The following version of this story was used to create this guide: Munro, Alice. "Runaway." The New Yorker, 2003. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/08/11/runaway-4.

Note that all parenthetical citations refer to the page number on which the quotation appears.

The story begins with Carla, a young woman, noticing a car coming down her street. She knows that it is Mrs. Jamieson, her neighbor, returning home from a trip. Carla wonders whether her husband, Clark, knows that Mrs. Jamieson has returned. She worries about whether Mrs. Jamieson will call to let them know.

The narrator then explains that Clark and Carla operate a farm that offers trail rides to the public. Business has been slow due to all the rain they have received during the summer, and Clark and Carla are struggling financially. Carla worries that, as they try to buy discount equipment, Clark will start fights with people – something he does often, despite his friendliness. For Carla, the worst thing about the summer has been the loss of their goat, Flora. Carla does not know where Flora has gone, but she often dreams of her and wishes she would return. The narrator explains that Clark and Carla live in a mobile home, and despite some home improvements, Carla is still unhappy with their living situation and often retreats to the barn to get away from her husband.

After Carla sees Mrs. Jamieson return, Clark approaches her and tells her that Mrs. Jamieson (whom he calls "Queen Sylvia") wants Carla to come over and help her clean her house. Clark is forceful about getting Carla to go to Mrs. Jamieson's even though Carla does not want to. The narrator explains that Mrs. Jamieson's husband, Leon, was a poet who, before his death, had won a large prize for poetry. When Clark discovered this information, he told Carla they could have made Leon pay for what happened. Carla protested, but Clark insisted that the Jamiesons should have to pay for what Leon did to Carla. He said, "You were injured. You were molested and humiliated and I was injured and humiliated because you are my wife" (6). Carla regrets telling Clark the story about what happened. The narrator explains that Carla had lied to Clark about Leon sexually harassing her while she was at the Jamiesons helping Sylvia. Now, with Sylvia back from her trip, Clark wants to sue Sylvia for money.

The day after Sylvia returns, Carla goes to her house to help her clean. Sylvia gives Carla a gift – a small replica of a boy riding a horse, cast in bronze. The narrator explains that Sylvia has a deep affection for Carla that Sylvia's friends refer to as a crush. Sylvia teaches botany at a nearby college and feels as though Carla is different from her young and eager-to-please students. After Sylvia gives Carla the gift, Carla is noticeably distracted. She tells Sylvia about how Flora the goat has gone missing and immediately starts crying. She tells Sylvia that her husband hates her and that she wants to get away from him, but does not have any money. Sylvia offers to pay for her to take the bus to her friend's house in Toronto. She gives Carla fresh clothes and arranges for her escape. Sylvia agrees to leave a note to Clark from Carla in his mailbox. The two women have wine before leaving for the bus station. By the time Carla gets on the bus, she seems to Sylvia a little bit drunk and fully accepting of her new fate. Sylvia is put off by Carla's erratic behavior. Sylvia returns home, cleans up, and leaves a message for her friend to let her know when Carla arrives. She falls asleep, but wakes to a knock at the door.

Back on the bus, Carla keeps her head down as she travels through different towns, afraid that Clark will somehow find her. She remembers what it was like when she ran away from home to marry Clark, despite her parents cautioning her not to. She reflects on the early days of her marriage to Clark and the fun they would have, and is sad when she thinks of where they have ended up. As she contemplates what her new life will be like, she starts to panic. Carla asks the bus driver to let her off the bus. She makes a phone call to Clark asking him to come and get her.

Back at Sylvia's house, she tries to figure out who was knocking at her door. Suddenly, Clark appears by the back door. He is holding a bag. He tells Sylvia he is returning the clothes she gave to Carla, and cautions her never to interfere in their lives again. Then, they both notice a strange shape in the background. It is Flora; she comes up to Clark but is wary of Sylvia. Clark and Flora leave, and Sylvia goes back inside.

At Clark and Carla's home, Carla wakes up when she hears Clark return from Sylvia's. He tells her he went there to return to the clothes and jokes that he will hurt Carla if she ever tries to run away from him again. Later on, the weather has cleared up and business has started returning to Clark and Carla's farm. One day, Carla receives a letter from Sylvia apologizing for her interference and noting how miraculous it was that Flora returned when Clark was there. Carla, unaware that the goat had returned, speculates that Clark has killed her and buried her in the woods. She buries the thought and never goes looking for Flora.