The Lottery summary
The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank around
10 o’clock. As there were only about 300 people who inhabited the village, the lottery took less than
two hours, usually on June 2nd.
The children assembled first, including Bobby Martin and other kids with pockets full of stones.
Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix made a pile of stones in the corner and guarded them so
no one would touch them.
When lottery was conducted and Mr. Summers arrived with black wooden box saying: “Little late
today, folks”, the lists of heads of families had been already made.
Mrs. Hutchinson reached her husband and Mr. Summers who had been waiting said that he thought
she would not show up, on which she answered, she needed to clean the dishes.
Mr. Summers read the list with heads of families. All men were supposed to come up and take folded
paper out of the box without looking at it. After everyone toke the papers, they all opened them and
women began to speak at once, saying “Who is it?” etc. The suspicions fell on Bill Hutchinson who
was standing quiet, staring down at the paper. Tessie Hutchnison suddenly started blaming Mr.
Summers he didn’t gave her husband enough time to take any paper he wanted.
As Hutchinson family was chosen, Mr. Graves took tickets from the whole family also including Bill Jr.,
Nancy, little Dave and put the papers in the box again to cast lots again. The family started taking the
tickets, the crowd was completely silent, but everyone hoped that Nancy wouldn’t be picked.
Little Dave’s ticket was first to be opened, Mr. Graves helped him – the slip of his paper was blank.
Same with Nancy’s and Bill Jr.’s tickets. There was a short pause when Bill Hutchinson unfolded his
paper, but this time it was blank.
Bill went over to his wife and forced the slip of paper out of her hand. It had a black spot on, the one
which Mr. Summer had made the night before.
The pile of stones the boys had made earlier was ready to be used. However, Mrs. Dunbar selected a
stone so large she had to pick it up with both her hands.
Tessie Hutchinson was standing in the centre of a cleared space holding her hands out desperately as
villagers moved in on her. A stone hit her side of the head along with every single one the crowd held
in their hands. The lottery finished.