Structure

The story “Pretending to Know the Words” by Helen Cooper follows a football player who dissociates his two identities. As Luis, he is depressed. As Recoba, he is a successful, wealthy football player.

Title

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Beginning

The short story begins by presenting in parallel Luis on his couch and Recoba during a football game: “Luis had not moved in a while. He was slumped on a wide leather sofa, gazing at his reflection in a blank plasma screen. He imagined phoning his mother…” (ll. 1-2); “It was time. Recoba flexed his fists as he waited in the tunnel, feeling the clench and release of the muscles in his arms. From above came the thumping anticipation of the crowd.” (ll. 27-28)

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Middle

The middle of the short story presents Luis at home and Recoba during and after the match in parallel. The rising action is first constructed by following Recoba during the game and marking moments of tension: “He’d once overheard a team mate say, Recoba gets a right scary look towards the end of a game. Recoba didn’t care. They just had to hold on, hold on.” (ll. 49-50)

The fact that Recoba thinks of Luis functions as a foreshadowing element, informing readers that the two characters are connected: “An image of Luis burst into his mind. Sitting on a leather sofa, looking as blank as the walls of his house. Recoba shook it away…” (ll. 53-54)

The rising action also follows Recoba as he scores the winning goal in the game, and as he goes out to a bar with his teammates, where he feels uncomfortable:

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Ending

The falling action shows Luis in a hospital talking to Summerfield, one of Recoba’s team mates. At this point, we begin to suspect that Luis and Recoba are the same person: “Tears stung in Luis’ eyes. Summerfield leaned forward. ‘After you left the bar without saying anything, the others just reckoned you were being your usual mysterious self. But I had this feeling... I recognised the signs...’” (ll. 111-113)

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