Summary

He shares that the story “Under the Weather” is one story that he wrote with a clear ending in mind. For that reason, he felt he had to build the story carefully to arrive at the ending.

In “Under the Weather,” the narrator wakes to the sound of the dog, Lady, chewing under the bed he shares with his wife, Ellen. He is glad the dog did not bring a squeaky toy with her because it would have woken Ellen. He believes Ellen needs all the rest she can get because she has been “under the weather” (289).

The narrator brushes his teeth, noting that the mouth “is as germicidally dead as it ever gets” (290) in the morning. In the shower, the narrator considers the feeling he has that something terrible will happen if he allows it. Later, when the narrator takes Lady...