“The ghost that got into our house on the night of November 17, 1915, caused such a hullaballoo of misunderstanding that I am sorry I didn’t just let it keep on walking, and go to bed. Its advent caused my mother to throw a shoe through a window of the house next door and ended up with my grandfather shooting a patrolman. I am sorry, therefore, as I have said, that I ever paid any attention to the footsteps.” 

The first paragraph of the story informs the reader exactly when the events of the narrative take place and summarize what transpires. Thurber keeps a casual and comically regretful tone that creates intrigue for the reader.

“I suspected next that it was a burglar. It did not enter my mind until later that it was a ghost.”

The first paragraph of the story informs the reader exactly when the events of the narrative take place and summarize what transpires. Thurber keeps a casual and comically regretful tone that creates intrigue for the reader.

“Since the phone was downstairs, I didn’t see how we were going to call the police—nor did I want the police—but mother made one of her quick, incomparable decisions.”

Thurber’s mother displays an initial desire to apply rationality to the situation but realizing the option to do so is out of reach, she quickly turns to an impulsive decision. His mother’s actions escalate the already high emotions of their neighbor.