From one of the most influential and talented masters of the short story—and the writer of whom Virginia Woolf wrote, “I was jealous of her writing—the only writing I have ever been jealous of”—comes an exquisite paragon of the form. 
A Vintage Shorts “Short Story Month” Selection

An afternoon at the Sheridan’s garden party will be perfect. Darling Laura is doing a marvelous job negotiating with the band, workmen, cook, and florist who appears with an unexpected delivery, all without her mother’s help. But, distressing news reaches the house just before lunch. A young man from one of the sordid little cottages down the lane was killed in an accident, and suddenly Laura can’t imagine proceeding with the party.
  
An ebook short.