# What It Was explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

A couple, George and his unnamed partner, are having an intimate moment on a dark lawn in Houston when the woman reveals that something is coming between them—his watch.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Irony

The romantic tension is humorously deflated by the trivial complaint about a watch.

## Character check-ins

### George Ringo

The man in the romantic scene, whose watch becomes a point of contention.

## Key lines

> There was something the matter with the electric lights Tuesday night, and Houston was as dark as Egypt when Moses blew the gas out.

The electric lights malfunctioned on Tuesday night, plunging Houston into complete darkness.

_Sets the scene for the intimate conversation._

> I think, George, it is your watch.

She believes his watch is the obstacle between them.

_The punchline of the story, revealing the humorous conflict._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/what-it-was
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters