Araby

This is North Richmond Street. It is usually a quiet street, save for when the students of the Christian Brother's School go home for the day. An uninhabited house sits separated at the end of the street. All of the other houses stand tall, gazing at each other with similar faces. It is on this street that the priest had [[died->Watching]].

The priest that lived in the backroom of your home died one day. Left behind is remnants of the late priest's life, and every now and then you find yourself going in to look around. More often than not, you find yourself laying in the front parlour of your home, looking out the window. Your heart leaps whenever the person of your affections makes her way outside: Mangan's sister. Though you have barely spoken, she is all you see and hear. You whisper her name desperately, hoping to for some chance to finally properly speak to her. The backroom is quiet. The priest is no longer there, but there's something about it. Do you [[avoid the room->End1]] or [[go in->Backroom]]? <img src="images/light.jpg">

You avoid the backroom and spend your time watching Mangan's sister from the distance. You meet once, awkwardly, but the conversation leads nowhere and you never speak to her again. Would you like to [[restart->Start]]?

You enter the back drawing-room. It's dark and raining, but otherwise silent in the house. It is difficult to see in the room, but you are thankful for it. You feel like you are about to lose control of your senses, but as they are about to slip, you stop yourself. You press your hands together, hard enough to tremble. "O love! O love!" murmurs through your lips repeated. You wish to speak with Mangan's sister. [[You pray.->Speaks]] <audio src="audio/rain.wav">

You speak to Mangan's sister for the first time! It's amazing. She tells you about this bazaar called Araby, but sadly she cannot go. Do you [[stay quiet->End2]] or [[offer to go->Promise]] and bring her something?

From there on the conversation drifts out as she laments not being able to go to the bazaar. If only there were a way you could try to cheer her up... Would you like to [[try again->Speaks]]?

You have an idea, a brilliant idea. She speaks of it so highly and it sounds so amazing that you would like to visit yourself and experience what she does. You see her standing in front of you and she looks ethereal. You promise her that you'll bring her something back if you [[can go->Family]].

You cannot stop thinking about Araby. The very thought excites you profoundly. You tell your Aunt that you wish to go and she wonders if it is some freemason fair. It's getting harder to concentrate on schoolwork and other chores. Do you [[stay patient->End3]] or [[stay focused->Uncle]]?

Your impatience gets the best of you. Your grades drop and your teachers scold you in front of the whole class. Your aunt and uncle are disappointed. They forbid you to go to Araby until further notice. By the time you gained their trust, it is too late. You haven't spoken to Mangan's sister since you promised to go to Araby for her. You see her through the window in the front room, passing by, but not once does she look in the direction of your house. Would you like to [[restart->Start]]?

You remind your uncle that you wish to go to Araby, but he brushes you off saying that he knows. You leave for the day and eagerly return home early. You pass the time by going from room to room, singing to yourself. Your friends play outside on the street and you can hear their cries. Instead of going outside to join them, you lean against the window, looking at the house across from you. You imagine that you could see Mangan's sister, her silhouette appearing through the windows of her home. You stand there for an indeterminate amount of time, just imagining. Maybe an hour later, you finally make your way downstairs. With your aunt sits Mrs Mercer, and you listen to them gossip until night starts, dinner postponsed until your uncle final returns. At 8 o'clock, Mrs Mercer leaves, claiming that she does not like to be out late. She leaves and your aunt warns you that your trip to Araby might have to be postponed for another time. Your uncle is still not home. Do you [[retire to bed->End4]] or [[stay up longer->Aunt]]?

You retire early for the night, defeated. Your uncle had not come on time, and you are resigned to the idea that he will not make it before Araby closes. You go to bed. In the morning, you find your uncle sitting at the table eating breakfast. You approach him, asking where he was last night. "I had forgotten," he said, although he makes no apology. "Perhaps you can go another week," he offers. You simply nod, and try to remind him again another time. He never tries to remember. Would you like to [[restart->Start]]?

Your uncle finally arrives! But it's late and he has forgotten. All you want is to *go*. Your uncle finally gives in, but before you can go he begins to recite a poem. Do you [[listen->End5]] or [[go->Train]]?

He recites the <a href="https://www.babsonarabians.com/Readers_Corner/Arabs_Farewell.htm">poem</a>. He goes into such *great* detail that you lose track of time. By the time he finishes, the trains have stopped for the night. Maybe you should [[rethink->Aunt]] your decision to listen.

You leave your uncle just as he begins reciting it to your Aunt. Rushing down Buckingham Street, you pass by busy streets before finally making it to the train station. You settle down in a deserted train, only for it to delay before moving slowly. You pass by houses and over the river. You are still alone in the carriage. Ten minutes to ten, you finally make it to Araby. You pass the turnstile and pay your fee. Almost all stalls were were closed, and there were a few people around. You remember why you are there, but it is empty, almost desolate. Do you [[leave->End6]] and come back another time or [[stay->Conversation]]?

You turn around. You know you promised Mangan's sister, but perhaps another time when the bazaar is busier would be more ideal. You hesitate before you leave, you *did* promise her... before you can think too long, the lights in the hall turn off, leaving you in the dark night. [[Maybe another time then.->Start]]

You stay, observing a nearby stall. It is difficult to remember why you came, but you know it was for Mangan's sister. The stall you are looking at has porcelain vases and flowered tea-sets, perhaps something nice to bring back. There is a young lady and two young gentlement nearby, speaking with English accents. You can hear them gossiping nearby, but can't fully make out what their conversation is about. The young lady notices you. Do you [[acknowledge her->Young Lady]] or [[ignore->End7]]?

"Do you wish to buy anything?" she asks, although you could tell she would rather be anywhere but here at this point. It is late and most of the stalls are closed. There are large jars that stand on both sides of the entrance to the hall. In the darkness they resemble eastern guards. You answer: [["Yes, please"->Transition]] [["No, thank you" ->Araby]] <img src="images/ceramics.jpg">

You walk through the emptying bazaar. Your footsteps echo around you as the quiet murmur of stall owners cleaning up for the night surrounds you. At some point, a call is heard at the end of the gallery and the lights in the upper part of the hall are off. [[Look up->EndFinal]]

The ceiling is completely dark, you cannot see anything. You feel your eyes burning with anguish and anger and your hands are held into clenched fists. You are nothing more than a creature driven and deluded by your own vanity. Your own self-interest and infatuation with Mangan's sister built your own fantasies and obsession with Araby, but now standing in the dark hall, you see the truth. [[The End.]]

You choose not to make eye contact with her and stand there awkwardly for a few moments. You can still hear her and her friends gossiping in the background. It is not long before someone comes up to you to tell you that [[Araby]] is closing for the night.

"Yes, please," you reply quietly. You look around the stall for a few seconds as she waits impatiently on the side. Feeling her cold eyes watching you carefully, you quickly point to a small, simple ceramic cup. "Just this," you tell her. She tells you the price and you realize that it is far more than the money you've brought. You apologize to her, and [[leave the stall->Araby]]. <img src="images/florin.jpg">

Thank you for reading my version of James Joyce's "Araby." This was done for English 495: Digital Literacies and Humanities at San Francisco State University. [[Click here to restart.->Start]]