Charles
by Shirley Jackson
A few months ago I read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. I didn’t care much for it so I was leery when the Library Of America featured another Shirley Jackson short story. To my surprise I liked this one. It’s written in the first person so I’m going to assume this is the story of Shirley Jackson’s son, Laurie.
Laurie is a young kindergarten boy. Beginning on the first day of school Laurie came home and told his parents all about the terrible behavior of a boy named Charles. Each day Charles behaved so badly, the teacher had to spank him.
. . . The third day—it was Wednesday of the first week—Charles bounced a see-saw on to the head of a little girl and made her bleed, and the teacher made him stay inside all during recess. Thursday Charles had to stand in a corner during story-time because he kept pounding his feet on the floor. Friday Charles was deprived of blackboard privileges because he threw chalk.
On Saturday I remarked to my husband, “Do you think kindergarten is too unsettling for Laurie? All this toughness, and bad grammar, and this Charles boy sounds like such a bad influence.”
“It’ll be all right,” my husband said reassuringly. “Bound to be people like Charles in the world. Might as well meet them now as later.” . . .
Every day it seemed that Charles did something horrible. Laurie’s parents became very curious about Charles. Mrs. Jackson wanted to go to the Parent-Teacher meeting just so she could see who Charles’ mother was.
As the weeks progressed Laurie began to report that Charles’ behavior was much better. He was actually helping the teacher. Finally, there was a P.T.A. meeting and Mrs. Jackson was able to attend. Mr. Jackson told her to be sure to find Charles’ mother. Ask her what happened.
There’s a nice ending to this story. I think you’ll like it. Perhaps you’ve already predicted it. You can find the story HERE.
Short Story Monday is sponsored by John at Book Mind Set.
Oh That is a good one. lol
Shirley Jackson seems to have been a very odd duck! Thanks for the introduction and link to another story!
That was the best writeup, Margot! You gave just enough information to intrigue me, without giving anything away. Really terrific. And now I’m off to read it. If Rhapsody in Books comes back I had left a comment on The Lottery about biography of SJ and two of her nonfiction books which are really very good. And funny. Who knew? She didn’t have the cheeriest of lives.
I went back and read it aloud to Tom. What a great story! Neither of us guessed the ending. He may read it to his seventh graders in the fall. Thanks so much, Margot!
(I goofed and left this comment first on The Lottery posting – you may delete it)
I really liked The Lottery..very creepy and scary!! This one sounds great too!!!
I’m sure I’ve guessed it — (b/c I think I’ve been closely related to some kids just like Charles!) Will have to read to be sure I’m right.
I haven’t read ‘the lottery’ for decades, but I can still be creeped out thinking of it.
I have to agree – you told me just enough to get me interested and make a guess as to what happens, but I’ll have to read it to find out for sure.
This does sound like a good one. Great review Margot!
I reviewed Agreeable by Jonathan Franzen.
Well, I did love the Lottery, so I’m not sure how I’ll feel about this. I’ll have to give it a shot.
Although I was horrified at The Lottery, I still liked it. Will give this one a shot…
I actually loved the Lottery – not the story – but the craft of it. I still find myself thinking about it from time and time, and I was first introduced to it in junior high! Now I use the story as an introduction to close reading before starting the British Literature novel studies. Most students are unfamiliar with the plot, and they are all shocked in the end.
Charlie sounds like a marvelous departure from this grim work – but equally well crafted. I will definitely check it out.
where is the story??
i need to read this…