Play Book Tag discussion

all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind...all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Hemingway perfectly encapsulates the above biblical quote in this really short story. Two waiters discuss a drunken old gentleman drinking bourbon in the cafe. The younger waiter wants to close early because he has a wife and a waiter and never gets to go to bed before 3. The older waiter is content to let the old gentleman enjoy is drink in the quiet cafe.

This story contrasts the perceptions of the young against the old. The young man has excitement the future and hope of tomorrow the older men knows this is fleeting and can only find ways to deal with their despair.

This is not one of my favorite stories though I did enjoy Hemingway's writing.