For each reader a short story can be a different experience. Each interpretation of a story can be just as different as they are. In Joseph Monninger's short story, "The Lunch," he keeps a continuous flow. The three things I liked most about "The Lunch" was how Monninger gives a good description of how the narrator feels, how he reacts, and he also portrays the narrator's sensitivity.
             I like the way Monninger portrays the heat as the narrator's feelings. He describes the heat he feels, and how consuming it is this day at the beach. In the beginning of the story he is observing his ex-wife. He stands at a distance imagining the new man she's with and how they are together. Then he comes back to reality remembering that he is standing on the beach. " ...And the heat climbs up from your foot, reaching up your leg and heating you, making you lean part of your weight on the folding chair to catch your balance" (48). The heat becomes overwhelmingly hot all of a sudden. Causing him to lose focus, or actually his balance. It's as if the heat is like his feelings. I think that seeing Kendra has caused him to sweat, and become overwhelmed with emotions, just like the heat. This is the first thing I liked about "The Lunch."
             I also like how Monninger gives his character a sort of childish nature. The narrator takes a silly approach to seeing his ex. In the story he is watching his ex-wife, and now her companion has returned from the water. He observes them gathering their things so that they can go get something to eat. Then narrator follows them. He describes his action: "You are a spy in your wife's camp, your ex-wife's camp, you remind yourself, and you feel pleased and full of blood..."(48). In this passage he is pretending to be a spy. It is something I think you would see a child doing during recess. Spying on a girl of his affection, not to be seen ...