Title and structure

Title

The title indicates that the story will deal with something that a character learns while in a queue. The meaning of the title is literal. Anton, the protagonist of the story, views the world in largely rational and often stereotypical terms. This is suggested by several details in the story - he enjoys making estimates (ll. 6-7), he believes he should move in with his girlfriend Shell because he’s at the appropriate age to do so (ll. 37-38), he thinks the perfect woman is one who takes care of her appearance (ll. 20-25), etc.

Anton’s outlook on himself and life changes when he interacts with Bernadette, a carefree young woman with Down’s syndrome. At first, he pities Bernadette for her mental disability (ll. 60-61) and is bothered by her, fearing he will be judged by others if he is seen in her presence (ll. 70-71). However, he soon begins to envy her for her outlook on life:

It strikes him that he needn’t feel sorry for her at all. To be honest, he’s starting to envy her. There’s always someone better off than yourself, he thinks. But it can surprise you to find out who it is. (ll. 110-112)

His thoughts suggest that he has learned you cannot judge others by their appearance or mental ability.

Bernadette also reminds him of a love for life: “We must be born with it, thinks Anton, born with a love for life. Then somewhere along the line, it gets battered out of us” (ll. 105-106). His thoughts suggest that he has lost his love for life but that he was unaware of it.

Bernadette’s attitude has a positive influence on Anton, and he entertains the idea of choosing to be happy. He makes him think about the good things in his life:

What if I just choose to be happy? I’ve got a wonderful girlfriend; I play in a jazz band, like I’ve always wanted to. I live in one of the best cities in the world; and even though the weather’s packed up, the whole park looks bright. (ll. 129-132)

Overall, the title refers to Anton realising there are aspects of his life he has not fully considered or appreciated. Bernadette’s simple questions make him consider the way he feels about his life, and as a result, he gains emotional awareness and a sense of ...