Shirley Jackson

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream.

Our house was a castle, turreted and open to the sky.

“We eat the year away. We eat the spring and the summer and the fall. We wait for something to grow and then we eat it.”

“I wonder if Cousin Mary knows how I get even with people who don’t like me?

Constance stirred, and the leaves rustled. “The way you did before?” she asked.

It had never been spoken of between us, not once in six years.

“Yes,” I said after a minute, “the way I did before.”

Our house was a castle, turreted and open to the sky.

I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the deathcup mushroom.

but I liked fairy tales and books of history

I am living on the moon, I told myself, I have a little house all by myself on the moon.

Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?
Oh no, said Merricat, you’ll poison me.
Merricat, said Connie, would you like to go to sleep?
Down in the boneyard ten feet deep!