Summary

Miss Leeson goes out to work each day and brings back papers to copy with her typewriter at night. However, on the days in which she does not bring home papers, she is free to spend an hour or two in the evening sitting on the steps of the rooming house, where she is surrounded by male roomers who are infatuated with her, including Mr. Skidder, fat Mr. Hoover, and young Mr. Evans. The men all but ignore the other female roomers, shrewish schoolteacher Miss Longnecker and fun-loving Miss Dorn.

On one summer evening, Miss Leeson looks out the window and sees a star outside that she has named “Billy Jackson.” She explains to the others that she can see the star every night through the skylight. Miss Longnecker ridicules her for naming a star that already has a name, explaining that the...