The accent
An ironic effect is created by the author concerning the accent of the alien: “its voice is polite and easy to understand, with a sort of accent but not as bad as some we get from the college”. Here the prejudice about educated people is mocked, as those who go to college are supposed to be well-educated and speak accurately, and here appears an alien who is supposed to be less clever, but is more plausible in his speech.
An ordinary diner
The Charlie’s diner was not the best place to visit, and Sally knows it perfectly. The salads here are not of the finest freshness, and the owner himself is nothing but a bully, but Sally needs this job badly so has no choice. And when John enters and asks for “table for one”, the situation becomes ironic, as it creates an impression that Charlie’s “was some nice steak house in town”. Sally knows that it is not and smiles inside.
When a man is a creep
Sally remembers the moment when Charlie has hurt his wife and she – Sally, had to drive her to the emergency room to put on six stitches. She remembers what Charlie’s wife said Sally about her husband: “The only way to get something from Charlie is to let him smack me around a little, and then ask him when I’m down. He’ll give me anything when I’m down. He gives me shit if he thinks I’m on top”. Such a characteristic of a person proves what a “scumbag” he is, and throughout the story Charlie proves to be such a one. The irony is to show how narrow-minded he really is.
