Really, Doesn't Crime Pay Summary

The entire story is written as out-of-sequence journal entries. Myrna, the black woman who is writing these entries in her journal, is giving a first-person account of events and people in her life. The first few journal entries occur out of order, starting in September of 1961. Myrna is sitting in her new Southern home writing in her notebook and looking down at her hands. Myrna writes about how she takes special care of her hands-in fact, all the rest of her body-and how sweet she smells. Myrna is able to indulge in this since she is not a "serious writer."

Myrna recalls how her husband Ruel first brought her to their current house. It is clear that Myrna does not like the house, or Ruel for that matter. However, out loud, Myrna agrees with Ruel that the...