Telephone Conversation

When the landlady continues to ask about the lightness or darkness of his color, the speaker questions, “You mean—like plain or milk chocolate?” (Line 19). Referring to a universal type of food might help clarify any miscommunication or, at the very least, lighten the mood. Not only is chocolate a universal food but also one that is sweet and often loved, given as gifts during holiday times, romantic times, and social gatherings. By using the item “chocolate,” the speaker sets it up so whatever answer he gives, it should be positive, as both plain and milk chocolate are the favorite types of chocolate. It is worth noting that he does not use dark chocolate as an option. Unfortunately for the speaker, the landlady does not accept these options, or sweet tokens, and the speaker is forced to go back to more clinical color terms, like sepia.

After the landlady first asks about the nature of the speaker’s color, silence ensues between them. The first sound the speaker hears jarring him back to the reality of the conversation is the “omnibus squelching tar” (Line 14). The speaker’s response after the aural imagery is “It was real!” (Line 14).