Patrick's Death: A Short Story

Words: 768
Pages: 4
Open Document
It’s been 41 years since Patrick tragically passed away. 40 years since Detective Jack Noonan and Mary Maloney got married. They fell in love talking that night, as if Patrick had never lived. Mary and Jack spend a lot of time talking about that night as a matter of fact. The (wo)man who had killed Patrick was never caught, meaning Mary was never caught. Mary’s son is a full grown adult now, plus the set of twins Mary had that share their genes with their father Jack.
Every year on their wedding anniversary, and less importantly the anniversary of Patrick’s death, they have lamb. It was served the night Patrick died, it was served at their wedding, and it is served every year after that. It is the only night a year they have lamb. In fact, …show more content…
“Honey, why do we eat lamb once a year. I don’t even like it. Neither do you.” Mary drops her fork on her plate, shocked at her husband’s moment of memory. He can’t remember what he ate for breakfast, let alone remembering what meal he ate every year on their anniversary. Mary had never told the truth about what happened that night. Not to Jack, not to her kids, not to anybody. She stopped visiting Patrick’s grave long before tonight. Nobody has mentioned Patrick in ten years. Maybe even twenty. Finally, after what felt like an hour of silence, Mary responds. “Honey, Jack, I have something to tell you. I know you may not remember the night Patrick died, bit that night, we shared a leg of lamb. The next year, on our wedding day, we had lamb again. It has become a tradition.” Jack thinks for a second, tries to remember, but …show more content…
However, deep down inside, the truth lingered inside of Mary. She had to tell him the truth. It has been too long.
“Jack, I killed him.” Mary stammers.
“Killed who?” Jack wonders.
“Patrick, my first husband. You worked with him for 10 years before he was murdered."
"Did I know him?" Jack questions.
"Yes. He was your friend, but that is besides the point. I killed a man, and I have regretted it since that day. Why aren't you mad? Why haven't you stormed out? What makes you want to keep talking to me as if you had missed the subject all along?" Mary is stunned.
"Oh. Him. That's right, but he was anything but my friend. I knew you killed him. I knew as soon as I walked through that door, but Patrick was a bad man. He had not treated the rest of the task force well, especially me. We all knew. You're secret was safe with us." Jack states.
Mary sobs. Jack gives her a hug and says,
"I will always love and remember you."
It was then that Mary realized that Jack wasn't as gone as she thought he was. He was just as spry as he was ten years ago. It's okay that sometimes he forgets to get groceries, or he can't remember what his kids name is. Mary still loves
Show More

Related Documents: Patrick's Death: A Short Story

Lamb To The Slaughter Comparison

''Lamb to Slaughter'' is a disturbing story that has many plot twists. A loving wife turned rogue, a murder, and people eating the evidence – all are in this cheery story. "Lamb to the Slaughter" was written by the famous author Roald Dahl, and the film interpretation was directed by the even more famous director, Alfred Hitchcock. The written version was made 1953, and was closely followed by the film in 1958, because Hitchcock loves creepy stories. This satire has fun little details where Mary…

Words 673 - Pages 3

Dead Man Walking Analysis

Based off a true story, Sister Helen Prejean pursued the abolition of the death penalty. Driven by spiritual transformation and social injustices, Sister Helen moves to the projects in New Orleans, Louisiana to gain a first-hand understanding of the struggle of African Americans. As the movie progresses, Sister Helen meets Patrick and Robert, who are both death row inmates. Patrick’s story was tremendously saddening. Sentenced to death, Sister Helen finds out that Patrick’s brother, Eddie, was…

Words 1034 - Pages 5

Murder Mystery Lamb To The Slaughter Analysis

murder mystery Lamb to the Slaughter is a story that revolves around a brisk change in mood and borderline insanity. Mary Maloney, the main character, is a pregnant wife that spends most of her time sedately waiting for her beloved husband, Patrick, to come home from work. However, when Mary is told by him that they’re going to have a divorce, things go a bit hemic. The theme this story revolves around is underestimating the vulnerable. Near the middle of the story when Mary mutilates Patrick, we as the…

Words 1111 - Pages 5

Ethnic Groups and Discrimination Essay

Ethnic Groups and Discrimination I belong and identify with the ethnic group known as the Irish American. The Irish have a story that includes famine, discrimination, immigration, religious discrimination, and finally triumph in the face of adversity. The Irish ancestry is almost impossible to trace due to the tragic circumstances in which millions of Irish immigrants were forced to escape to the United States. I have personal experience trying to trace my ancestry back to Ireland and every investigation…

Words 820 - Pages 4

F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigmatic writings of the Jazz Age[->0], a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.[1] Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost Generation[->1]" of the 1920s. He finished four novels: This Side of Paradise[->2], The Beautiful and Damned[->3], The Great Gatsby[->4] (his most famous),…

Words 1625 - Pages 7

Irony In 'Lamb To The Slaughter'

Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow; And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go." This seemingly innocent nursery rhyme by Sarah Hale is about a little girl who brings her pet lamb to school. Another short text is the story by Roald Dahl, "Lamb to the Slaughter," which involves another Mary and a lamb. It is about Mary Maloney, who is a gentle and loving wife to a policeman named Patrick. On a day just like any other day, her husband tells her something that makes…

Words 1129 - Pages 5

Sailing The Wine-Dark Se Why The Greeks Matter

wine-dark sea" and in this series about the formation -- formative moments of western civilization, mr. Cahill tells the rest of the story. He tells you things that are different from what you would read in your normal textbooks. Instead of turning his light on war and outrage and catastrophe, natural and man-made, mr. Cahill presents the narratives of greats, the stories of great gift givers and tevlution of our western sensibility. He tells us the history that we don't find elsewhere. Now the newest…

Words 7801 - Pages 32

The Story Of Christopher Columbus

Part A. One story that is taught to us from the time we are little till even now, as young adults, is the story of Christopher Columbus, sailing the ocean blue. Our hero, our lionhearted victor who discovered our country, our home. We would sing songs when we were in kindergarten, put on plays to show how Columbus valiantly fought to secure our land. Sure a few natives died, but what was a few deaths of people whom which we don’t even know compared to the security of a land of plenty for us to…

Words 1979 - Pages 8

Essay on Congenital Heart Defects

Congenital Heart Defect What is it? Congenital Heart Defects are abnormalities in the heart’s structure. It can range from mild to severe. It happens when the heart is not fully grown by birth. That is where Congenital comes from; meaning present at birth. Some Congenital Heart Defects can and will go undetected until childhood or even adulthood. If someone has a Congenital Heart Defect not only can they have a problem with their heart but also with other things like learning disabilities…

Words 4298 - Pages 18

Essay About Gulliver's Travels

by theoreticians and academics oppresses the land below, called Balnibarbi. The scientific research undertaken in Laputa and in Balnibarbi seems totally inane and impractical, and its residents too appear wholly out of touch with reality. Taking a short side trip to Glubbdubdrib, Gulliver is able to witness the conjuring up of figures from history, such as Julius Caesar and other military leaders, whom he finds much less impressive than in books. After visiting the Luggnaggians and the Struldbrugs…

Words 5648 - Pages 23