This juxtaposition of decadence and decay is a theme that I'm beginning to notice in these short stories. There is always a group of characters that are 'otherized', thrown into the margins, reduced to an auxiliary position. This auxiliary position is in service to those privileged to be seated at the dinning table.

Is this passage describing a slave servant?? The use of language that appeals to the sense of taste mixes with the visual description of the tiny boy serving pastries. ('chocolate body', 'head like a rasin') This is a stunning and problematic passage of the short story. Don't know how this makes me feel... I'm unsure, but surely uncomfortable.

This is interesting, that the daughter was trying to be snuck into the casino by her own mother, even by ways of bribery! ('I showed the man my purse; I didn't dare to do more.') I asked myself 'what kind of mother encourages her own children to gamble'?

This description of the gambling woman is very rich in imagery and motion words. I am commenting only because I love the words used to paint this grotesque and cracking portrait of a miserly old woman. GREAT!!!!

It's interesting to note how bored Mrs. Raddick's daughter as she awaits to enter the casino. It intrigues me that this radiantly beautiful young girl is about to enter this playground of sin and temptation. How will she change? Will we get to experience her change with her as the reader?

This imagery is quite ominous. The speaker gives the reader a sense that the Father, in his last dying moments, would want to express any final sentiments towards his two daughters, but instead there is silence. Going further into this description of the dying Father, he opens only one eye to glare at the living before passing away. If one opens their eyes fully, it may symbolize truth or being awakened by a revelation. Maybe since the Colonel in his final living moments was not fully honest with himself or his daughters, and perhaps has regrets.

I although Nurse Andrews has the characteristics of an annoying and picky roommate, this action reveals how tender and compassionate person towards the end of the Colonel's life.

In her older age, Nurse Andrews in this response to Josephine's question reveals an interesting dimension to her character. Andrews poses the claim that any person wouldn't take more butter than one wanted. She is speaking about desire and fulfilling one's appetite. Even butter itself can be considered luxurious, a fatty and flavorful spread which enhances the taste of foods its added to. I wonder if this motif of decadence and extravagance will be further developed.

The distinct ways words that Nurse Andrews uses such as 'buttah' or 'silvah' are obviously in reference to 'butter' and 'silver'. I am curious if the author's choice to give Nurse Andrews this unique diction is telling of her characteristics. Perhaps she is from a different generation and is much older than the two daughters. Is there more evidence in the text to support that Nurse Andrews is a bit senile? How will this unwanted guest affect the girl's situation?

Miss Clack mentions her "sacred regard for truth", it is interesting to see this vocalization of her moral code. In relation to Betteredge as narrator, is Miss Clack more of a reliable narrator?

Sergeant Cuff challenges Gabriel here, "If you were in my place... you would have formed an opinion". The relationship between these two is tense. The suspense builds.

This direct interaction between the author and the reader is interesting to me because it assumes the reader to be "gentle". In other instances the word gentle is used by the author critically and loathsomely, so I can't help but wonder if the author may have a somewhat condescending attitude towards his audience?

This passage describing the characteristics of the Shivering Sand echoes the point of physical language being used in the text mentioned by Marc Vasquez. Betteredge's account of somethings entering the sands and not coming out echoes the sentiments of secrecy and the fear of losing something precious. This quicksand motif operates as this sort of black hole that almost tries to absorb truth.

I find it comical that in the narrator's perspective, the opposite of superstition is educated and well-read...

The narrator makes an interesting implication concerning the state of man, or what it means to be human, in this passage. I find it hypocritical though that he is criticizing his fellow soldiers but he himself was part of the siege.