Giordano 1

Michaela Giordano
Professor Jackie
English 114A
3 September 2014
When Personalities Collide
The short narrative, Solution to Saturdays Puzzle written by David Sedaris, tells his
experience on his short ninety minute flight to Raleigh. He opens the story with him accidently
dropping his throat lozenge in the lap of the lady sitting right next to him. He describes his
multiple ways he could go about the situation. This foreshadows the story he is about to tell and
the reasoning on why this situation is more awkward than we think.
He sits next to a woman whose husband is sitting just in front of them. The lady
energetically asks David if he could switch seats with her husband in order for the happy couple
to be accompanied with each other. David, being a particular guy that he is, awkwardly declines
giving the favor due to his hated toward bulkhead seats. Bulkhead head seats are front row with
too much uncomfortable leg room, according to David.
The stubborn lady was appalled by Davids unwillingness, and treated him with a rude
attitude the rest of the flight while also calling him vulgar names. When the lady began to make a
scene about the fact that David would not switch seats, he quickly snatched his crossword puzzle
book as to escape from the attention. Crossword puzzles were considered a hobby to him and an
expertise. When the couple falls asleep, David begins to make up scenarios in his head like the
lady falling out of the plane. He begins to analyze the situation that happened and if he really
was in the wrong. He contemplates on bringing up to conflict again to resolve and amend the
situation, but figures it would be best to just forget about it.