Secrets

A summary of Secrets

Secrets is a short story by Bernard MacLaverty about a boy and his great Aunt Mary. The title refers to letters Mary had kept under lock and key for a large number of years. The story starts with Mary at home dying in bed, something the boy is having difficulty dealing with. We know this because the noises his aunt was making in her discomfort, he was unable to tolerate eventually he left the room. They had a close relationship, when he was younger she would sit him on her knee with her arm around him and read him extractions from her favourite novels. He was an inquisitive boy and when bored he would interrupt and ask her questions about her singular pieces of jewellery.

Their relationship changed when, while looking for stamps for his collection she warned him away from a bunch of letters. One day when she was out, his curiosity got the better of him and he unlocked the bureau and began to read her letters. He had read a number of them when he heard his aunt on the stairs, He was unable to put them away before she came in and she caught him red handed. She was angry, she struck him on the face and threw him out of her room. We know she was upset by the intrusion into her private life by her reaction, she tells him he is dirt and always will be, She vows to remember it till the day she dies.

After her death the boy's mother was clearing out Aunt Marys stuff when the boy asked if she mentioned him before her death she replied "Not that I know of". The boy was wondering had she mentioned his reading of the letters or had she even forgiven him.