“Day of the Butterfly” is a short story by Alice Munro that appeared in her 1968 collection Dance of the Happy Shades. Here’s a summary of “Day of the Butterfly”.
“Day of the Butterfly” Summary
The narrator didn’t really notice Myra Sayla at school until Grade 6. Her little brother Jimmy would come get her so she could escort him to the bathroom. Sometimes, he’d arrive too late and wet himself. Myra would also stay with Jimmy at recess so he wouldn’t be bullied. They’d stand in a porch between the boys and girls sides of the grounds, looking timid and melancholy.
The Sixth Grade teacher, Miss Darling, noticed this and called the girls together. She tells them Myra wouldn’t be happy being excluded and urges them to be nicer. Led by Gladys Healey, this sets off a wave of sarcastic niceness directed at Myra, whom to this point, they hadn’t paid much attention to.
Myra’s parents run a fruit store, and Myra smells of bad fruit.
The narrator lives outside of town but attends the town school due to her mother’s maneuverings. One morning, walking up the little hill toward the school, the narrator sees Myra and Jimmy walking ahead of her. Realizing Myra might want her to catch up, she suddenly calls out and runs up, offering her some Cracker Jack. They talk a little about school subjects and comics. The narrator gives Myra the prize in the Cracker Jack box, a blue butterfly brooch. Their fingers touch and they feel a connection. She thinks she’ll talk to Myra from now on in the mornings and at recess.
The next day or next week, Myra didn’t come to school and after two weeks it’s clear Myra won’t be coming back. Gladys finds out, through her nurse aunt, that Myra is sick in the hospital with Leukemia.
Miss Darling arranges for everyone to write Myra a letter. She also plans on taking a group to visit on March 20, for a little birthday party, even though that’s not her birthday. The cook will make a cake and they can bring a small present. All the girls want to go, which makes fifteen in all. The upcoming visit and party become an important event.
The group goes to the hospital on a Sunday afternoon. Myra is sitting up in bed and looks a bit uncertain, looking at them as she did at recess. They wish her happy birthday; Myra points out it’s not her birthday, but Miss Darling brushes it off.
The kids give her the presents, which are nicely wrapped. Myra seems pleased by the ribbons, just like she was with the blue butterfly. She’s going to the hospital in Ontario next week.
Myra opens the gifts carefully, thanking the person who gave it, including the narrator, Helen. There’s an air of enjoyment but Myra is subdued. They eat the cake and have strawberry ice cream.
As the group files out at four o’clock, Myra calls Helen back. She wants her to have something because she received so much. She puts an item in Helen’s hand and their fingers touch again. Myra says they’ll play after school when she gets back from Ontario.
The sound of someone playing outside makes everything turn dark for Helen. Myra and the presents fall into a shadow; she doesn’t want to take the gift anymore. A nurse enters and breaks the spell. Helen thanks Myra, says goodbye, and leaves.
Helen doesn’t think Myra said goodbye.
I hope this summary of “Day of the Butterfly” was helpful.
