The room was warm and clean, the curtains drawn, the two table lamps alight-hers and the one by the empty chair opposite. On the sideboard behind her, two tall glasses, soda water, whiskey. Fresh ice cubes in the Thermos bucket. Mary Maloney was waiting for her husband to come home from work. (Dahl, 1) #
"This is going to be a bit of a shock to you, I'm afraid," he said. "But I've thought about it a good deal and I've decided the only thing to do is tell you right away I hope you won't blame me too much" And he told her. It didn't take long, four or five minutes at most, and she stay very still through it all, watching him with kind of dazed horror as he went further and further away from her with each word. (Dahl, 2/3)
"For God's sake," he said, hearing her, but not turning round. "Don't make supper for me. I'm going out" At that point, Mary Maloney simply walked up being him and without any pause she swung the big frozen leg of lamb high in the air and brought it down as hard as she could on the back of his head. She stepped back a pace, waiting, and the funny thing was that he remained standing there for at least four or five seconds, gently swaying. Then he crashed to the carpet. (Dahl, 3)
It wasn't six o'clock yet and the lights were still on in the grocery shop. "Hullo Sam," she said brightly, smiling at the man behind the counter. "Why good evening, Mrs. Maloney. How're you?" "I want some potatoes please, Sam. Yes, and I think a can of peas." The man reached up behind him on the shelf for peas. (Dahl, 4)
She put the parcel down on the table and went through the living room; and when she saw him lying there on the floor with his legs doubled up and one arm twisted back underneath his body, it really was rather a shock. All the old love and longing for him welled up inside of her, and she ran over to him, knelt down beside him, and began to cry her heart out. It was easy. No acting necessary. (Dahl, 5)
"Whoever done it, they're not going to be carrying a thing like that around with them longer than they need. " "Personally, I think it's right here on the premises." "Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack? And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle. (Dahl, 8)