"How I Met My Husband" ~by Alice Munro

(#1)
This short story begins telling the story of Edie and how she met Chris Watters. Throughout the majority of the story, the author leads the reader to believe that Chris Watters is going to end up being Edie's husband. However, the story takes an unexpected twist in the last two paragraphs. Edie finally realizes that Chris Watters is not the man she thought he was. It is through this discovery that she meets the mailman, her future husband. As the story progresses, the plot appears to be following a typical and predictable structure. The story begins with the exposition where the characters are introduced and meet each other. Then, the rising action toward the expected climax begins as the characters interact. However, the expected climax, Edie and Chris ending up together, takes an unexpected turn when Chris Watters leaves and does not write to her. The story ends with Edie meeting and marrying the mailman who she met while waiting for a letter that never came. "He always tells the children the story of how I went after him by sitting by the mailbox every day, and naturally I laugh and let him, because I like for people to think what pleases them and makes them happy" (p. 146). This plot arrangement creates a suspenseful and emotional tone.