"Sixteen" is a story of unrequited young love and the flirtation that led the female character to think it was love. The story takes place at a skating rink in Wisconsin, a Thursday night of 1938. The unnamed characters of the story are a teenage girl and boy who meet while skating and finding instantly attracted to each other begin to flirt, laugh, and get personal. She allows him to put his hand around her waist (he actually does this without even asking for permission) and after skating is over he walks her home. He takes her phone number and promises to call, but never does. When she accepts he will never call she begins to reason on the futility of their encounter and moves on.