The author talks about clues that give us the idea that there is a lot of symbolism and feminism in the story. Furthermore, the author doesn't really explain to the reader what is happening, but the reader has to understand it. So at the beginning of the story the couple are sitting at a table waiting for the train, having a drink. Alcohol plays an important role in the story symbolizing an escape or a tool used to find courage to talk about something. They drink a lot in the story because they think alcohol will help them talk about their situation. At first the couple doesn't seem to touch on the topic because it feels awkward to talk about because they feel differently about it. The reaper can immediately tell that their relationship is falling apart. For example, he says “I wanted to try this new drink. That's all we do, isn't it? Looking at things and trying new drinks? (page 182). It sounds like she's bored, disinterested, unhappy with the relationship, or something has changed her mind about their relationship. While still drinking, they avoid talking about the issue. They dance around the elephant, which means they are avoiding the big one