Setting

Time setting

Carolyn A. Drake’s short story “Pill Pusher” was first published in 2016. The setting is probably meant to be read as contemporary to the time of publishing. This is indicated by the use of contemporary references in the text, such as the mention of Pilates classes (l. 39) and the narrator calling herself a millennial (l. 32).

The action of the story takes place in a single day, over the span of a few minutes. The narrator places the action at “around 12:43 p.m.” (l. 1). The exchange between her and the customer lasts for less than 20 minutes, as the narrator is able to call the doctor whose office closes at 1 pm (l. 61).

Physical setting

The story is set in the United States. Although the geographical location of the story is not directly stated, the text contains many cues that reflect American culture. The narrator works at Walgreens (l. 2), a large pharmacy store chain in the United States. Other American brands such as Whole Foods (ll. 7-8) and Lean Cuisine (l. 39) are mentioned, along with American celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey (l. 40).

When the story begins, the narrator is behind the counter of the pharmacy. The pharmacy is bustling with activity (l. 90), as customers wait in line or in the clinical waiting room (l. 26). The narrator’s coworkers “scurry between the drive-thro...