconsciouslyofwhyshewaschangingthe

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TheDaemonLoverbyShirleyJackson|LiteraryFictions

closetandstrippedthebed,workingquicklytoavoidthinkingconsciouslyofwhyshewaschangingthe
sheets.Thebedwasastudiobed,withacovertomakeitlooklikeacouch,andwhenitwasnishedno
onewouldhaveknownshehadputcleansheetsonit.Shetooktheoldsheetsandpillowcasesintothe
bathroomandstuedthemdownintothehamper,andputthebathroomtowelsinthehampertoo,and
clean towels on the bathroom racks. Her coee was cold when she came back to it, but she drank it
anyway.
Whenshelookedattheclock,nally,andsawthatitwasafternine,shebeganatlasttohurry.Shetook
abath,andusedoneofthecleantowels,whichsheputintothehamperandreplacedwithacleanone.
Shedressedcarefully,allherunderwearfreshandmostofitnew;sheputeverythingshehadwornthe
daybefore,includinghernightgown,intothehamper.Whenshewasreadyforherdress,shehesitated
beforetheclosetdoor.Thebluedresswascertainlydecent,andclean,andfairlybecoming,butshehad
wornitseveraltimeswithJamie,andtherewasnothingaboutitwhichmadeitspecialforawedding
day.Theprintdresswasoverlypre y,andnewtoJamie,andyetwearingsuchaprintthisearlyinthe
seasonwascertainlyrushingtheseason.Finallyshethought,Thisismyweddingday,IcandressasI
please,andshetooktheprintdressdownfromthehanger.Whensheslippeditonoverherheaditfelt
freshandlight,butwhenshelookedatherselfinthemirrorsherememberedthattheruesaroundthe
neck did not show her throat to any great advantage, and the wide swinging skirt looked irresistibly
made for a girl, for someone who would run freely, dance, swing it with her hips when she walked.
Lookingatherselfinthemirror,shethoughtwithrevulsion,ItsasthoughIwastryingtomakemyself
lookpre ierthanIam,justforhim;hellthinkIwanttolookyoungerbecausehesmarryingme;and
shetoretheprintdressosoquicklythataseamunderthearmripped.Intheoldbluedressshefelt
comfortable and familiar, but unexciting. It isnt what youre wearing that ma ers, she told herself
rmly,andturnedindismaytotheclosettoseeiftheremightbeanythingelse.Therewasnothingeven
remotely suitable for her marrying Jamie, and for a minute she thought of going out quickly to some
li leshopnearby,togetadress.Thenshesawthatitwascloseonten,andshehadnotimeformore
thanherhairandhermakeup.Herhairwaseasy,pulledbackintoaknotatthenapeofherneck,but
hermakeupwasanotherdelicatebalancebetweenlookingaswellaspossible,anddeceivingasli le.
She could not try to disguise the sallowness of her skin, or the lines around her eyes, today, when it
mightlookasthoughshewereonlydoingitforherwedding,andyetshecouldnotbearthethoughtof
Jamiesbringingtomarriageanyonewholookedhaggardandlined.Yourethirtyfouryearsoldafterall,
shetoldherselfcruellyinthebathroommirror.Thirty,itsaidonthelicense.
Itwastwominutesafterten;shewasnotsatisedwithherclothes,herface,herapartment.Sheheated
thecoeeagainandsatdowninthechairbythewindow.Cantdoanythingmorenow,shethought,no
sensetryingtoimproveanythingthelastminute.
Reconciled,se led,shetriedtothinkofJamieandcouldnotseehisfaceclearly,orhearhisvoice.Its
alwaysthatwaywithsomeoneyoulove,shethought,andlethermindslippasttodayandtomorrow,
intothefartherfuture,whenJamiewasestablishedwithhiswritingandshehadgivenupherjob,the
goldenhouseinthecountryfuturetheyhadbeenpreparingforthelastweek.Iusedtobeawonderful
cook,shehadpromisedJamie,withali letimeandpracticeIcouldrememberhowtomakeangel
food cake. And fried chicken, she said, knowing how the words would stay in Jamies mind, half
tenderly.AndHollandaisesauce.
Tenthirty. She stood up and went purposefully to the phone. She dialed, and waited, and the girls
metallicvoicesaid,thetimewillbeexactlytenthirtynine.Halfconsciouslyshesetherclockbacka
minute;shewasrememberingherownvoicesayinglastnight,inthedoorway:Tenoclockthen.Illbe
ready.Isitreallytrue?
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AndJamielaughingdownthehallway.

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AndJamielaughingdownthehallway.
By eleven oclock she had sewed up the ripped seam in the print dress and put her sewingbox away
carefullyinthecloset.Withtheprintdresson,shewassi ingbythewindowdrinkinganothercupof
coee.Icouldhavetakenmoretimeovermydressingafterall,shethought;butbynowhewassolate
hemightcomeanyminute,andshedidnotdaretrytorepairanythingwithoutstartingallover.There
wasnothingtoeatintheapartmentexceptthefoodshehadcarefullystockedupfortheirlifebeginning
together: the unopened package of bacon, the dozen eggs in their box, the unopened bread and the
unopenedbu er;theywereforbreakfasttomorrow.Shethoughtofrunningdownstairstothedrugstore
forsomethingtoeat,leavinganoteonthedoor.Thenshedecidedtowaitali lelonger.
Byeleventhirtyshewassodizzyandweakthatshehadtogodownstairs.IfJamiehadhadaphoneshe
would have called him then. Instead, she opened her desk and wrote a note: Jamie, have gone
downstairstothedrugstore.Backinveminutes.Herpenleakedontoherngersandshewentinto
the bathroom and washed, using a clean towel which she replaced. She tacked the note on the door,
surveyed the apartment once more to make sure that everything was perfect, and closed the door
withoutlockingit,incaseheshouldcome.
Inthedrugstoreshefoundthattherewasnothingshewantedtoeatexceptmorecoee,andsheleftit
halfnished because she suddenly realized that Jamie was probably upstairs waiting and impatient,
anxioustogetstarted.
Butupstairseverythingwaspreparedandquiet,asshehadleftit,hernoteunreadonthedoor,theairin
theapartmentali lestalefromtoomanycigare es.Sheopenedthewindowandsatdowntoituntilshe
realizedthatshehadbeenasleepanditwastwentyminutestoone.
Now,suddenlyshewasfrightened.Wakingwithoutpreparationintotheroomofwaitingandreadiness,
everythingcleananduntouchedsincetenoclock,shewasfrightened,andalmostranacrosstheroomto
the bathroom, dashed cold water on her face, and used a clean towel; this time she put the towel
carefullybackontherackwithoutchangingit;timeenoughforthatlater.Hatless,stillintheprintdress
withacoatthrownonoverit,thewrongbluepocketbookwiththeaspirininsideinherhand,shelocked
the apartment door behind her, no note this time, and ran down the stairs. She caught a taxi on the
cornerandgavethedriverJamiesaddress.
It was no distance at all; she could have walked it if she had not been so weak, but in the taxi she
suddenlyrealizedhowimprudentitwouldbetodrivebrazenlyuptoJamiesdoor,demandinghim.She
asked the driver, therefore, to let her o at a corner near Jamies and, after paying him, waited till he
droveawaybeforeshestartedtowalkdowntheblock.Shehadneverbeenherebefore;thebuildingwas
pleasant and old, and Jamies name was not on any of the mailboxes in the vestibule, nor on the
doorbells.Shecheckedtheaddress;itwasright,andnallysherangthebellmarkedSuperintendent.
Afteraminuteortwothedoorbuzzerrangandsheopenedthedoorandwentintothedarkhallwhere
shehesitateduntiladoorattheendopenedandsomeonesaid,Yes?
Sheknewatthesamemomentthatshehadnoideawhattoask,soshemovedforwardtowardthegure
waitingagainstthelightoftheopendoorway.Whenshewasverynear,theguresaid,Yes?againand
shesawthatitwasamaninhisshirtsleeves,unabletoseeheranymoreclearlythanshecouldseehim.
Withsuddencourageshesaid,ImtryingtogetintouchwithsomeonewholivesinthisbuildingandI
cantndthenameoutside.
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Whatsthenameyouwant?themanasked,andsherealizedthatshewouldhavetoanswer.

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Whatsthenameyouwant?themanasked,andsherealizedthatshewouldhavetoanswer.
JamesHarris,shesaid.Harris.
Themanwassilentforaminuteandthenhesaid,Harris.Heturnedaroundtotheroominsidethe
lighteddoorwayandsaid,Margie,comehereaminute.
What now? a voice said from inside, and after a wait long enough for someone to get out of a
comfortablechairawomanjoinedhiminthedoorway,regardingthedarkhall.Ladyhere,theman
said.LadylookingforaguynameofHarris,liveshere.Anyoneinthebuilding?
No,thewomansaid.Hervoicesoundedamused.NomennamedHarrishere.
Sorry,themansaid.Hestartedtoclosethedoor.Yougotthewronghouse,lady,hesaid,andadded
inalowervoice,orthewrongguy,andheandthewomanlaughed.
Whenthedoorwasalmostshutandshewasaloneinthedarkhallshesaidtothethinlightedcrackstill
showing,Buthedoeslivehere;Iknowit.
Look,thewomansaid,openingthedooragainali le,ithappensallthetime.
Pleasedontmakeanymistake,shesaid,andhervoicewasverydignied,withthirtyfouryearsof
accumulatedpride.Imafraidyoudontunderstand.
Whatdidhelooklike?thewomansaidwearily,thedoorstillonlypartopen.
Hesrathertall,andfair.Hewearsabluesuitveryoften.Hesawriter.
No,thewomansaid,andthen,Couldhehavelivedonthethirdoor?
Imnotsure.
Therewasafellow,thewomansaidreectively.Heworeabluesuitalot,livedonthethirdoorfor
awhile.TheRoysterslenthimtheirapartmentwhiletheywerevisitingherfolksupstate.
Thatmightbeit;Ithought,though
Thisoneworeabluesuitmostly,butIdontknowhowtallhewas,thewomansaid.Hestayedthere
aboutamonth.
Amonthagoiswhen
YouasktheRoysters,thewomansaid.Theycomebackthismorning.Apartment3B.
Thedoorclosed,denitely.Thehallwasverydarkandthestairslookeddarker.
Onthesecondoortherewasali lelightfromaskylightfarabove.Theapartmentdoorslinedup,four
ontheoor,uncommunicativeandsilent.Therewasabo leofmilkoutside2C.
Onthethirdoorshewaitedforaminute.Therewasthesoundofmusicbeyondthedoorof3B,andshe
couldhearvoices.Finallysheknocked,andknockedagain.Thedoorwasopenedandthemusicswept
outather,anearlyafternoonsymphonybroadcast.Howdoyoudo,shesaidpolitelytothewomanin
thedoorway.Mrs.Royster?
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Thatsright.Thewomanwaswearingahousecoatandlastnightsmakeup.

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Thatsright.Thewomanwaswearingahousecoatandlastnightsmakeup.
IwonderifImighttalktoyouforaminute?
Sure,Mrs.Roystersaid,notmoving.
AboutMr.Harris.
WhatMr.Harris?Mrs.Roystersaidatly.
Mr.JamesHarris.Thegentlemanwhoborrowedyourapartment.
OLord,Mrs.Roystersaid.Sheseemedtoopenhereyesforthersttime.Whatdhedo?
Nothing.Imjusttryingtogetintouchwithhim.
O Lord, Mrs. Royster said again. Then she opened the door wider and said, Come in, and then,
Ralph!
Inside,theapartmentwasstillfullofmusic,andthereweresuitcaseshalfunpackedonthecouch,onthe
chairs, on the oor, A table in the corner was spread with the remains of a meal, and the young man
si ingthere,foramomentresemblingJamie,gotupandcameacrosstheroom.
Whataboutit?hesaid.
Mr.Royster,shesaid.Itwasdiculttotalkagainstthemusic.Thesuperintendentdownstairstold
methatthiswaswhereMr.JamesHarriswasliving.
Sure,hesaid.Ifthatwashisname.
Ithoughtyoulenthimtheapartment,shesaid,surprised.
Idontknowanythingabouthim,Mr.Roystersaid.HesoneofDo iesfriends.
Not my friends, Mrs. Royster said. No friend of mine. She had gone over to the table and was
spreading peanut bu er on a piece of bread. She took a bite and said thickly, waving the bread and
peanutbu eratherhusband.Notmyfriend.
Shepickedhimupatoneofthosedamnmeetings,Mr.Roystersaid.Heshovedasuitcaseothechair
nexttotheradioandsatdown,pickingupamagazinefromtheoornexttohim.Ineversaidmoren
tenwordstohim.
Yousaiditwasokaytolendhimtheplace,Mrs.Roystersaidbeforeshetookanotherbite.Younever
saidawordagainsthim,afterall.
Idontsayanythingaboutyourfriends,Mr.Roystersaid.
Ifhedofbeenafriendofmineyouwouldhavesaidplenty,believeme,Mrs.Roystersaiddarkly.She
tookanotherbiteandsaid,Believeme,hewouldhavesaidplenty.
ThatsallIwanttohear,Mr.Roystersaid,overthetopofthemagazine.Nomorenow.
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Yousee.Mrs.Roysterpointedthebreadandpeanutbu

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eratherhusband.Thatsthewayitis,day

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Yousee.Mrs.Roysterpointedthebreadandpeanutbu eratherhusband.Thatsthewayitis,day
andnight.
TherewassilenceexceptforthemusicbellowingoutoftheradionexttoMr.Royster,andthenshesaid,
inavoiceshehardlytrustedtobeheardovertheradionoise,Hashegone,then?
Who?Mrs.Roysterdemanded,lookingupfromthepeanutbu erjar.
Mr.JamesHarris.
Him?Hemustveleftthismorning,beforewegotback.Nosignofhimanywhere.
Gone?
Everythingwasne,though,perfectlyne.Itoldyou,shesaidtoMr.Royster,Itoldyouhedtake
careofeverythingne.Icanalwaystell.
Youwerelucky,Mr.Roystersaid.
Not a thing out of place, Mrs. Royster said. She waved her bread and peanut bu er inclusively.
Everythingjustthewayweleftit,shesaid.
Doyouknowwhereheisnow?
Nottheslightestidea,Mrs.Roystersaidcheerfully.But,likeIsaid,helefteverythingne.Why?she
askedsuddenly.Youlookingforhim?
Itsnotveryimportant.
Imsorryhesnothere,Mrs.Roystersaid.Shesteppedforwardpolitelywhenshesawhervisitorturn
towardthedoor.
Maybethesupersawhim,Mr.Roystersaidintothemagazine.
Whenthedoorwasclosedbehindherthehallwasdarkagain,butthesoundoftheradiowasdeadened.
She was halfway down the rst ight of stairs when the door was opened and Mrs. Royster shouted
downthestairwell,IfIseehimIlltellhimyouwerelookingforhim.
What can I do? She thought, out on the street again. It was impossible to go home, not with Jamie
somewherebetweenhereandthere.Shestoodonthesidewalksolongthatawoman,leaningoutofa
windowacrosstheway,turnedandcalledtosomeoneinsidetocomeandsee.Finally,onanimpulse,
shewentintothesmalldelicatessennextdoortotheapartmenthouse,onthesidethatledtoherown
apartment.Therewasasmallmanreadinganewspaper,leaningagainstthecounter;whenshecamein
helookedupandcamedowninsidethecountertomeether.
Overtheglasscaseofcoldmeatsandcheeseshesaid,timidly,Imtryingtogetintouchwithaman
wholivedintheapartmenthousenextdoor,andIjustwonderedifyouknowhim.
Whyntyouaskthepeoplethere?Themansaid,hiseyesnarrow,inspectingher.
ItsbecauseImnotbuyinganything,shethought,andshesaid,Imsorry.Iaskedthem,buttheydont
knowanythingabouthim.Theythinkheleftthismorning.
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Idontknowwhatyouwantmetodo,hesaid,movingali

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lebacktowardhisnewspaper.Imnot

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Idontknowwhatyouwantmetodo,hesaid,movingali lebacktowardhisnewspaper.Imnot
heretokeeptrackofguysgoinginandoutnextdoor.
Shesaidquickly,Ithoughtyoumighthavenoticed,thatsall.Hewouldhavebeencomingpasthere,a
li lebeforetenoclock.Hewasrathertall,andheusuallyworeabluesuit.
Nowhowmanymeninbluesuitsgopasthereeveryday,lady?themandemanded.YouthinkIgot
nothingtodobut
Imsorry,shesaid.Sheheardhimsay,ForGodssake,asshewentoutthedoor.
Asshewalkedtowardthecorner,thethought,hemusthavecomethisway,itsthewayhedgotogetto
myhouse,itstheonlywayforhimtowalk.ShetriedtothinkofJamie:wherewouldhehavecrossed
thestreet?Whatsortofpersonwasheactuallywouldhecrossinfrontofhisownapartmenthouse,at
randominthemiddleoftheblock,atthecorner?
Onthecornerwasanewsstand;theymighthaveseenhimthere.Shehurriedonandwaitedwhileaman
boughtapaperandawomanaskeddirections.Whenthenewsstandmanlookedather,shesaid,Can
you possibly tell me if a rather tall young man in a blue suit went past here this morning around ten
oclock?Whenthemanonlylookedather,hiseyeswideandhismouthali leopen,shethought,he
thinksitsajokeoratrick,andshesaidurgently,Itsveryimportant,pleasebelieveme.Imnotteasing
you.
Look, lady, the man began, and she said eagerly, Hes a writer. He might have bought magazines
here.
What you want him for? the man asked. He looked at her, smiling, and she realized that there was
anothermanwaitinginbackofherandthenewsdealerssmileincludedhim.Nevermind,shesaid,
but the newsdealer said, Listen, maybe he did come by here. His smile was knowing and his eyes
shiftedoverhershouldertothemaninbackofher.Shewassuddenlyhorriblyawareofheroveryoung
print dress, and pulled her coat around her quickly. The newsdealer said, with vast thoughtfulness,
NowIdontknowforsure,mindyou,buttheremighthavebeensomeonelikeyourgentlemanfriend
comingbythismorning.
Aboutten?
Aboutten,thenewsdealeragreed.Tallfellow,bluesuit.Iwouldntbeatallsurprised.
Whichwaydidhego?shesaideagerly.Uptown?
Uptown,thenewsdealersaid,nodding.Hewentuptown.Thatsjustexactlyit.WhatcanIdoforyou,
sir?
Shesteppedback,holdinghercoataroundher.Themanwhohadbeenstandingbehindherlookedat
heroverhisshoulderandthenheandthenewsdealerlookedatoneanother.Shewonderedforaminute
whetherornottotipthenewsdealerbutwhenbothmenbegantolaughshemovedhurriedlyonacross
thestreet.
Uptown,shethought,thatsright,andshestarteduptheavenue,thinking:Hewouldnthavetocross
theavenue,justgoupsixblocksandturndownmystreet,solongashestarteduptown.Aboutablock
fartheronshepassedaoristsshop;therewasaweddingdisplayinthewindowandshethought,This
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ismyweddingdayafterall,hemighthavego

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enowerstobringme,andshewentinside.Theorist

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ismyweddingdayafterall,hemighthavego enowerstobringme,andshewentinside.Theorist
came out of the back of the shop, smiling and sleek, and she said, before he could speak, so that he
wouldnthaveachancetothinkshewasbuyinganything:ItsterriblyimportantthatIgetintouchwith
agentlemanwhomayhavestoppedinheretobuyowersthismorning.Terriblyimportant.
Shestoppedforbreath,andtheoristsaid,Yes,whatsortofowerswerethey?
I dont know, she said, surprised. He never She stopped and said, He was a rather tall young
man,inabluesuit.Itwasabouttenoclock.
Isee,theoristsaid.Well,really,Imafraid
Butitssoimportant,shesaid.Hemayhavebeeninahurry,sheaddedhelpfully.
Well,theoristsaid.Hesmiledgenially,showingallhissmallteeth.Foralady,hesaid.Hewentto
astandandopenedalargebook.Whereweretheytobesent?heasked.
Why,shesaid,Idontthinkhedhavesentthem.Yousee,hewascomingthatis,hedbringthem.
Madam,theoristsaid;hewasoended.Hissmilebecamedeprecatory,andhewenton,Really,you
mustrealizethatunlessIhavesomethingtogoon
Please try to remember, she begged. He was tall, and had a blue suit, and it was about ten this
morning.
The orist closed his eyes, one nger to his mouth, and thought deeply. Then he shook his head. I
simplycant,hesaid.
Thankyou,shesaiddespondently,andstartedforthedoor,whentheoristsaidinashrill,excited
voice, Wait! Wait just a moment, madam. She turned and the orist, thinking again, said nally,
Chrysanthemums?Helookedatherinquiringly.
Oh,no,shesaid;hervoiceshookali leandshewaitedforaminutebeforeshewenton.Notforan
occasionlikethis,Imsure.
Theoristtightenedhislipsandlookedawaycoldly.Well,ofcourseIdontknowtheoccasion,hesaid,
butImalmostcertainthatthegentlemanyouwereinquiringforcameinthismorningandpurchased
onedozenchrysanthemums.Nodelivery.
Youresure?sheasked.
Positive,theoristsaidemphatically.Thatwasabsolutelytheman.Hesmiledbrilliantly,andshe
smiledbackandsaid,Well,thankyouverymuch.
Heescortedhertothedoor.Nicecorsage?hesaid,assaidastheywentthroughtheshop.Redroses?
Gardenias?
Itwasverykindofyoutohelpme,shesaidatthedoor.
Ladiesalwayslooktheirbestinowers,hesaid,bendinghisheadtowardher.Orchidsperhaps?
No,thankyou,shesaid,andhesaid,Ihopeyoundyouryoungman,andgaveitanastysound.
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Goingonupthestreetshethought,Everyonethinksitssofunny:andshepulledhercoattighteraround

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Goingonupthestreetshethought,Everyonethinksitssofunny:andshepulledhercoattighteraround
her,sothatonlytheruearoundthebo omoftheprintdresswasshowing.
Therewasapolicemanonthecornerandshethought,WhydontIgotothepoliceyougotothepolice
for a missing person. And then thought, What a fool Id look like. She had a quick picture of herself
standinginapolicestation,saying,Yes,weweregoingtobemarriedtoday,buthedidntcome,and
thepolicemen,threeorfourofthemstandingaroundlistening,lookingather,attheprintdress,ather
toobright makeup, smiling at one another. She couldnt tell them any more than that, could not say,
Yes, it looks silly, doesnt it, me all dressed up and trying to nd the young man who promised to
marry me, but what about all of it you dont know? I have more than this, more than you see: talent,
perhaps,andhumorofasort,andImaladyandIhaveprideandaectionanddelicacyandacertain
clear view of life that might make a man satised and productive and happy; theres more than you
thinkwhenyoulookatme.
Thepolicewereobviouslyimpossible,leavingoutJamieandwhathemightthinkwhenheheardshed
setthepoliceafterhim.No,no,shesaidaloud,hurryinghersteps,andsomeonepassingstoppedand
lookedafterher.
Onthecomingcornershewasthreeblocksfromherownstreetwasashoeshinestand,anoldman
si ing almost asleep in one of the chairs. She stopped in front of him and waited, after a minute he
openedhiseyesandsmiledather.
Look, she said, the words coming before the thought of them, Im sorry to bother you, but Im
looking for a young man who came up this way about ten this morning, did you see him? And she
beganherdescription,Tall,bluesuit,carryingabunchofowers?
Theoldmanbegantonodbeforeshewasnished.Isawhim,hesaid.Friendofyours?
Yes,shesaid,andsmiledbackinvoluntarily.
The old man blinked his eyes and said, I remember I thought, Youre going to see your girl, young
fellow.Theyallgotoseetheirgirls,hesaid,andshookhisheadtolerantly.
Whichwaydidhego?Straightonuptheavenue?
Thatsright,theoldmansaid.Gotashine,hadhisowers,alldressedup,inanawfulhurry.Yougot
agirl,Ithought.
Thankyou,shesaid,fumblinginherpocketforherloosechange.
Shesuremusthavebeengladtoseehim,thewayhelooked,theoldmansaid.
Thankyou,shesaidagain,andbroughtherhandemptyfromherpocket.
Forthersttimeshewasreallysurehewouldbewaitingforher,andshehurriedupthethreeblocks,
theskirtoftheprintdressswingingunderhercoat,andturnedintoherownblock.Fromthecornershe
couldnotseeherownwindows,couldnotseeJamielookingout,waitingforher,andgoingdownthe
blockshewasalmostrunningtogettohim.Herkeytrembledinherngersatthedownstairsdoor,and
as she glanced into the drugstore she thought of her panic, drinking coee there this morning, and
almostlaughed.Atherowndoorshecouldwaitnolonger,butbegantosay,Jamie,Imhere,Iasso
worried,evenbeforethedoorwasopen.
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Her own apartment was waiting for her, silent,

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barren, afternoon shadows lengthening from the

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Her own apartment was waiting for her, silent, barren, afternoon shadows lengthening from the
window.Foraminuteshesawonlytheemptycoeecup,thought,Hehasbeenherewaiting,beforeshe
recognizeditasherown,leftfromthemorning.Shelookedallovertheroom,intothecloset,intothe
bathroom.
Ineversawhim,theclerkinthedrugstoresaid.IknowbecauseIwouldofnoticedtheowers.No
onelikethatsbeenin.
Theoldmanattheshoeshinestandwokeupagaintoseeherstandinginfrontofhim.Helloagain,he
said,andsmiled.
Areyousure?shedemanded.Didhegoonuptheavenue?
I watched him, the old man said, dignied against her tone. I thought, Theres a young man got a
girl,andIwatchedhimrightintothehouse.
Whathouse?shesaidremotely.
Rightthere,theoldmansaid.Heleanedforwardtopoint.Thenextblock.Withhisowersandhis
shineandgoingtoseehisgirl.Rightintoherhouse.
Whichone?shesaid.
Aboutthemiddleoftheblock,theoldmansaid.Helookedatherwithsuspicionandsaid,Whatare
youtryingtodo,anyway?
She almost ran, without stopping to say Thank you. Up on the next block she walked quickly,
searching the houses from the outside to see if Jamie looked from a window, listening to hear his
laughtersomewhereinside.
A woman was si ing in front of one of the houses, pushing a baby carriage monotonously back and
forththelengthofherarm.Thebabyinsideslept,movingbackandforth.
Thequestionwasuent,bynow.Imsorry,butdidyouseeayoungmangointooneofthesehouses
abouttenthismorning?Hewastall,wearingabluesuit,carryingabunchofowers.
Aboyabouttwelvestoppedtolisten,turningintentlyfromonetotheother,occasionallyglancingatthe
baby.
Listen,thewomansaidtiredly,thekidhashisbathatten.WouldIseestrangemenwalkingaround?
Iaskyou?
Bigbunchofowers?theboyasked,pullingathercoat.Bigbunchofowers?Iseehim,missus.
Shelookeddownandtheboygrinnedinsolentlyather.Whichhousedidhegoin?sheaskedwearily.
Yougonnadivorcehim?theboyaskedinsistently?
Thatsnotnicetoaskthelady,thewomanrockingthecarriagesaid.

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Listen,theboysaid.Iseenhim.Hewentinthere.Hepointedtothehousenextdoor.Ifollowed

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Listen,theboysaid.Iseenhim.Hewentinthere.Hepointedtothehousenextdoor.Ifollowed
him,theboysaid.Hegivemeaquarter.Theboydroppedhisvoicetoagrowl,andsaid,Thisisa
bigdayforme,kid,hesays.Givemeaquarter.
Shegavehimadollarbill.Where?shesaid.
Topoor,theboysaid.Ifollowedhimtillhegivemethequarter.Waytothetop.Hebackedupthe
sidewalk,outofreach,withthedollarbill.Yougonnadivorcehim?heaskedagain.
Washecarryingowers?
Yeah,theboysaid.Hebegantoscreech.Yougonnadivorcehim,missus?Yougotsomethingonhim?
Hewentcareeningdownthestreet,howling,Shesgotsomethingonthepoorguy,andthewoman
rockingthebabylaughed.
Thestreetdooroftheapartmenthousewasunlocked;therewerenobellsintheoutervestibule,andno
listsofnames.Thestairswerenarrowanddirty;thereweretwodoorsonthetopoor.Thefrontone
wastherightone;therewasacrumpledoristspaperontheooroutsidethedoor,andakno edpaper
ribbon,likeaclue,likethenalclueinthepaperchase.
Sheknocked,andthoughtsheheardvoicesinside,andshethought,suddenly,withterror,WhatshallI
sayifJamieisthere,ifhecomestothedoor?Thevoicesseemedsuddenlystill.Sheknockedagainand
therewassilence,exceptforsomethingthatmighthavebeenlaughterfaraway.Hecouldhaveseenme
from the window, she thought, its the front apartment and that li le boy made a dreadful noise. She
waited,andknockedagain,buttherewassilence.
Finallyshewenttotheotherdoorontheoor,andknocked.Thedoorswungopenbeneathherhand
andshesawtheemptya icroom,barelathonthewalls,oorboardsunpainted.Shesteppedjustinside,
lookingaround;theroomwaslledwithbagsofplaster,pilesofoldnewspapers,abrokentrunk.There
wasanoisewhichshesuddenlyrealizedasarat,andthenshesawit,si ingveryclosetoher,nearthe
wall, its evil face alert, bright eyes watching her. She stumbled in her haste to be out with the door
closed,andtheskirtoftheprintdresscaughtandtore.
She knew there was someone inside the other apartment, because she was sure she could hear low
voicesandsometimeslaughter.Shecamebackmanytimes,everydayfortherstweek.Shecameonher
waytowork,inthemornings;intheevenings,onherwaytodinneralone,butnoma erhowoftenor
howrmlysheknocked,nooneevercametothedoor.

14responses

Loren|February4,2012at1:07am
Astrulymysterious,unnervingandquietlydislocatinganatmosphereasMs.Jacksonconjuredupin
TheDaemonLover,nonethelessIvealwaysbelievedthatthesubtextofthestorywasaboutthe
terrifying,possiblymindwreckinginsecuritymanywomenexperienceintheirrelationshipswith
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menwhoneveractuallycommittothem,whosepresenceintheirlivesremainsasnebulousandas11/13