Ernie Mendenhall, a forty-two-year-old man who lives in a town called Oderhill, has been alone for four years since his parents died. He worked as a part-time secretary for a writer at his house. One summer weekend, the writer has a party and invites a woman named Alla Vintrin. There, Ernie and Alla discuss the topic of old furniture, and Ernie impulsively invites her to look at the furniture pieces in his house if she is interested. She agrees and asks to see them that same day.   At his house, Alla admires and plays the rosewood melodeon. Ernie can not stop himself from crying out if she will live with him and be his wife. Alla responds, “Why not?” He tells her about his life, and she says she would likely see him again in the afternoon. However, Ernie receives a note from Alla three days later saying she regrets asking men to marry her and that he can ask anyone else in Oderhill. She ends by saying she would still like to buy his melodeon furniture. Ernie writes several letters to Alla. He mails one letter to her after finding her address in his boss’s mail. Weeks pass with no reply, so he sends another letter. Ultimately, Ernie mails six letters.   Ernie receives no response from Alla. Throughout the weeks, he imagines different conversations with her. One night, Ernie feels cold in his house and asks Alla why she left the window open. He begins to speak to her in his mind or aloud. Eventually, Ernie arrives home and engages in fascinating conversations directed at Alla. He arrives after work and asks why there’s no fire or supper and that she’s mistreating her husband who works all day. Once, Ernie does not even eat dinner to spite the image he conjured of Alla eating a savory steak. He also imagines Alla with a child. When Ernie walks along the streets, his neighbors wonder why he always talks to himself. During the holidays, he visits several shops thinking of a gift for Alla and their child. He buys a vase for her and fills it with roses. He imagines arranging a Christmas tree with her.   One afternoon after work, his imagination has finished. He sees his empty house completely different, feeling sad and in disbelief that Alla is gone. Ernie receives a letter in the mailbox from Alla, who asks him if his rosewood melodeon is still for sale. She explains she got married in the spring, and they are furnishing their house. Ernie writes back that it is not for sale. He ponders about how he experienced love and domesticity as he walks home from work one day. The neighbors observe how he’s always talking to himself about something.