The Baby Party
John Andros, thirty-eight and hardened by years of struggle against illness and poverty, draws comfort from his small daughter Ede, though her boisterous vitality also irritates him after brief doses of fatherly attention. When his wife Edith calls to say Ede will attend a baby party at the Markeys' next door, John looks forward to joining them after work, amused by the prospect of doting mothers and unruly toddlers. At the party, hosted by Mrs. Markey, a dozen babies dance to a phonograph, run through the house, and are fed cake and ice cream with the good behavior of well-regulated modern children. Edith waits for John to arrive and see Ede shine among the other children, but as the party thins to just Ede and the Markeys' son Billy, Ede seizes Billy's teddy bear and twice pushes him down, the second time hard enough that his head strikes the floor and he cries out in pain. Mrs. Markey, alarmed and furious, says Ede ought to be spanked. Edith's perfunctory scolding dissolves into an involuntary laugh when Ede herself laughs triumphantly, and Edith finds herself laughing along with her daughter. This enrages Mrs. Markey, who orders Edith and "your brat" out of the house. Edith, crying, retorts that Mrs. Markey is common and that Billy is "a fat little fool," while Joe Markey defends his wife and moves as if to put Edith out bodily. John arrives just as tempers peak. Edith, weeping, tells him she was about to be thrown out. John and Markey exchange escalating accusations of rudeness and bullying, and John leads Edith and Ede out the door. Outside, he strips off his coat and challenges Markey to fight. The two men brawl savagely and inconclusively on the icy lawn for twenty minutes, stopping only when a passerby's footsteps force them to freeze and hide. Exhausted, bloodied, and oddly reconciled, they shake hands and part civilly, each insisting no harm was done and that there will be no further fighting. At home, Edith tends John's bruises with iodine, relieved they happen to have beefsteak on hand for his eye, while John jokes grimly that baby parties are "pretty rough affairs" and resolves to get himself back into shape. They tiptoe in to look at the sleeping Ede. The maid then announces that the Markeys have arrived downstairs, Markey battered and his wife still angry. John insists Edith go down and apologize for what she said, telling her she need never see Mrs. Markey again afterward. As Edith goes down alone, John lingers, lifts the sleeping Ede from her bed, and holds her tightly in the rocking chair, murmuring over her—recognizing at last what he had fought for.
By F. Scott Fitzgerald · First published 1925 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama · 5,316 words
First lines
When John Andros felt old he found solace in the thought of life continuing through his child. The dark trumpets of oblivion were less loud at the patter of his child's feet or at the sound of his child's voice babbling mad non sequiturs to him over the telephone. The latter incident occurred every afternoon at three when his wife called the office from the country, and he came to look forward to it as one of the vivid minutes of his day.
What this Textopian page supports
The Baby Party is listed on Textopian as a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, dated 1925 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Date: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama, Short Story, Comedy
- Length: 5,316 words
- Structure: 1 section, 140 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Baby Party by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Baby Party?
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Similar titles
- The Party by Anton Chekhov
- Winter Dreams by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- May Day by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- By Courier by O. Henry
- A Gentleman Friend by Anton Chekhov
- Something For Baby by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex themes of parenthood, social dynamics, and personal conflict, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques social norms and behaviors surrounding parenting and class distinctions, reflecting societal attitudes of the time.
- Drama — The intense interpersonal conflicts and emotional exchanges between characters create a dramatic atmosphere.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a specific event, fitting the short story format.
Tags
Short Story · Satire · Social Commentary · Wealth · Class Division · Marriage · Infidelity · Upper Class · American Literature · 1920s · Jazz Age · Parties