In this short story, therefore, the climax comes at the end of the dinner that Mrs. Bates cooks for herself and Roger. Before this, the reader and Roger are left wondering what Mrs. Bates will do and how she will treat Roger after he tried to steal from her. The author skillfully leaves us completely unaware of how this story will end. What is so surprising is that Mrs. Bates gives Roger the money that he tried to steal from her so that he can buy his blue suede shoes: