An Innocent Answer

“So who is she?” Rebecca snapped. Simon peered up from his paper.
            He replied, “What on earth are you talking about, dear?” Simon sighed and returned to the business section of the New York Times.
            “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” she remarked. “Where have you been every night this week? You don’t return home until I’m fast asleep!”

            “I already told you, dear. I’ve been working late; I’m in the running for a big promotion.”

            “Sure,” Rebecca sneered, “that’s exactly what you’ve told me, but I’m not stupid Simon! I know exactly what is going on here!”
            Simon groaned, “And what exactly is going on?” His eyes still lingered on the results of the daily stock exchange.

            “Don’t play dumb, Simon! You’ve been leaving for work earlier each morning, and wearing cologne. When I call you at work, you are always conveniently in an ‘important meeting’. You arrive home late each night long after you know certainly well that I have already fallen asleep. The last time we ate dinner together was last Wednesday, dare I go on?”
            “You have nothing to worry about dear; I have just been working late,” Simon uttered in response.

            “What is her name?” Rebecca’s eyes began to brim with tears. “I know there’s another woman, and now you can’t even tear your eyes from that mundane newspaper to look me in the eye.”
            Finally Simon turned to face her, “You’re right. I have been acting peculiar lately.”
            “That’s it? That is all you have to say?” her face reddened in anger. Simon folded the newspaper neatly. He then placed it on his antique bedside table and turned out his lamp.
            “That’s it,” was Simon’s final reply. He calmly pulled the blanket up to cover himself and lay his head down on the pillow. Simon was sure of only one thing: he would be the only one getting any sleep that night.

Short Story Analysis: Eli

           How can anyone be trusted in a world where doctors cause pain and police are corrupt? The short story Eli by Vincent Lam exemplifies how unethical decisions can have unpredictable outcomes. Set in a hospital, the story describes the relations between two police officers and a doctor after an injured prisoner, Eli, is brought in to be treated. The author focuses on imagery, conflict and irony to deliver the full impact of his message.

            Imagery is interspersed throughout the story to add a dramatic effect. A foul mood is established immediately as the doctor regards the room as “nauseating to breathe, with the closed-in smell of piss and sweet-sour human stench.” Also with strategic uses of imagery, Eli’s non-life threatening injuries are exaggerated to seem critical and repulsive. The injury is “a straight gash from the hairline to the top of the nose.” To add effect, the author adds that “the blood flowed hot, an anxious stream.” These simple uses of imagery are enough to make a reader’s stomach queasy.

            The story is made suspenseful through several variations of conflict. The most prominent conflict is between the two police officers and the doctor. It is first recognized when the doctor concludes that the police want to “play a modified version of the game.” As the encounter continues the police become increasingly irritable, complaining how “this sure is getting complicated.” Not only does the doctor conflict with the police, he also struggles with an inner conflict. He is aware that the officers most likely injured Eli themselves, and contemplates whether or not his own morals and ethics are in question through his actions. Furthermore, the story is based around Eli’s conflicts with both the police officers and the doctor. First Eli becomes a victim of police brutality, and later suffers abuse from the doctor as well. Eli asserts his rage towards the doctor by “lung[ing] quickly [while] officer 6982 jump[s] back.” The different conflicts within the story lead each character to erratic actions.

            The course of the story is also laced with irony; it is essentially the foundation of the story. The setting is a hospital, often denoted as a place of healing. However, in this context the hospital is the backdrop for abuse, deceit, and unethical actions. Also, within the hospital the “screaming, struggling, calm-down-or-we-tie-you-down room" is ironically named the quiet room. Similarly, doctors are supposed to be those who perform the healing, but instead while treating Eli, the doctor “dart[s] the [tongue depressor] further into his mouth, gagg[ing] him hard… and let him retch, grunting against [it].” Members of the police force and doctors are supposed to be honest and just, but this story takes the opportunity to display contrary personas. The use of imagery, conflict and irony enable the story to be extremely realistic. The short story is so realistic that one might begin to question just how much he can trust all of those around him.

College Application

        If I told you my biggest accomplishment in life has been graduating from high school, I would be lying. I have done so much more.

         I once travelled from the North Pole to the South Pole in one day, on water skis. I once travelled to the harbour of Rio de Janeiro to get a tan. I once travelled to the peak of Mt. Everest to see the view. I once slept for 14 hours.

        On Mondays, I communicate with dolphins in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea. On Tuesdays, I put out forest fires single handed. On Wednesdays, I wear pink. I am fluent in English, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Braille. Gabby Douglas is jealous of my agility. Kim Kardashian is jealous of my hair. Coco Chanel is jealous of my style. I wish I was left handed.

        I spend my days rescuing dogs in Russia, saving seals in the Siberian Sea, and petting parrots in Panama. I eat Kraft Dinner for lunch. I have read every encyclopedia. I have swum with Michael Phelps. I have scaled the Empire State building. I have been on every ride at Disneyland. Twice. Last year, I swam in the Grand Canyon. Last year, I drove from Salt Lake City to Hong Kong. Last year, I sang the national anthem after the Canucks won the Stanley Cup final. Last night, I ate a tub of Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream.

        I am on a mission to save the world. In my free time, I replant the Amazon rainforest. In my free time, I clean up an entire oil spill using my toothbrush. In my free time, I replenish the world's water supply. In my free time, I fix the holes in the ozone layer. My house uses solar power. My cell phone bill is paperless. My laundry is washed in cold water. I recycle.

        I am nocturnal, ambidextrous and amphibious. The Spartans shudder at the mention of my name. I have a summer house in Vatican City where the Pope attends my birthday parties. He always wins the raffle. I swam with dolphins, drank pina coladas and learned to surf, but not in Hawaii; in my backyard. I eat two bite brownies in one bite.

        I am considered the 8^th Wonder of the World. I am the dancing queen. I am not a college graduate.