How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
The mattress was stripped and the candy-striped sheets lay beside two pillows on the chiffonier. Except for that, things looked much the way they had in the bedroom—nightstand and reading lamp on his side of the bed, nightstand and reading lamp on her side.
His side, her side. (1-2)
This is our first clue that there's been some kind of love trauma here. The man was partnered with a woman before (sharing a bed with a "her side" and a "his side"), and now he's not. Plus he's selling his stuff while chugging whiskey. Clearly something went wrong—we just don't know exactly what.
Quote #2
This girl and this boy were furnishing a little apartment. (7)
While the older man's marriage/relationship is over, the young couple coming to buy his furniture is just starting out in life. Perhaps sadly, they end up scavenging the remnants of the older man's marriage to furnish their own place.
Quote #3
"I feel funny," he said. "Better see if anybody's home."
She bounced on the bed.
"Try it first," she said. (18-20)
The young girl is pretty keen to get her boyfriend on the bed with her, even though he feels super awkward about it. She doesn't seem to mind/think it's weird that the bedroom furniture is placed just as it would be inside. In fact, she seems to want to engage in a few "indoor only" activities on the bed, but the boy is uncomfortable.