Elizabeth Van Steenwyk, was born in 1928 and grew up in Illinois, but now lives in California. She has written over 200 short stories, and some of her books have been made into movies and TV programs. She also teaches writing, and loves to write herself.
Summery of Something Funny
Janey is getting tired of dating Bill, and on their most recent date Bill is late and begins to explain why. He tells her about the strangest dream, about a storm, tornado and a flying saucer that landed where the strangest people excited it. Bill went inside the flying saucer and inside he found another him inside, a replacement Bill the funny people told him. Bill tells Janey that the funny people have a third eye, and when Bill finally laughed off the story Janey pulled off a bandage on her forehead. Bill stared in shock at Janey's third eye in the middle of her forehead.
a- The conflict present is that Janey is getting tired of dating Bill, she finds him uninteresting.
b- The rising actions in the story are: - When Janey and Bill are on there way to a party and Bill explains why he is late. - He tells Janey about his dream. - Bill explains about the funny people with the third eye, and with replacement people. - Janey shows Bill her third eye at the end of the story.
c- The climax of the story is when they arrive at the barn and Janey reveals to Bill her third eye.
d- Bill is repulsed and their is an epiphany and a sudden realization.
The characters of the story:
- Janey: She is dating Bill, and is getting tired of doing so. At the end of the story she proves to be a funny person.
- Bill: Is interested in strange things, very interested in space. A boring character, or at least Janey thinks so.
- Funny People: Bill dreams about them arriving to earth in a flying saucer in the middle of a storm. They are very strange and have a third eye in the middle of their forehead.
The irony in the story is that Janey seems to be upset when Bill says that maybe they would all be replaced that night. She was upset by the idea knowing she was a replacement herself.
I did not like the story. I don't usually like such short stories, and am not interested in events like aliens and space. The characters were not very interesting, a grumpy girl and a day dreamer kind of guy. The beginning of the story seemed to be interesting, but when the topic of flying saucers and aliens came up it stopped. the end when Janey proved to be a funny person, the whole concept seemed a little corny.
