Compose a one- to two-page alternate ending to your selected short story ¨A pair od silk stockings", following MLA format. Begin your alternate ending with a sentence that appears on the last page of the original short story to transition from the original author's voice to your own.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. “A Pair of Silk Stockings.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym et al., W. W. Norton & Company, 2017, pp. 1486-1489.
Alternate Ending to “A Pair of Silk Stockings”
The impulse to act thus, came over her suddenly, as she stood by the window; came over her irresistibly, as she glanced outside at the placid streets, and the children playing under the golden afternoon sun. As her mind wrestled with competing desires, Mrs. Sommers felt a surge of resolution within her. Without any further delay, she urgently grasped the brown-stained purse that held her newfound fortune and rushed downstairs, determined to embrace this rare opportunity for self-indulgence, no matter the consequences.
With a heart fluttering fast, Mrs. Sommers found herself standing in front of the most elegant silk stockings money could buy. Her fingers traced delicately over the smooth silk, her touch absorbing the unspoken promises hidden within their threads. The warmth of her desire pulsed through her veins, overpowering the flicker of responsibility that lay dormant in the depths of her mind. She couldn’t resist the urge any longer, the desire to fulfill her wildest daydreams consuming her entirely.
Upon purchasing the luxurious stockings, Mrs. Sommers darted across the street to a small café, her heart pounding with anticipation. She ordered a rich cup of coffee, the aroma dancing in her nostrils, and selected the finest pastry with a smile playing on her lips. As she savored each bite and sipped her coffee, she felt a wave of bliss washing over her spirit, relieving her from the burdens of ordinary life. For a few brief moments, there was only the taste of decadence on her tongue, and the sensation of freedom coursing through every inch of her body.
Bolstered by her newfound joy, Mrs. Sommers refused to abandon her pursuit of pleasure merely at that. She left the café with a renewed sense of purpose and embarked on a shopping spree, the likes of which she had never known. She indulged herself in an array of trinkets that caught her eye, and as she slipped a beautiful new hat onto her head, a sly grin blossomed across her face. She was a vision of elegance and confidence, a true embodiment of her deepest desires, with each purchase deepening her connection to the person she had always longed to be.
Having exhausted the contents of her purse, Mrs. Sommers was faced with a newfound reality. The remnants of her luxurious escapade beckoned her back to the life she had been trying to avoid, pulling at her conscience ceaselessly. The weight of responsibility threatened to dull her spirit once again; however, beneath her newfound treasures, something had shifted. She carried within her heart the realization that she was more than a woman confined by poverty and duty, that there was still an untapped reservoir of strength and vitality within her being.
As she returned home to her children, Mrs. Sommers was flooded with a profound sense of gratitude for the life she had built. She promised herself then and there that she would strive to provide her children with more than mere necessities; that she would unlock within them the same unwavering spirit that had illuminated her own path. And so, with a renewed purpose, she embraced her familial obligations wholeheartedly, understanding that life’s greatest treasures were not found in the material riches she had recently indulged in, but rather through the love and fulfillment she discovered within herself.
In the end, Mrs. Sommers never shied away from the occasional indulgence, for she had learned that self-care was not a selfish act, but rather a testament to one’s resilience. She would forever cherish the memory of that fateful day when she found solace in a pair of silk stockings, and the subsequent rebirth that followed. The story of Mrs. Sommers serves as a powerful reminder that life is ever unfolding, and that even in the darkest of moments, there exists the potential for transformation, if one dares to seek it.
In conclusion, the alternate ending to “A Pair of Silk Stockings” offers Mrs. Sommers the opportunity to momentarily escape the monotonous constraints she faces on a daily basis. Yet, unlike the original ending, which finds her at home again, frayed and exhausted, this alternate ending explores the transformative power of indulgence and self-discovery. By immersing herself in a day of lavishness, Mrs. Sommers unearths a newfound resilience and learns that a life fulfilled stems not from material possessions, but from the depths of her own spirit.