Structure

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Beginning

The short story begins with Elsie detailing her mother’s, father’s, and Stacie’s views on lying (ll. 1-2). This could also be considered a foreshadowing element for Elsie’s parents not getting along and Stacie’s passion for writing stories. At the same time, it is a foreshadowing element for Elsie’s interest in the distinction between lies and truth – and for the fact that Elsie tells both the truth and a lie at the end of the story.

Elsie and her father watch zombie f…

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Middle

In the rising action, Elsie notices that it is raining and remembers that she is supposed to take down the washing from the line. Also, she thinks about the real or imagined events in her life as part of a story with alliteration (l. 73), author (l. 90), plot (l. 99), irony (l. 101), or clichés (l. 183).

Through backstories, we learn about Elsie's mother's frustrations regarding her husband and daughter (ll. 37-40) and that Elsie might have a learning disability (ll. 41-42). Also, details in the story contribute to Stacie’s characterisation as a thoughtful person interested in fiction (ll. 49-50), and to the backstory about Elsie and St…

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Ending

In the falling action, we are given more details on Elsie’s physical reaction, which suggests that she is having a seizure: “My foot is banging against the leg of the coffee table and it’s hurting but it won’t stop however much I tell it to.” (ll. 179-180)

Her father places his malted milk away from Elsie and tries to take her mug away from her, but her fi…