# II explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

The chapter details the difficulties of rooming with Elliott on the training trip. He has strange habits, such as running the bathtub all night and shaving in the middle of the night while staring at his roommates, which frightens them. After many complaints, John asks the narrator to room with Elliott, and he agrees.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Elliott

Has disruptive habits like running water all night and shaving in the middle of the night, scaring his roommates.

### John Knowles

Tries to manage the rooming situation, asking the narrator to room with Elliott.

### Larry Moon

The narrator's current roommate, with whom he is satisfied.

## Key lines

> Before the trainin' trip was over, Elliott had roomed with pretty near everybody in the club.

Elliott had been assigned to room with nearly every player on the team during the training trip.

_Highlights Elliott's difficult nature._

> He always insisted on havin' the water run in the bathtub all night, because he said it reminded him of the sound of the dam near his home.

He always wanted the bathtub faucet running all night because the sound reminded him of a dam near his home.

_Explains one of Elliott's peculiar habits._

> Instead o' doin' it in the bathroom he'd lather his face and then come out and stand in front o' the lookin'-glass on the dresser.

He would lather his face in the bathroom but then come out to shave in front of the dresser mirror.

_Describes Elliott's unsettling shaving routine._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters