Glendive and Missoula

In “Travis, B.,” the town of Glendive and the city of Missoula symbolize the sense of separation between Chet and Beth. Although Chet has feelings for Beth, they are separated by the considerable distance between their towns of residence. Additionally, Chet recognizes that his life is far more rural, and Beth lives a more urban life and has more formal education.

Back Massage

In “Red from Green,” the back massage symbolizes the fraught nature of sexual awakenings. As a 15-year-old girl, Sam is beginning to confront the problems of sex and sexuality. This process is made more fraught by the sexual advances that Layton makes towards Sam, such as when Layton asks Sam to walk on his back. Layton gropes Sam’s thigh, which seems to be a traumatic moment for Sam.

The Raffle

In “Lovely Rita,” the raffle symbolizes the tension between childhood...