Options

"Options" by O. Henry is a series of short stories that display the author's cleverness and unexpected conclusions, diving into topics like affection, serendipity, and the oddities of people. The stories showcase a range of people, with one being a magazine editor named Colonel Aquila Telfair and another being a determined artist, Hetty Pepper. In the first story in "Options", we meet Colonel Aquila Telfair as he takes on the role of editor for a fresh Southern magazine called "The Rose of Dixie." The story is set in a fancy library when Telfair happily accepts the job, even knowing that it presents difficulties, especially having to create a magazine that embraces Southern pride during tough economic times. While he gathers his editorial team, filled with interesting and historical figures, the editorial decision-making process begins, hinting at upcoming interactions with Mr. Thacker, a circulation booster from the North, who questions the Colonel’s traditional ideas. This beginning builds a funny and interesting feeling for the collection, which suggests that it will tackle different parts of social standards and personal dreams using smart storytelling.