Back in the office, Holits pays cash, and Betty notices another dried-out plant. She is very happy to rent the apartment, since not many units were renting, and the family seemed dependable, if out of luck. The narrator is confused, but says nothing. Then she begins snapping her fingers for no reason, after which she runs her nails across the counter. For the first time, Betty looks directly at Holits, to approve the decision. She shows them the apartment it's simple, but they take it. She looks out at the pool, where some of the other residents are reclining in the sun, and then over at the boys, who are now playing outside the car. Marge realizes he is unemployed, and specifies that they will have to pay deposits.

She asks Holits his trade, and he tells he was a farmer his wife, introduced by Holits for the first time as Betty, tries to explain how he was good at his trade, but he stops her. She waves to Harley, and tells them who he is.

She then tells the reader that they work for Fulton Terrace, Inc., and act as superintendents. While outside, she hears Harley and sees him cutting the grass. Marge gives them the price, they approve, and she brings them outside to the apartment. The woman notices that the plant in the living room is drying out, and the narrator apologizes that it needs water. They tell Marge they have two boys who can share a room, and that they need a furnished apartment. The farmer introduces himself as Holits, and the woman keeps her eyes down. She calls herself a 'stylist' and likes to do hair for extra money and company when she can get clients. She brings them to the living room – 'the living room is where I do business' – which also houses her beautician equipment. Later, she and Harley would 'put together' that the bank had repossessed their property and farm equipment from Minnesota.Īfter a few minutes, the adults leave the car and approach Marge's apartment. The story begins in a hot July, when the family pulls into the parking lot and Marge sees through the window how the car is overpacked with two boys in the backseat, clothes, suitcases, etc. She tells the story about a family that moves into an apartment for a while after being displaced from their farm in Minnesota.

'The Bridle' is narrated by Marge, a woman who supervises an apartment building in Arizona alongside her husband Harley.

Cathedral by raymond carver