“Two,” I said. “I’m taking them.”
“Isn’t that nice,” she said. “I bet they’re excited.”
“You know,” I said madly, “I’ve been asked to do the Girl Scout column for your paper.”
“Really?” She sounded doubtful. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It’s such an informal newspaper.”
“Yes,” I said. “Would you like to hear about my book?”
“I certainly would,” she said. “Anytime you have any little newsy items for me, you be sure and call me right up. My number’s in the book.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Well, my book…”
“I have so much enjoyed our little talk, Mrs. Hyman. Imagine me not knowing anyone was living in the old Thatcher place!”
“The Road Through the Wall,” I said. “Farrar and Straus.”
“You know,” she said, “now that I don’t get out anymore, I find that doing this column keeps me in touch with my neighbors. It’s social, sort of.”
“Two seventy-five,” I said. “It’ll be in the local bookstore.”
“You probably find the same thing with the Girl Scout column,” she said. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Hyman. Do call me again soon.”
“I started it last winter,” I said.
“Goodbye,” she said sweetly, and hung up.
I kept the column that appeared as the North Village Notes of the newspaper the next day. Several people remarked on it to me. It was on the last page of the four.
NORTH VILLAGE NOTES
Mrs. Royal Jones of Main Street is ill.
Miss Mary Randall of Waite Street is confined to her home with chicken pox.
One of the hooked rug classes met last evening with Mrs. Ruth Harris.
Hurlbut Lang of Troy spent the weekend with his parents in North Village, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Lang.
The food sale of the Baptist Church has been postponed indefinitely due to weather conditions.
Mrs. Stanley Hyman has moved into the old Thatcher place on Prospect Street. She and her family are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Farrarstraus of New York City this week.
Mrs. J. N. Arnold of Burlington spent the weekend in town with Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Montague.
Little Lola Kittredge of East Road celebrated her fifth birthday on Tuesday. Six little friends joined to wish her many happy returns of the day, and ice cream and cake were served.
JUST AN ORDINARY DAY
A Bantam Book
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Bantam hardcover edition I January 1997
Bantam trade paperback edition I January 1998
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1996 by the Estate of Shirley Jackson.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 96-23871
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eISBN: 978-0-307-57359-9
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