Book Club - Halloween Haunts

Last week we started "The Bus" by Shirley Jackson.

(Story Here)

Miss Harper must take the bus home, much to her dismay.  She dislikes the buses and the staff, as well as the ride itself.  So she takes a sleeping pill.  

A random passenger speaks to her in her sleep, telling her that they've run away from home.  "That's wrong," she says, "Go back."

"Too late.  Go back to sleep."

She's then awakened by the bus driver, telling her she needs to wake up and get off, this is her stop.  She's groggy and upset, gathering her luggage as she gets off the bus in the rain, only to realize the bus has left her in Ricket's Landing.  This was not her stop.

She manages to flag down a passing car, and they take her to the old lady who runs the roadhouse, whose name is Belle.  Miss Harper is taken by the old house, which reminds her of her childhood home, but she's also sad for the state of the house.

She gets a room and goes upstairs.  She crosses to the room that had always been hers, although she notes some slight differences in the floor plan.  As she's sleeping, she hears rattling in the closet.  She goes to the door and sees her old toys, including her beautiful doll Rosabelle, who is coming alive.

Miss Harper is filled with joy and calls to her doll.  "Go away, old lady, go away," says Rosabelle.  Miss Harper flees the room and falls down the stairs, only to be awakened by the bus driver telling her to wake up and get off.

*One question I came across after reading this was, "At what point does the story go from normal to weird?"

For me, it was the random passenger speaking to her on the bus.  But I don't know what it was supposed to mean.  There is definitely some connection between the house as it is and as she remembers it, not to mention Belle and Rosabelle.....

What's your take from the story?

This week we'll start "Louisa, Please Come Home," also by Shirley Jackson.

Story can be found Here

Happy Halloween Week!!!!!!  🎃