This short story, “The Doll” is about poor out of work okies back in
the early 1930’s looking for any type of job they can find, so they can get paid
or something to eat. Mrs. Hollis and the two okies are the main characters in
the story. The story tells about these okies asking for work from a well off
woman, Mrs. Hollis, and how she treats them. In spite of her will to help them,
she eventually sends them away after meager payment and food. The story starts
off as two ragged boys walk up Mrs. Hollis’ lawn coming from the camp, where
poor out of work families live. They were two “okies” looking for a
job to get some food. Mrs. Hollis is disgusted at all of the dirt and ragged
clothes they’re wearing. Mrs. Hollis gives the okies some work to do in exchange
for some food. One of the boys points to the other and tells Mrs. Hollis that he
is his uncle. He was a short man in his 40’s. His hands reminded Mrs. Hollis of
an old wedding doll she used to have years ago. She was still disgusted at his
ragged image. As she fixed some sandwiches and coffee for them, she gave them
one of her chocolate cherries in a red shiny wrapper. They have only had one of
those once in their whole lifetime and were very excited. While Mrs. Hollis was
taking her afternoon nap, she was awoken by a knock on the door. She went and
looked, and sure enough it was the two “okies” again asking if they
could go piss in her bathroom. She got mad and told them to finish their work
and leave, then slammed the door. She came out later to tell them that’s enough
for the day because it’s getting hotter. They didn’t get their work done, but
she still gave them a dollar. One of them grinned while snatching the dollar
from her hand. She asked why he was grinning like that. He pointed to his uncle
and he was “pissing in his pants.” Mrs Hollis saw a puddle forming on
her patio and in disgust she ran to her bathroom and threw up everywhere. My
impression of this story is it is referring to right after the Great Depression.
I can picture back around 1930 these two okies walking up to her door and asking
her for a job. I would be a little disgusted from all the dirt and the ragged
smelly clothes on them, but I would mainly feel sorry for the two. I would pay
them to do some chores for me. I would supply them with food while they were
there, and pay them when they were done. I wouldn’t let them use my bathroom
though. I wouldn’t want them to enter my house at all, because they are complete
strangers. I would just simply point to a tree away from the house. When Mrs.
Hollis gave them the chocolate cherry in a red wrapper, I think it resembles all
of the things poor people couldn’t get. I think Mrs. Hollis gave them a dollar
because she felt sorry for them. She sent them home without finishing the job
because she wanted them to leave before her Bridge Club came over so she
wouldn’t be embarrassed by their presence.
