Summary

The story’s narrator is a young man named James. He is 16 years old and lives with his mother in San Francisco, California. At the beginning of the story, James’ mother—referred to throughout as “Mother” (36)—finds a letter in James room. She reads the letter and feels immediately distraught. However, she is a devout churchgoer, and it is almost time for four o’clock Mass, so she leaves the house to go to church. James remarks in narration that his mother has peculiar gait, as she hunches forward and walks with short steps. In church, Mother prays for her children, especially James. She says, “I thought he wasn’t going to do it anymore. Murphy said he was cured” (37). Mother goes straight home after Mass and burns the letter before calling a doctor called Dr. Murphy. James explains in narration that the letter...