Nancy Reisman, “Tea”

The short, unhappy affair of Lillian and Abe.

(from The O. Henry Prize Stories 2005)

Set in 1929, the days of chocolates and tea and social no-no’s, this story mixes the quaint and antiquated with some pretty ribald passages. At times, I must admit, I found it a little boring. But there were also smart and intriguing little moments. I mostly enjoyed the gradual changes Lillian goes through, turning her dreams of cocks and such into ones of a fantasy home and domestic bliss.