Seventeen

The story follows William Sylvanus Baxter, who grapples with his self-image and social interactions while at a drug-store soda fountain. Determined to avoid rudeness from the staff, he carefully chooses his order. However, his facade of indifference crumbles as he indulges in his treat, revealing a deeper struggle with self-esteem and societal expectations. His dramatic reflection in the window symbolizes his internal conflict, oscillating between self-importance and amusement at his own pretensions.