Structure

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Title

The title of the short story refers to the de-luxe model of a dishwasher which the Gould family purchases when remodelling their kitchen:​

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Beginning

The exposition of the short story introduces readers to Hugh Gould, the narrator’s friend, and his house and family:

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Middle

The rising action of the story sets the intrigue. When Hugh’s family remodels the kitchen, the narrator is invited to play there and becomes fascinated by the modern equipment and the new dishwasher. While he observes the machine, the narrator also has time to observe the family dynamics:

‘Stop talking rubbish and get on with it,’ snapped his wife. It amazed me, how she treated him. It wasn’t normal. Then she would suddenly be nice and soft for a few minutes, as if letting go of something, and a smile covered her face like a dazzling sun on a rainy day. It never lasted. (ll. 121-123)

A tension point is introduced in the middle of the story: Hugh lets the narrator know that he has a mouse hidden in a box in his room and that he intends to train is as a pet.

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Ending

The falling action of the short story is very short: Hugh’s parents express their outrage upon seeing a mouse in the dishwasher and Hugh races towards his room to see whether his mouse has become a victim or not:

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