Plot Development

A. A boy bonds with his disabled brother, only to have that brother die while trying to outrun a thunderstorm. 3
B. A man wishes for $200 and his son is killed at work. The son’s employer offers $200 in compensation. 2
C. A village holds a lottery to determine who is stoned to death in the town square. 1
D. A woman worries because her husband is leaving. He goes off to a mysterious meeting in the woods, and when he returns he never thinks of her the same way again. 4
Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; . . .
(from “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson)
1
“The first man had his three wishes, yes,” was the reply. “I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death.”
(from “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs)
2
It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began to make plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow.
(from “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst)
3
“Dearest heart,” whispered she, softly and rather sadly, when her lips were close to his ear, “prithee put off your journey until sunrise and sleep in your own bed to-night. A lone woman is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts that she's afeard of herself sometimes. Pray tarry with me this night, dear husband, of all nights in the year.”
(from “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne)
4