A Pair of Silk Stockings Summary

Mrs. Sommers receives fifteen dollars, a very large sum for her. Her neighbors sometimes gossip about "better days" from Mrs. Sommers's past, referring to a time before she was married and had children. These days, Mrs. Sommers is focused on the needs of her children. She plans to buy several items for them with the money.

At the store, however, Mrs. Sommers buys a pair of silk stockings on impulse and puts them on. She also purchases boots, gloves, and magazines before visiting a fancy restaurant she has often admired but never entered. She savors the rich food and fine wine as she reads and feels at home with the other patrons.

Mrs. Sommers ends her day at the theatre. Seated next to gaudily dressed women nibbling on candy, Mrs. Sommers laughs and cries. When...