Summary

The story opens in a bank. Anders, the main character, arrives at the bank close to closing time, and he is frustrated to find that there is a long line of customers. In line, he is behind two women who are conversing loudly with each other. All of these factors put Anders in a bad temper, which is typical of him. He is a book critic, and his book reviews are generally characterized by his “weary, elegant savagery” (263). One of the bank tellers puts a ‘closed’ sign at her window and walks away to chat with a coworker. One of the women in front of Anders turns to Anders says something snarky about the teller and the bank. Anders internally agrees, but he decides to take out his own anger and frustration on the woman. He verbally mocks the woman for complaining about this...