The Skylight Room (1906) by O. Henry

 

O. Henry is the pen name of William Sydney Porter, a famous American short story writer. He was born in 1862 and has written several short stories like The Last Leaf, The Gift of the Magi and The Ransom of the Red Chief. His stories are famous for the surprise endings.

This short story, The Skylight Room, traces the life of a young woman named Miss Elsie Leeson, who struggles because of poverty and unemployment. The young woman seeks the boarding house rented by Mrs Parker. But, Mrs Parker loves only to have elite people in her boarding house. She treats the poor people indignantly and to them her coloured maid Clara shows the rooms.

Along with Miss Leeson, there live men and women from different walks of life in the boarding house. All the men love Miss Leeson for her cheerfulness and positive nature. The young women Miss Dorn and Miss Longnecker are jealous of Miss Leeson for the attention she receives from the men.

Miss Leeson is a tiny, beautiful woman with long hair. She is always happy and occasionally sits on the stairs to chat with the other boarders. She lives in a compact skylight room. The skylight room is rented for $2, and that is the smallest room in the boarding house. Miss Leeson usually comes with a bunch of papers and a huge typewriter. She lies on her bed and enjoys the beautiful view of the sky and the stars. She loves one particular star and names it as Billy Jackson.

The next day, during their regular conversation, she speaks about her newly named star. On hearing this Miss Longnecker, a public school teacher, laughs at her ignorance and lists down the information about that star. But, the men are more amused by the name given by Miss Leeson.

One evening, Miss Leeson returns hungry and exhausted after having looked for job, for the past few days.  Mr Hoover, a fat and old boarder proposes her and she slaps him. She walks to her room and lies down hungry on her bed. She is completely exhausted of looking for job and is extremely hungry. In her starvation, she looks at Billy Jackson and thanks the star for giving her positive attitude and happiness always. Finally, she waves the star farewell and passes out (becomes unconscious). The next day, Mrs Parker reluctantly calls the ambulance. The ambulance doctor named William Jackson, rushes to the skylight room, carries Miss Leeson and leaves to the hospital.

The narrator ends the story, by reading a news item from the newspaper, stating the survival of the starving patient from No. 49, East Street, referring to Miss Leeson. This story discusses how a young woman had been suffering from unemployment, poverty and hunger, but still managed to keep up her spirit positive and cheerful.