In Peter S. Beagle's "The New Voices of Fantasy," a character experiences a date with a man named Harvey, who boasts about his prestigious education at Harvard and his lavish lifestyle in Manhattan. As he takes in his date's arrogant chatter, the protagonist consumes an expensive salad, feeling disconnected from Harvey's superficial world. The contrast between the protagonist’s mundane experience and Harvey's self-proclaimed successes highlights a deeper commentary on values and perceptions. The swirling “ugly thoughts” represent the internal conflict as the narrator grapples with the implications of wealth and status in their social interactions.

In Peter S. Beagle's "The New Voices of Fantasy," a character experiences a date with a man named Harvey, who boasts about his prestigious education at Harvard and his lavish lifestyle in Manhattan. As he takes in his date's arrogant chatter, the protagonist consumes an expensive salad, feeling disconnected from Harvey's superficial world.

The contrast between the protagonist’s mundane experience and Harvey's self-proclaimed successes highlights a deeper commentary on values and perceptions. The swirling “ugly thoughts” represent the internal conflict as the narrator grapples with the implications of wealth and status in their social interactions.