Mom Luby, and the

Social Worker

by Kristin Hunter
Summary

• Kristin Hunter's short story "Mom Luby and the Social Worker"
examines a day in the life of Mom Luby, an elderly woman who is
caring for two children--Elijah and Puddin'--while simultaneously
operating a Prohibition-era speakeasy out of the back of her
house. The tale opens with Mom Luby seeking financial assistance
from the Social Welfare office so that she may better provide for
her foster children; this request prompts a home visit from a
social worker named Miss Rushmore who has been tasked with
evaluating the living conditions of Elijah and Puddin'.
• Although Miss Rushmore has her doubts about Mom Luby, she
provides her with instructions on the lengthy process of applying
to receive assistance, particularly for new clothing for the
children. Mom Luby claims that she does not have enough time to
go through such a process and winds up proving this fact to Miss
Rushmore by bringing her along on her errands. At the end of this
two hour time period, Miss Rushmore is exhausted and realizes
that Mom Luby has accomplished far more in two hours that Miss
Rushmore has accomplished in two years.
Summary

• The ironic twist of the ending involves Mom Luby suggesting that
the Social Welfare office should hire her due to her productivity,
but Miss Rushmore protesting that Mom Luby is not qualified for
such a position.
Elements of Short Story

• SETTING -- The time and location in which a story takes place is

called the setting. Social context 1968. What was happening at
the time . Mood/atmosphere. Was it tense/humorous?
• PLOT -- The plot is how the author arranges events to develop his
basic idea; It is the sequence of events in a story or play. The plot
is a planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle,
and end.
CHARACTERS

• Mom Luby

An elderly woman who is as strong as any young woman.

She has white hair and false teeth.
She runs a speakeasy in the back room of her house.
She fosters two young children.
She is a midwife, herb doctor and ordained minister of the Gospel.
She’s a very productive woman who helps the people in her
community.
She is very proud.
• Throughout the story Mom Luby is honest. With the exception of
her being Elijah and Pudding’s mother. She does not hide
anything from Miss Rushmore. When the reality is she probably
should. This may be important as it could suggest that Mom Luby is
somewhat innocent. It could also suggest that Mom Luby and Miss
Rushmore live two entirely different lives. With Hunter
symbolically suggesting that the government (or Miss Rushmore)
have no idea how people live their lives. It may also be case that
Hunter is comparing both traditional and modern roles. Mom Luby
knows how to do a lot of things however she is qualified to do
none.
Miss Rushmore

• She works at the Department of Child Welfare, Bureau of Family

Assistance.
She is very thorough in her investigation of Mom Luby.
She is awed by Mom Luby’s productivity.
Themes

• Love, responsibility, kindness, bureaucracy, connection,

innocence and change
• It is as though there are two sides of life in play in the story. The
practical life of Mom Luby who carries on despite the difficulties
she may incur and the impractical world of Miss Rushmore. It is
also interesting that Miss Rushmore is in shock after she spends
her day with Mom Luby. It is as though she can’t believe that Mom
Luby does so much and is not qualified to do what she does.
Themes

• Love and Family Relationship

The love that Mom Luby has for her two young charges is apparent
by her simple act of fostering them. She is a poor, older woman
who runs a speakeasy to survive, this is not the profile of someone
who should be willing to take care of two young children, as well
as a whole community.
• Without knowing it Mom Luby is breaking all the rules. Something that
may be alien to Miss Rushmore. Who at times in the story is as rigid in
her beliefs as she is in her appearance. It might also be a case that life
will not change for Mom Luby. She has no intention of filling out all the
forms and Miss Rushmore does not appear to be at the type of woman
who will bend the rules for Mom Luby. Even if she is drinking illegally in
Mom Luby’s back room. At the end of the story the reader realises that
neither Mom Luby nor Miss Rushmore are going to change their ways with
Mom Luby prepared to continue living her life without the assistance of
the government.
Literary Devices

• The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and

criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context
of…a play, novel, film, or other work that uses satire.

Satire is a literary device that uses wit or irony to expose and

ridicule a human weakness. The inefficiency of bureaucratic
procedures is satirized in this story.
Tone

• Irony usually signals a difference between the appearance of

things and reality. For instance, an “Ironic statements (verbal
irony) often convey a meaning exactly opposite from their literal
meaning. In ironic situations (situational irony), actions often have
an effect exactly opposite from what is intended.”
Questions

• What did you like about the story?

• How did the writer present real live events to the reader?
• The story was humorous. Identify some examples , and state how
the writer creates humour?