Daily puzzle

Put The Lottery back in order

Seven beats from our edition of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, shuffled. Drag them, or use the arrows, until the story runs straight. No account, no streak to lose.

  1. A pleasant morning Villagers drift into the square on a warm summer day while children pile up stones, the activity passed off as ordinary play.
  2. The black box appears Mr. Summers carries out the old black box, and the lists of families and households are confirmed before the drawing begins.
  3. Talk of change As the names are called, Old Man Warner scorns rumors that nearby towns are giving up the lottery, insisting the ritual keeps the community in order.
  4. Household heads draw One by one the men step up and take a slip, holding it unopened, the tension building beneath the casual chatter.
  5. Hutchinson is chosen Bill Hutchinson holds the slip with the black dot, and Tessie loudly complains about how it was handled.
  6. Narrowing to one The five members of the Hutchinson family each draw again, and Tessie ends up holding the marked paper.
  7. The ritual completed The crowd, neighbors and family alike, picks up the gathered stones and moves toward Tessie as the story closes.