Laurie (short story)
"Laurie" | |
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Horror short story | |
Publication | |
Published in | StephenKing.com |
Media type | Digital, audiobook |
Publication date | 2018 |
"Laurie" is a short story by Stephen King, first published as a free download on his website on May 17, 2018. It was collected in King's 2024 book, You Like It Darker.
Plot summary
Lloyd Sunderland is a 65-year-old retiree living in the (fictional) island community of Caymen Key, Florida. He has become depressed and lost weight after his wife Marian died from a glioblastoma six months prior. One September, Lloyd is visited by his older sister, Beth, who gifts him a Border Collie-Mudi puppy out of concern for his wellbeing. He is initially unwilling to accept the dog but ultimately agrees to look after her on a trial basis, naming her "Laurie".
Lloyd gradually bonds with Laurie as he looks after her, and in mid-October he tells Beth that he will keep her. He finds his physical and mental health improving, and begins eating more healthily and sleeping better. He also resumes working part-time as an accountant. Lloyd regularly takes Laurie for walks along "Six Mile Path", a boardwalk running alongside a canal.
On December 6, Lloyd's neighbor Evelyn Pitcher asks him if he has seen her husband, Don. While walking along Six Mile Path with Laurie, Lloyd finds Don's cane–cracked and dotted with blood–next to a section of the Path that has been overgrown with palmetto. After Laurie pulls free of Lloyd and runs under the palmetto, Lloyd follows and finds her confronting a ten foot long alligator which has killed and partially eaten Don. After Lloyd commands Laurie to go home, he is attacked by the alligator. When Lloyd hits the alligator with Don's cane, the boardwalk partially collapses, dumping the alligator into the canal and enabling Lloyd to escape with Laurie, who has waited for him on the other side of the palmetto. Lloyd calls the police, who notify Evelyn that Don has been killed.
Two days after the incident, Lloyd is visited by Gibson, a
Publication
"Laurie" was first published on King's website on May 17, 2018.[2][3][4] An audio recording was included on the audiobook version of Elevation, which was released later that year.[5] In 2024, "Laurie" was collected in King's book You Like It Darker.[6]
See also
References
- ^ King, Stephen (May 17, 2018). "Laurie" (PDF). StephenKing.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- Bloody Disgusting!. Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-7-60376-82-9.
- ISBN 978-1-682616-07-9.
- StephenKing.com. November 5, 2018. Archived from the originalon June 26, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- StephenKing.com. 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.