The Very Small Person

Miss Salome returns from years abroad, yearning for a quiet, orderly life in a modest cottage she has painstakingly arranged with trunk‑closets, a stone wall, and a beloved “southern exposure” for her companion Anne. The freshly unpacked rooms feel both new and eerily empty, and her mind drifts to the countless stockings hanging on the line, a reminder of the children she never intended to host. As she writes a long‑standing letter to John, she wrestles with the uneasy feeling that something essential has been overlooked.

Just then a very small figure in blue overalls appears in the doorway, cheerfully introducing himself as a “wayman” who has come for money or life—though he quickly assures Miss Salome he means no harm. His sudden, whimsical presence upends the calm she had imagined, turning the quiet cottage into a stage for an unexpected encounter. The scene hints at a playful mystery, inviting listeners to discover how this diminutive visitor will reshape Miss Salome’s plans for her new home.