By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
‘Are These Actual Miles?’ is a short story by the American writer Raymond Carver (1938-88), which appeared in his debut collection, Would You Please Be Quiet, Please? (1976). The story is about a married couple who live beyond their means and rack up debt, so they are forced to sell their convertible. While the wife goes into town to find a buyer, the husband stays home and starts to fret about what his wife is really doing.