Neighbors (short story)
Encyclopedia
"Neighbors" is a short story written by Raymond Carver
in 1971. It first appeared in Esquire magazine in 1971 http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap10/carver.html. It was published in the collection Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
in 1976, in the compilation Where I'm Calling From
in 1989, and again in Short Cuts
in 1993.
The night of the Stones' departure, Bill enters the Stones' apartment to feed their cat. After leaving the cat to pick at her food, Bill explores the Stones’ medicine cabinet and ends up taking a container of Harriet’s pills. After taking one, Bill takes two drinks from a bottle of Chivas Regal taken from the Stones’ liquor cabinet.
The next day, Bill leaves work early to make love to Arlene. Afterward, he returns to the Stones’ apartment to feed the cat. After, Bill becomes sidetracked as he eats the Stones’ food, steals their cigarettes, and uses their bathroom. Arlene goes over to see what is taking him so long, and reminds him that he has been there for over an hour. Bill and Arlene return to their own apartment and make love.
Bill has Arlene call in for him at work the next morning. Bill goes back over to the Stones’ apartment for no apparent reason. He takes more drinks and tries on the Stones’ clothes - both Jim’s and Harriet’s. Afterward, Bill puts everything away and returns to his own apartment.
Arlene is the next to go over and feed Kitty. Bill goes to check on her; they talk about the oddness of their situation. They wonder - somewhat hopefully - what will happen if the Stones never return. It is then that they realize they have left the key to the Stones' apartment inside and are now locked out. The story concludes as the Miller's sudden exposure becomes apparent to them.
Copy can be found in the text book "Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing 8th Edition" by Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs, published by Person Prentice Hall.
Raymond Carver
Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. was an American short story writer and poet. Carver is considered a major American writer of the late 20th century and also a major force in the revitalization of the short story in the 1980s....
in 1971. It first appeared in Esquire magazine in 1971 http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap10/carver.html. It was published in the collection Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?, published in 1976, was the first short-story collection by American writer Raymond Carver. This minimalist collection revolves around themes of segregation and disenchantment in American families. -“Neighbors”:...
in 1976, in the compilation Where I'm Calling From
Where I'm Calling From
"Where I'm Calling From" is a short story by American author Raymond Carver. The story focuses on the effects of alcohol. Throughout this story Carver experiments with the use of quotation and meditates on the healing factors of storytelling...
in 1989, and again in Short Cuts
Short Cuts
Short Cuts is a 1993 American drama film directed by Robert Altman. Filmed from a screenplay by Robert Altman and Frank Barhydt, it is inspired by nine short stories and a poem by Raymond Carver...
in 1993.
Plot summary
A happy couple, Bill and Arlene Miller, live in an apartment across the hall from Harriet and Jim Stone, the neighbors of the title. Bill and Arlene tacitly envy the Stones' lifestyle. The Millers are asked to watch over the Stones' apartment while they are out on a business trip.The night of the Stones' departure, Bill enters the Stones' apartment to feed their cat. After leaving the cat to pick at her food, Bill explores the Stones’ medicine cabinet and ends up taking a container of Harriet’s pills. After taking one, Bill takes two drinks from a bottle of Chivas Regal taken from the Stones’ liquor cabinet.
The next day, Bill leaves work early to make love to Arlene. Afterward, he returns to the Stones’ apartment to feed the cat. After, Bill becomes sidetracked as he eats the Stones’ food, steals their cigarettes, and uses their bathroom. Arlene goes over to see what is taking him so long, and reminds him that he has been there for over an hour. Bill and Arlene return to their own apartment and make love.
Bill has Arlene call in for him at work the next morning. Bill goes back over to the Stones’ apartment for no apparent reason. He takes more drinks and tries on the Stones’ clothes - both Jim’s and Harriet’s. Afterward, Bill puts everything away and returns to his own apartment.
Arlene is the next to go over and feed Kitty. Bill goes to check on her; they talk about the oddness of their situation. They wonder - somewhat hopefully - what will happen if the Stones never return. It is then that they realize they have left the key to the Stones' apartment inside and are now locked out. The story concludes as the Miller's sudden exposure becomes apparent to them.
Copy can be found in the text book "Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing 8th Edition" by Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs, published by Person Prentice Hall.