Summary

The short story “Vitamins” by Raymond Carver begins with an unnamed male narrator talking about his menial night job in a hospital. The narrator’s wife, Patti, decides to get a job selling vitamins door-to-door. She is promoted, and she gets to recruit salesgirls for the vitamin business. Patti has two girls, Sheila and Donna, whom she can count on. One night, Sheila makes a move on Patti and confesses that she loves her, but Patti turns her down.

Around Christmas time, the vitamin business slows down, and the narrator helps Patti throw a party for the salesgirls. That night, Sheila gets drunk, passes out, and is moved on the porch. After everybody goes home and Patti goes to sleep, the narrator stays awake and continues drinking. Sheila wakes up and angrily...