Wes Holman and Miss Tretheway

• The story revolves around the narrator's encounter with Wes Holman while collecting money for Miss Tretheway's flowers.
• Miss Tretheway taught grade three in the town for fifty years and passed away in her sleep.
• The narrator, as chairman of the school board, decided to collect money from grade three alumni for a "handsome piece" (memorial) for her.
• Wes Holman is described as the town's local "character," living in a small house behind the ballpark filled with books.
• Wes is known for being able to quote various authors, from Seneca to Henry James, and works as a caretaker-about-town.

Wes's Affection for Miss Tretheway

• The narrator was surprised that Wes didn't attend Miss Tretheway's funeral but instead brought her flowers, specifically a corsage.
• The corsage, a gift typically given by a young boy to his date for her first dance, was an incongruous gesture.
• Wes's motive for giving the corsage was questioned, and he simply stated, "She was so beautiful."
• Miss Tretheway was not physically beautiful, but her heart was headstrong, and she possessed a curious precision and economy in her face.
• Wes reveals he got teased a lot, for example being scared, blushing and other things

Wes's Story of Miss Tretheway

• Wes recounts a childhood memory of taking Mrs. Banks's wash home on his sled, when he was coasting down the hill.
• The basket upset and all the things fell out on the snow
• she helped him pick up the stuff and shake the snow off it, and went with me right to Mrs. Banks's door and told her what had happened.
• Wes explains how Miss Tretheway showed the class a new game in the schoolyard
• Miss Tretheway made them both hold out their hands. She said, 'Why, Marilyn, Wes's hands are much cleaner than yours
• She took Marilyn's place herself. Her hand felt safe and warm, I remember ... and I guess that's the first day I thought she was beautiful.”

Wes's High School Experience

• Wes reminisces about being voted the best all-around student in High School after Miss Tretheway helped him.
• At the closing dance, he felt out of place and ended up punching a window in the basement, resulting in a scar.
• Miss Tretheway, who shared his rare blood type (three, 7% of people), gave him a quart of blood for a transfusion
• She made a joke about it: 'I didn't know whether an old maid's blood would be any good to a fine young specimen like you, Wes, or not
• Wes remembered that was the first time she'd ever called herself an old maid to anyone, and really felt like laughing, and it was the very first time I'd ever been able to say that, and laugh, myself."
• Miss Tretheway’s effect on Wes. He used to never say anything but after the operation she managed to get him to laugh.
• Wes ends by saying "She was beautiful. She was a real lady."
• The narrator reflects on Wes, the girl who had never been asked to dance, and the corsage, feeling less of a gentleman.