The point isn’t evident at the first sight, so it is essential to read it more than once. Author uses here direct speech, mostly very vivid dialogues. The dialogues are supplemented with some Spanish words while the story takes place in Spain.

“-Lets drink beer.
-Dos cervezas, - the man said into the curtain.”

CAT IN THE RAIN

Characters: American wife
Her husband- George
Italian maid
Hotelkeeper

Plot: The American matrimonially couple was resting in a hotel in Italy. The man George was reading a book, the woman was looking out of the window. It was raining. As she was looking out of the window she suddenly saw a kitty. This cat was crouched under the table, trying to keep herself dry. The woman felt sorry for the cat, so she decided to go out and took the kitty to their hotel room. As she was going downstairs, the hotelkeeper noticed her, therefore he sent hotel maid with umbrella after the woman. She was crossing the square and when she was on that right place there was only the table, the cat was gone. The American woman was disappointed and she returned to the hotel. Her husband was still reading. She was trying to talk to him but he rarely exhibits an interest, while he just wanted to read his book. The woman was sad and she longed for long hair, her own table with her own silver, candles and for the kitty all above. Maybe the meaning of this was that the couple couldn’t have children. The man was coped with that, but the woman not. She needed someone she could worry about. And if she couldn’t have baby she wanted to have a kitty to sit on her lap and purr when she strokes her. The story ended with arrival of the maid with small cat in her arms, which she dedicates to the woman.

While the plot of the story is inserted in Italy, author once again uses in narration Italian words. The plot is easy understandable, simple and quite fast.

A CLEAN, WELL-LIGHTED PLACE

Characters: The old deaf man
Younger hurried waiter
Older unhurried waiter
Barman

Plot: The most of the story took place in clean, well-lighted pleasant café, which is probably situated somewhere in Spain, or another similar country, where the currency is peseta. It was the nighttime and the café was almost empty. Just one old deaf man was sitting there and drinking his brandy. Except him, there were only two waiters, who were looking after him in order to not get very drunk, because in that case he would leave the café without paying. These two waiters were holding a conversation.