"Neighbors" by Raymond Carver

The story “Neighbors” by Raymond Carver is about a couple that is house-sitting for the apartment that belongs to the couple that lives across the hall from them. Bill goes across the hall to feed the cat and finds himself spending more than enough time in his neighbor’s apartment; trying on their clothes, taking their medicine, drinking their liquor, and laying in their bedroom. Bill’s wife, Arlene, asks him why he is spending so much time in their neighbor’s apartment. He claims that he does not realize he is spending so much time there. Meanwhile, at their own apartment, Bill’s sex-drive has increased and is all over Arlene like icing on a cake. Later in the story, Arlene makes her way to the Stones’ apartment to feed Kitty. She finds herself spending just as much time in their apartment as her husband. The story ends with the couple leaving the key in the couple’s apartment by mistake and locking themselves out.

This story is an example of how, not only couples, but people can get bored with their own lives, compare them to others, and find enthrallment in the lives of others. While we may not have the life we want, we may think we can find it in the lives of others. At the end of the story, the couple embraces each other in the hallway, almost in a realization of what they have been doing the past few days. This realization may have been an eye-opener to any issues or concerns within their marriage.