The Comforts of Home
by Flannery O’Connor, 1965
Thomas is a thirty-five year old man living with his mother. His father is physically dead but seems to mentally plague Thomas from time to time. His mother develops an attachment to a young woman in jail. She manages to get the young woman released, finds a place for her to live and a job.
For some reason that doesn’t seem to be enough for the young woman. Soon she is living in their guest room and taking over every room in the house. When she shows up in Thomas’ bedroom, Thomas gets mad enough to explode. He issues an ultimatum to his mother: the young woman must be out of the house today or he will leave. Mother must choose between the young woman and her son.
The ultimatum doesn’t work and now Thomas must hatch a new plot to get rid of her. His plot is to stash his gun in the young woman’s belongings and tell the sheriff the gun is missing.
This story is another excellent example of how a short story has me totally absorbed until the last paragraph. The story ends but my mind is still thinking about it. I ask the author, “What’s going to happen now?” but she doesn’t answer. So here’s the real beauty of short stories – I get to make up my own final conclusion.
It’s been a couple of days since I read the story but I’m still thinking about Thomas and the young woman. I really like my conclusion. Tell me if you’ve had the same reaction to short stories.
I read this story in my new book, The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century (edited by Toni Hillerman). I could not find The Comforts of Home online but check your library’s collection of short stories.
Short Story Monday is sponsored by John of Book Mind Set. Be sure to visit John for more short stories.
When I was in Asheville this summer, so many students and teachers raved about Flannery O’Connor. Sadly, I have not yet read any of her works, but know that I really should some day. This sounds like a good place to start.
I’ve always been frustrated with stories that don’t end with all loose ends tied up. I read for fun, and stories without an ending are too much work. I don’t necessarily need a happy ending, just a definite ending.
Hmm. If the ending is too vague I don’t like it. It almost feels lazy. If there are enough cluesto point you in the right direction at the end I like it.
I am a O’Connor fan but I am not sure I ever read this story. Have to go look this one up…
I wish I could tell you about a reaction I had to a short story but I just don’t read enough of them ..must change that!! This one sounds very well written!
O’Connor is on my list of authors to read, but I still haven’t gotten to her. Whether I like an open ending or not often seems to depend on my mood but, either way, I love it when I’m still thinking about a short story days later!
This sounds like another good one you found in the book of yours.