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The Fact of the Matter
Enjoy this free short story from award-winning author Madeleine L'Engle's newest book, The Moment of Tenderness, a collection of 18 short stories, some never before published.
It was a frigid winter day when Old Mrs. Campbell stormed into the Franklins' general store, decrying the devilish nature of her daughter-in-law-a sentiment that deeply disturbed Mrs. Franklin, considering the woman in question, Alicia, was oft described as "saintly" by everyone around her.
When she leaves the store in a huff, Mrs. Franklin thinks she's done with Mrs. Campbell's ravings for the day-until the woman calls her late in the night, urgently demanding to see her.
Blending elements of fantasy and horror, what transpires between the two women over the course of the evening will test the boundaries of reason, faith, and family-and prove that, in times of great danger, even strangers can come together to help one another in need.
For more stories by Madeleine L'Engle, read The Moment of Tenderness, available now.
It was a frigid winter day when Old Mrs. Campbell stormed into the Franklins' general store, decrying the devilish nature of her daughter-in-law-a sentiment that deeply disturbed Mrs. Franklin, considering the woman in question, Alicia, was oft described as "saintly" by everyone around her.
When she leaves the store in a huff, Mrs. Franklin thinks she's done with Mrs. Campbell's ravings for the day-until the woman calls her late in the night, urgently demanding to see her.
Blending elements of fantasy and horror, what transpires between the two women over the course of the evening will test the boundaries of reason, faith, and family-and prove that, in times of great danger, even strangers can come together to help one another in need.
For more stories by Madeleine L'Engle, read The Moment of Tenderness, available now.
22 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2020
200 people are currently reading
994 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine L'Engle
170 books9,195 followersMadeleine L'Engle was an American writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels: A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time. Her works reflect both her Christian faith and her strong interest in modern science.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 29, 2021
I read this again tonight, forgetting I'd read it last year. Short, and dark, very good but way to short. I am not sure if it goes on as it said was extracted from a book of her short stories. I may have to read that. This was fun and deliciously dark but felt a bit incomplete. My original review is below and I am leaving it up, despite repeating myself a bit. I really did kind of like this but was so short. I'd have preferred it as a novella.
Creepy little story that does indeed remind me of Shirley Jackson. It is to short in my opinion but deliciously dark and in the short time it takes to read it, it packs a punch and really is eerie. Recommended for fans of short stories.
Creepy little story that does indeed remind me of Shirley Jackson. It is to short in my opinion but deliciously dark and in the short time it takes to read it, it packs a punch and really is eerie. Recommended for fans of short stories.
April 23, 2023
Spooky, if obvious. Reminded me of Nathaniel Hawthorne and the like.
3, interesting and glad the dog made it ok, stars.
3, interesting and glad the dog made it ok, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2020
I found this short story for free on Amazon. It was fine. I was really more interested in the introduction, by the author's granddaughter. Apparently there were several short stories found in the author's archives after she died. I think I will try to find the whole book.
October 1, 2022
3.5 rounded down. A very short story that's perfect for October and cold spooky nights!
It reminded me of Young Goodman Brown which I read ages ago in high school.
This comes from L'Engle's collection her granddaughter curated after her death. A Wrinkle in Time is her break-through work.
It reminded me of Young Goodman Brown which I read ages ago in high school.
This comes from L'Engle's collection her granddaughter curated after her death. A Wrinkle in Time is her break-through work.
December 2, 2024
History and a Story
Charlotte Jones Voiklis, the granddaughter of Madeline L’Engle wrote about her grandmother’s early life and how some of her short stories coincided with the life she lived.
The second half of the book is one of those short stories, imaginative as always. Five stars.
Charlotte Jones Voiklis, the granddaughter of Madeline L’Engle wrote about her grandmother’s early life and how some of her short stories coincided with the life she lived.
The second half of the book is one of those short stories, imaginative as always. Five stars.
April 26, 2020
Coyer Quarantine Edition
Amazing short story about an older woman who shares an unbelievable secret with a general store owner.
Amazing short story about an older woman who shares an unbelievable secret with a general store owner.
May 5, 2021
Oh so spooky.
July 29, 2021
This is a 3.5 star read.
December 4, 2025
confused queen
July 18, 2020
This short story is a sample from a longer collection. I love Madeline L'Engle so was happy to discover this. I found the introduction by her granddaughter more interesting than the story, to be completely honest, but I still think I'd like to seek out and read the full collection.
April 28, 2020
It doesn't get any better
I've been reading Madeleine L'Engle books since I was seven years old and this is the first new story I've seen in a long long time. I'm so glad her granddaughter has taken the time to go through her archives and find the work that was never published. This is a slightly disturbing but wonderful story that is so Madeleine L'Engle.
I've been reading Madeleine L'Engle books since I was seven years old and this is the first new story I've seen in a long long time. I'm so glad her granddaughter has taken the time to go through her archives and find the work that was never published. This is a slightly disturbing but wonderful story that is so Madeleine L'Engle.
May 8, 2020
Very strange. Much stranger than I was expecting for such a short little story. It really was creepy.
February 26, 2021
Brilliant!
Oh how i love the writing style of Madeleine L'Engle! This might be a short story but it packs so much into it! It flows nicely through it transporting you down the story line , the characters are well developed and it makes you feel like you know them. It had a twist in it that I was certainly was not expecting, you know it is a good short story when you wish it was a full length story because you love it that much! A solid 5 star read for me!
Oh how i love the writing style of Madeleine L'Engle! This might be a short story but it packs so much into it! It flows nicely through it transporting you down the story line , the characters are well developed and it makes you feel like you know them. It had a twist in it that I was certainly was not expecting, you know it is a good short story when you wish it was a full length story because you love it that much! A solid 5 star read for me!
July 7, 2022
short story: the fact of the matter
This is a review of just one of the short stories in this collection: The Fact of the matter
It was interesting and different than other things I’ve read by L’Engle. And yet completely in line with who she is, I think.
I don’t have this book, I had only received this short story but I think I will definitely be picking up this collection at one point.
This is a review of just one of the short stories in this collection: The Fact of the matter
It was interesting and different than other things I’ve read by L’Engle. And yet completely in line with who she is, I think.
I don’t have this book, I had only received this short story but I think I will definitely be picking up this collection at one point.
December 23, 2020
Strange, dark and disturbing!
January 27, 2021
A devilishly delightful short story that does a brilliant job of making me want to read the complete collection of previously unpublished short stories by Madeleine L'Engle.
February 23, 2024
The devil has many faces...
October 24, 2025
Not very spooky, in fact. This was too short to be effective. At least the dog made it out okay…
May 23, 2024
4.5 stars.
I wasn't sure about this one for a while in the middle there, but in my opinion, all of the evil and darkness in this story was used in a very appropriate way in the end. In fact, this free kindle story had exactly its intended effect as I now what I to read the whole collection!
Not recommended for very young or very sensitive readers because of general scariness, but the only specific content warning I have is for some rather intense portrayal of unkindness/manipulation.
I wasn't sure about this one for a while in the middle there, but in my opinion, all of the evil and darkness in this story was used in a very appropriate way in the end. In fact, this free kindle story had exactly its intended effect as I now what I to read the whole collection!
Not recommended for very young or very sensitive readers because of general scariness, but the only specific content warning I have is for some rather intense portrayal of unkindness/manipulation.
June 17, 2020
A short story by L'Engle that captures the eeriness and human kindness in her work. The grandmother is concerned that her daughter-in-law is trying to kill her. She decides to join a different church and take her granddaughter with her. The eeriness comes in as she decides to join the church of the devil. No spoilers but she does make a better decision before the story ends. The tale is told by the woman she enlists to trust and help her - Mrs. Franklin.
Of more importance to me was the Introduction by L'Engle's granddaughter talking about the writings they found following her death.
Of more importance to me was the Introduction by L'Engle's granddaughter talking about the writings they found following her death.
April 29, 2021
Is Mrs. Campbell telling the truth or is she making up stories?
My first impression of this tale was that it might have been a character study of Mrs. Campbell. She had a strong personality that tended to command a great deal of attention from everyone around her. While she was definitely the most memorable character in this cast, what she believed was happening to her at home quickly became even more interesting than she herself was.
I was confused by the ending. Some parts of it were foreshadowed earlier on, but one of the most important aspects of it suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I can’t go into more detail about it than that without giving away spoilers, but I do wish it had been developed better. The parts I understood were delightful.
To be perfectly honest, the word in the blurb that grabbed my attention first was devilish. Was Mrs. Campbell using this term figuratively or literally? What was her daughter-in-law really like? There were so many different ways to interpret that one little word that I immediately needed to find out which one the narrator might discover as she got to know Mrs. Campbell better. I was completely satisfied with how this part of the plot was written.
Anyone who enjoys it when an author mixes several genres together should check out The Fact of the Matter.
My first impression of this tale was that it might have been a character study of Mrs. Campbell. She had a strong personality that tended to command a great deal of attention from everyone around her. While she was definitely the most memorable character in this cast, what she believed was happening to her at home quickly became even more interesting than she herself was.
I was confused by the ending. Some parts of it were foreshadowed earlier on, but one of the most important aspects of it suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I can’t go into more detail about it than that without giving away spoilers, but I do wish it had been developed better. The parts I understood were delightful.
To be perfectly honest, the word in the blurb that grabbed my attention first was devilish. Was Mrs. Campbell using this term figuratively or literally? What was her daughter-in-law really like? There were so many different ways to interpret that one little word that I immediately needed to find out which one the narrator might discover as she got to know Mrs. Campbell better. I was completely satisfied with how this part of the plot was written.
Anyone who enjoys it when an author mixes several genres together should check out The Fact of the Matter.
November 26, 2020
I try to read a short story everyday so I was pretty pleased when I saw this in the free lists - a promo for a new compilation of L’Engle’s short works.
An old woman complains to the shopkeeper’s wife Mrs Franklin, that her daughter-in-law Alicia hates her and wants her dead.
The woman finds that hard to believe given Alicia is such a pillar of the community, but somehow the old woman knows that she has her doubts about Alicia.
And thank goodness for dogs as back-up.
4 stars
An old woman complains to the shopkeeper’s wife Mrs Franklin, that her daughter-in-law Alicia hates her and wants her dead.
The woman finds that hard to believe given Alicia is such a pillar of the community, but somehow the old woman knows that she has her doubts about Alicia.
And thank goodness for dogs as back-up.
4 stars
January 17, 2022
THE FACT OF THE MATTER (TFOTM) by Madeleine L'Engle -- What was Madeleine L'Engle writing that led up to A WRINKLE IN TIME? Among others, she was writing short stories during her college years in the 1940s and 50s. Many, including THE FACT OF THE MATTER, have remained unpublished, to be discovered by her granddaughter shortly after she died in 2007. THE FACT OF THE MATTER is a story from the now published collection, THE MOMENT OF TENDERNESS. TFOTM is the story of two women, one a younger shop keeper and one an older grandmother. The grandmother confesses a fear that her daughter-in-law is trying to kill her off, and tells the shopkeeper she's leaving their church to join a church that worships Satan. She wants to enlist the aid of the shopkeeper. At midnight, they converge upon the Satanist group in a local park, only to discover the daughter-in-law is part of the group. The story is a blending of fantasy and horror in which two strangers can come together for the sake of faith and family. Very short, but highly enjoyable. I'm on to the rest of the complete collection.
February 10, 2024
I may be a bit of an outlier, but I thought this story was perfection. Gave me 'The Screwtape Letters' vibes. Also included was an Introduction written by her granddaughter, Charlotte Jones Voiklis, about discovering these stories and what they said about her grandmother. Now that I have read this excerpt from The Moment of Tenderness, I am looking forward to more when I read the collection.
Taken as a whole these stories express a yearning towards hope--hope for intimacy, understanding, and wholeness. In moments of despair or seasons of doubt, that yearning and its depiction can feel more authentic and optimistic than more neatly resolved narratives or stories with overtly happy endings. ~ Charlotte Jones Voiklis
Taken as a whole these stories express a yearning towards hope--hope for intimacy, understanding, and wholeness. In moments of despair or seasons of doubt, that yearning and its depiction can feel more authentic and optimistic than more neatly resolved narratives or stories with overtly happy endings. ~ Charlotte Jones Voiklis
February 2, 2021
Review of eBook
Elderly Mrs. Campbell sees a far different side of her daughter-in-law, Alicia, than everyone else in town. She comes into the general store ranting about the treatment she receives from the woman the rest of the town considers “saintly.”
But when she involves Mrs. Franklin in a late-night excursion, what will happen?
This short story, excerpted from “The Moment of Tenderness,” has a twist readers simply won’t see coming. Creepy and dark, the story speaks to neighborly kindness and unexpected revelations. Imaginative and surprising, readers will find this unpredictable little mystery packs quite a punch.
Don’t skip the lovely introduction written by Madeleine’s granddaughter, Charlotte. It’s fascinating . . . .
Recommended.
Elderly Mrs. Campbell sees a far different side of her daughter-in-law, Alicia, than everyone else in town. She comes into the general store ranting about the treatment she receives from the woman the rest of the town considers “saintly.”
But when she involves Mrs. Franklin in a late-night excursion, what will happen?
This short story, excerpted from “The Moment of Tenderness,” has a twist readers simply won’t see coming. Creepy and dark, the story speaks to neighborly kindness and unexpected revelations. Imaginative and surprising, readers will find this unpredictable little mystery packs quite a punch.
Don’t skip the lovely introduction written by Madeleine’s granddaughter, Charlotte. It’s fascinating . . . .
Recommended.
April 26, 2022
Much like an old, classic fairy-tale...
This short story brought back memories of my childhood in Germany when I read the original Grimm's Fairytales and such. Not the cleaned up Disney versions but the dark ones that dipped into the fallacies of the human spirit and ended with some sort of moral or insight for the reader. I could see a little bit of this here, as well. I would not have been surprised if the author read her fair share of the same and in some way replicated the same 'feel'.
This short story brought back memories of my childhood in Germany when I read the original Grimm's Fairytales and such. Not the cleaned up Disney versions but the dark ones that dipped into the fallacies of the human spirit and ended with some sort of moral or insight for the reader. I could see a little bit of this here, as well. I would not have been surprised if the author read her fair share of the same and in some way replicated the same 'feel'.
January 1, 2025
A very interesting Foreword from the author’s granddaughter. Other than being forced to read A Wrinkle in Time in elementary school, I’d not read anything else by this writer.
Madeleine Franklin is the narrative main character. Her husband, Hugh, owns the general store in town.
Old Mrs. Campbell does not get along well with her daughter-in-law, Alicia. She’s also concerned for her granddaughter, Sylvie.
In fact, the older woman is convinced that Alicia is out to get her.
The touch of pets is nice.
Is Old Mrs. C having a mental breakdown? Or is she right to be suspicious of Alicia?
Church…the devil…
Irrefutable proof…
And Madeleine believes.
Madeleine Franklin is the narrative main character. Her husband, Hugh, owns the general store in town.
Old Mrs. Campbell does not get along well with her daughter-in-law, Alicia. She’s also concerned for her granddaughter, Sylvie.
In fact, the older woman is convinced that Alicia is out to get her.
The touch of pets is nice.
Is Old Mrs. C having a mental breakdown? Or is she right to be suspicious of Alicia?
Church…the devil…
Irrefutable proof…
And Madeleine believes.
September 14, 2020
Too much fluff before the story.
The story itself was good. It was paced quickly; however a little too cryptic and unrealistic for me. The first 10 pages are long and confusing and labelled Introduction. They were inappropriately placed IMO. Google would be a good place if you wanted the info. I wanted the story.
Would not recommend. The story is secondary to the fluff, and that is a shame.
The story itself was good. It was paced quickly; however a little too cryptic and unrealistic for me. The first 10 pages are long and confusing and labelled Introduction. They were inappropriately placed IMO. Google would be a good place if you wanted the info. I wanted the story.
Would not recommend. The story is secondary to the fluff, and that is a shame.
May 28, 2020
The story starts out like a character study of "Old Mrs. Campbell," a woman who lives with her son and his family, and becomes convinced that her seemingly perfect daughter-in-law wants her dead. It gets creepier and more unexpected as it goes on, and turns into a horror story reminiscent of Shirley Jackson. A great read, but I wish it were longer; I was not ready for it to end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews