Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place"

1.In Hemingway's story, "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," the older waiter and the younger waiter have a disagreement about whether to keep the café open a little while longer for the old man. They end up closing, but that's not the end of the story. How does Hemingway set up the ending to connect it to what has already happened? (Quote from the story to support your answer.)

2.Some critics say this is one of the greatest stories ever written, and the literary critic Annette Benert has called it "a totally affirming story, one of the very few in our literature." If you agree, what is affirming about it? If you disagree, what do you think the message of the story seems to be? Whichever way you feel, what does the ending suggest about life?