Every time I read this story I think of the song from White Christmas. I’ve loved Shirley Jackson since I had to read The Lottery in school as a kid. This story is built on the misunderstanding of mental disorders and the loving devotion between two sisters. I’m particularly fond of the scenes where Merricat contemplates who will fix the broken step. Beautifully crafted story!

Buy the penguin classics version. This has so many formatting errors.