I See You Never
Encyclopedia
"I See You Never" is a short story
by author Ray Bradbury
. This story was originally published in 1947 by The New Yorker
Magazine, Inc. It is included in the collection A Sound of Thunder and Other Stories (2005).
, travels by bus to Los Angeles
, California
via San Diego, California
. For two years, he takes up residence at a rooming house run by Mrs. O'Brian. Mr. Ramirez is simple and hard-working individual who works at an airplane factory. One day, Mr. Ramirez appears outside Mrs. O'Brian's back porch, accompanied by two police officers. He informs her that he must now give up his room. He had been living there for 30 months — six months too long, adds one police officer, for he only had a temporary working visa
. As Mr. Ramirez says goodbye for the last time, he exclaims, "Mrs. O'Brian, I see you never.."
Shortly thereafter, as Mrs. O'Brian resumes her unfinished meal, she suddenly stops and realizes for the first time that she will never see Mr. Ramirez again.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by author Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
. This story was originally published in 1947 by The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
Magazine, Inc. It is included in the collection A Sound of Thunder and Other Stories (2005).
Plot summary
Mr. Ramirez, a native of Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, travels by bus to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
via San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. For two years, he takes up residence at a rooming house run by Mrs. O'Brian. Mr. Ramirez is simple and hard-working individual who works at an airplane factory. One day, Mr. Ramirez appears outside Mrs. O'Brian's back porch, accompanied by two police officers. He informs her that he must now give up his room. He had been living there for 30 months — six months too long, adds one police officer, for he only had a temporary working visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
. As Mr. Ramirez says goodbye for the last time, he exclaims, "Mrs. O'Brian, I see you never.."
Shortly thereafter, as Mrs. O'Brian resumes her unfinished meal, she suddenly stops and realizes for the first time that she will never see Mr. Ramirez again.