Browse all of the Salem on Literature series

First, Body (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)

At a glance:

The Story

“First, Body” portrays people for whom the American Dream is merely a phrase. The events are seen through the eyes of Sid Elliott, who, although struggling to find his own way, still reaches out to others.

In a city park, Sid, an emergency-room attendant of eight months, encounters Roxanne, a forty-nine-year-old woman who has stopped using heroin but still abuses alcohol. Sid no longer drinks but smokes marijuana. Roxanne goes with him to his home, a one-room loft in a warehouse, where she remains a number of months.

Both have suffered physically and...

[The entire page is 1520 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

Lookup any word on eNotes with our dictionary. Highlight the word and press SHIFT + D for a definition, or SHIFT + T for a synonym.