1. Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket by Jack Finney

2. About the Author  Dreamed of becoming a writer  Entered his first short story in a contest sponsored by a magazine - and WON!  Finney became well known for bending realistic and imaginary details into tales of time travel  In his popular works, the hero often escapes from the present into a simpler and calmer time in the past  Finney's novel Invasion of the Body Snatchers - made into a movie three times

3. Background for the Story  In the 1950s, when this story takes place, there were no computers or photocopiers. To make copies, people used carbon paper - black coated sheets that transferred written or typed marks onto blank paper below. Without a carbon copy, a lost document might be gone forever - a possibility the main character in this story dreads.

4. Literary Terms  Conflict - struggle between two forces - drives a story's plot and influences the story's structure  2 types: external and internal  External conflict - character struggles against an outside force, such as an element of nature or another character  Internal conflict - character struggles with his or her own opposing desires, beliefs, or needs  Resolution