The Lottery

I will have to admit, I didn't realize what was happening in the story till almost the end.  I reread it a second time and picked up on little details such as the boys picking up rocks and the wives standing almost cautiously behind their husbands.  I felt this story is about humanity and traditions that aren't always needing to be followed.  The title had me going at first and I think even after knowing what was going to happen, subconsciously I didn't want to believe it.  I relate to Mrs.Hutchinson as wanting to be different and going with flow, the way she was late to the lottery and made her way through the crowd.  Even at the end she was protesting for what she thought to be wrong.