Structure

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Beginning

The events in Chad Pelley's short story "I Don't Dream of Genie" are to some extent presented in reverse chronological order, and the account is heavily influenced by Sherry’s emotions. The reverse chronological order suggests Sherry’s unconscious wish to move backward in time, to a period when she was happy and things were good between her and Gene.

The story begins in medias res, as Sherry complains about children who say their wishes too loudly in her ear, eager to have them granted by Santa. This foreshadows that Sherry has a wish of her own, which is the reason why she took the Santa job at the local shopping mall.

We learn that the job causes Sherry several physical issues. This foreshadows the acciden…

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Middle

In the rising action, the narrator acknowledges that the reason she took the job as Santa was to pay for her recent trip to Tennessee for a lucid dreaming seminar. This prompts a flashback of the dream she had of Gene months ago. The pleasant dream stayed with her for several days afterward, which is why she is …