Sunday in a Small Town

Introduction

“Sunday in a Small Town” is a semi-autobiographical short story by Robert E. Howard that provides a slice-of-life glimpse into the routine and reflections of individuals in a small town setting. The story centers on the narrator and his group of friends as they aimlessly discuss plans for their Sunday, capturing the mundane yet subtly profound interactions that typify everyday life. The main character in the story is identified as Spike, a stand-in for Howard’s real-life friend, Lindsey Tyson.

Summary

The story begins with a group of friends idly standing outside a drugstore in their small town. The characters, including the narrator, Slim, Skinny, Red, and Spike, engage in a series of indecisive conversations about how to spend their Sunday. Suggestions range from playing croquet, going nutting, or traveling to nearby Cisco, but no plan gains unanimous support.

Slim, the restaurant owner, suggests a game of croquet, which is met with lukewarm enthusiasm. Skinny proposes going nutting down by the creek, while Red, a tool-dresser, prefers the idea of visiting Cisco, a suggestion that falls flat due to the lack of transport. The conversations are filled with mundane chatter and occasional jokes, reflecting a deep-seated boredom and the friends’ familiarity with each other.

The narrator, referred to as “I” in the story, and Red briefly consider watching birds bathe, boxing with gloves, and revisiting old fights they had, which reflects their competitive yet friendly relationship. Spike, working at the planing mill, reiterates the idea of going nutting, but Red dismisses it.

Eventually, Red and the narrator decide to check their mail, passing by a movie theater that’s closed on Sundays, discussing actresses and movies they prefer, highlighting their small-town leisure options and personal preferences. The story ends with the group re-entering the drugstore, where they interact with Gus, the manager. Gus proudly wears a college sweater to impress customers, which leads to a humorous exchange questioning his actual attendance at the university. The story closes on a note of ennui, with the characters lamenting their lack of funds for more exciting pursuits like girls or beer, underlining the simplicity and cyclic monotony of small-town life.

Characters

  • Spike (Lindsey Tyson in real life): Works at the planing mill, suggests going nutting.
  • Slim (Real-life counterpart unknown): The restaurant owner, suggests playing croquet.
  • Skinny (Real-life counterpart unknown): Proposes going nutting.
  • Red (Real-life counterpart unknown): The tool-dresser, suggests going to Cisco, engages in banter about fighting and movies.
  • Gus (Real-life counterpart unknown): Manager of the drugstore, wears a college sweater for show, part of the comic relief in the story.
  • Narrator (Robert E. Howard): Reflects the author’s own perspective and voice, interacting and commenting on the events and discussions with a sense of detached amusement and underlying dissatisfaction.

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