11/22/11

One very stormy night, the White family sits around a fire, enjoying each other and staying safe from the storm.  An old friend, Sargent-Major Morris stops by and enjoys their company.  Mr. White, out of conversation, brought up Morris' story of a monkey's paw, wondering more about it.  He did not want to discuss it, by Mrs. White inquired him, also.  Morris pulled out a mummified monkey's paw, he said it was magic.  He said a spell had been placed on it so that 3 men could each have 3 wishes.  He said he had had his 3 and turned white with a sick look on his face.  Another man had his 3 wishes, also.  The 3rd wish was for death.  Suddenly, he threw the paw into the fire; quickly, Mr. White dived for the paw and rescued it, saying that if he didn't want it, that he did.  Morris warned him, but he did not listen.  Mr. White made a wish for 200 pounds, heard a crash from the piano, and yelled.  The paw moved around like a snake as he wished and the money was not there.  The next day, Mrs. White saw a nicely dressed man outside her house, looking as if he was considering whether or not to enter their house.  She let him in and delivered the news that their son had been caught in the machinery and died.  The company compensated them 200 pounds, acquiring their wish.  10 days later, after Herbert had been buried, the wife realized they had 2 more wishes!  She made her husband wish their son alive again, which he did.  They heard a knock on the front door, Mr. White was terrified and reluctant but his wife was ecstatic.  Frantically, the husband searched for the paw, not wanting for her to let whatever outside in, he wished for whatever it was to go away.  She got the door opened, and the knocking ceased.  She cried and ran outside.  Herbert was gone.