A Few Shells Summary and Analysis

The author packs and prepares to leave behind the island and the island way of life. The realization that the same life cannot be lived in the city, or even the suburbs, saddens her. There are reminiscences of the first days and the signs of culture shock. One has the impulse to collect everything in one's sight, perhaps to preserve the experience. After one's pockets are full, however, one begins to realize that a few of something is better than a lot of something because it forces one to cherish the unusual. Such things are not as appreciated if there are many.

Anne muses that things are special when they are surrounded by space. That space allows each thing to stand out and be noticed and admired. Contrary to the smallness of the island, the space that...