Response to 1-900

1-900 is a story about John, a man who is in a failed marriage in the process of separation. He calls a 1- 900 number and keeps insisting that instead of talking about sex he and the operator first get to know each other to make it seem more realistic. She is resistant to the idea claiming in is unconventional and makes her feel uncomfortable. Finally she opens up slightly and after cannot perform her job in a convincing manner so she hangs up.

                This short story is almost completely dialog. That is interesting because using only a conversation you are able to learn so much about the characters and setting. The story does not have a typical arch, the timeline is actually just taken up by the phone conversation, and however, you are left feeling like something happened. The whole story is almost a character sketch of John.

              Another interesting part of this piece was when John kept telling the phone operator he loved her. It was a momentary role reversal where he was trying to provide her the illusion she wanted. This makes the reasons for calling the hot line even more confused. Throughout the story it is hard to find why John would have called in the first place. I think that information is left out on purpose and bounces back and forth from having him seem normal and functional to having him seem depressed and strange.

                Overall this short was very strange for me to read, I have never read anything like it. I did find the dialog worked very well and the premise may have added to the interest for the reader.