Structure

The short story “Beautiful Things” by Kate Vine has a chronological structure and follows the main characters over a few days, from Friday to Monday. 

The beginning introduces the main characters – the narrator and her partner, Tom – and the context – their plan to buy a house together:

The first house is comically grim. There is mould in the corners of the ceiling; flies bounce from surface to surface of the narrow kitchen. We would become stuck, Tom and I, between the two grey counters, as I chop onions, as I reach for olive oil – he would need to squeeze past to get to the table. (ll. 1-3)

While Tom believes the house has potential, the narrator disagrees. Their conversation (ll. 9-15) is a foreshadowing element that hints at their different desires ...