Ben

The first-person narrator of "No More Than a Bubble," Ben is a college sophomore at Colombia University in New York City. He is best friends with fellow sophomore Claudius, with whom he attends the singles party. Originally from Philadelphia, Ben's psyche remains considerably attached to his past and memories of his parents. Much of Ben's narrative is punctuated by thoughts of his father. After Ben's mother leaves, Ben struggles to reconcile his understanding of his parents' relationship with his mother's new family. Ever since his father died, Ben has been replaying a conversation the two had shortly before he passed. Ben's father tells him to he should have at least one sexual experience with an angry passionate woman, but should ultimately "marry a nice, boring, fat girl" (7).

His father goes on to say that making a dull life is the only way to be happy (7). His words dictate...