# Act I explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Robert E. Howard.

## What happens

A group of college students, including Bertie, Tommy, Spike, and Johnny, attend a football game in a rainy town. After missing their train, Tommy loses his ticket and is thrown off repeatedly, enduring a grueling journey home through rain, snow, and hardship. He finally arrives at Bertie's room, exhausted and disheveled, only to learn Bertie had found his ticket all along.

## Character check-ins

### Bertie Hey

A college student who laughs at Tommy's misfortune after finding his lost ticket.

### Tommy Migosh

A student who loses his ticket and endures a long, painful journey home.

## Key lines

> I got blisters on my feet till it felt like I was walking on watermelons.

My feet were so blistered that walking felt like stepping on watermelons.

_Tommy exaggerates the pain of his long walk._

> May your children all have ingrown toenails.

I hope your children suffer from painful toenails.

_Tommy curses the conductor after being thrown off the train._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_47_se/chapters/act-i
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_47_se/chapters