Plot:
Earl Ober, a man between jobs as a salesman, becomes obsessed with his wife losing weight. After an encounter with two men that joked about her body shape, Earl encourages his wife Doreen to go on a diet.
Characters
Earl Ober: at the beginning of the short story Earl is unsatisfied. He's vulnerable to what people think. He's obsessive with his wife looks, he even gets verbally violent when she gives into the first diet by eating bacon and eggs "slob," Earl said. "Go ahead, eat! Go on!".
Doreen Ober: she is quite a pushover. When Earl persuades her to lose a few pounds she agrees and doesn't even regard the offense of his words "You could lose a few pounds" - Earl, "Maybe you're right" - Doreen. She doesn't stand up for herself, Doreen continues the diet even though she's looking "too pale, "not herself" and "loosing too much weight". In the end of the short story she is almost ashamed and embarrassed to admit Earl as her husband. After a long silence "He's a salesman. He's my husband" Doreen said at last.
Style
The description in this short story is very sparse. There is hardly any. The only main description is of Doreen's body shape.
There is quite a lot of dialogue. The writing is mainly describing what's currently happening, not the scenery.
