The calculator is his personal friend if not his secret lover. And within any intimate relationship, the everyday masks that people wear are thrown away. These private sessions with his calculator unveil the truth of this American writer. His need for attention is apparent; his self-esteem is ever lacking. The money he meticulously calculates seem to own him rather than the opposite. Everything he does is a result of his need for social approval, but despite all these faults, he still holds a sense of happiness within himself. The money he receives boosts his self-esteem making him socially approved and in turn results in his underlying happiness. Thus, the ability to retain happiness is the key to the good life and this American author is holding the key chain.
             "And yet in his secret heart he loves these little sessions with the calculator and the checks and the stubs..." (p. 4) To enjoy paying the bills says much about this writer. Perhaps it's not the paying part that he enjoys, but rather the immense feeling of self-importance he gains after seeing large sums of his own money being spent away. To spend $855.98 for a small cocktail party, $209.60 of which was just for flowers, is going out the ordinary, but this writer is out of the ordinary. He hires expensive caterers, but orders the cheapest appetizers on the menu in an effort to show people that he has the money to buy brand name items instead of the average and since none of his guests would know which appetizers were cheaper, it makes it easier for him to look rich. The author is a calculating investor who plans for the future. Everything he buys is used to influence his surroundings. Money is one of the tools he uses to gain more notice among his peers. He spends money to make money and more importantly, it allows him to be happy. With each purchase, he gains a bit of confidence and self-assurance.
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