How I Met My Husband
Alice Munro
I think the structure is interesting in the story in the sense that Edie's husband isn't actually introduced to her until the end. Initially, Chris Watters seems like he is Edie's husband-to-be. His kind words, his understanding nature, and his acceptance of Edie's shyness make him a prime candidate for Edie. He becomes less likely, however, when Allison, Chris' fiance, shows up. Nonetheless, the audience naturally expects that true love will prevail and that the two will be together. Unfortunately though, it makes sense that Chris leaves Edie behind and never gets back to her with a letter. It is very typical of his "fleeting" character that he would leave, after all, he did it to Allison too. I think it can be inferred that Allison was left in the dust as Edie was by the way she showed up chasing after Chris. When the mailman shows up in the story, he simply seems like a background character. As Edie's hopes for a letter from Chris fades, a new light is shone on the mailman, who is never given a name. This strange entrance into a background character makes is surprising when the speaker reveals that it is the mailman who she marries.
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