This story is telling about a child's life on North Richmond Street. The narrator is a nameless young boy who lives with his aunt and uncle. The boy sometimes looks at books left behind by the now deceased former tenant of their house who was a priest. His friend Mangan lives in a building across the street. The narrator has developed a crush on Mangan's sister and watches her secretly. Every morning he waits for her to leave in and follows behind her, eventually passing her on their route to school.
             When the girl does speak to him at last it is to ask him if he will go to the bazaar that is called Araby . She is unable to go since she is going on a retreat at her convent. The boy promises her to go the bazaar and to bring something back for her.
             The boy asks and is granted permission from his aunt and uncle to go to Araby. He is obsessed for days with thoughts of the bazaar, the girl and the gift he will get for her. The day of the bazaar finally arrives and the boy reminded his uncle to be at home on time to give him the money to go to Araby.
             Later that day, the boy's uncle has forgotten about the bazaar and is late coming home. Determined to go, even though it is so late, he accepts the train fare from his uncle. When he gets to the bazaar it is almost closed and the few stalls that are still open are offering goods that seem to be much more expensive than the two pennies and sixpence in the boys pocket. As most of the lights are now turned off at the bazaar, the boy despairs in his inability to fulfill his fantasy of giving his secret love a gift.
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