Answer :
Tobias Wolff's story "Say Yes" begins with the man's thoughts about cleaning the dishes because it sets the setting and develops the couple's relationship. At the start of the story, the couple stands at the sink in the kitchen, doing the dishes together, creating a sense of equality and shared understanding. The man is pleased with himself for being a thoughtful husband who assists with domestic tasks. This immediately falls apart when they consider interracial marriage, which causes a schism, the core conflict. Ann reacts strongly to her husband's opposition to interracial marriage, which surprises him.