Bender's use of magical realism allows her points to made in a unique, and therefore memorable fashion. Because most stories are either completely realistic or completely unbelievable, Bender's stories stand out. In her story, "The End of the Road", a man buys a smaller man as if it was a pet. He begins to envy it and then physically abuses it because power is the only thing that he has over the small man. This story could easily be about a bully and a nerd, but the reader remembers it more because of the magical realism. Bullies envy nerds because of their intelligence and integrity, but pick on them because they are weaker. The big man is essentially a bully picking on a nerd (the little man).
The story "Fruit and Words" will also be remembered for its use of magical realism. A woman goes into a fruit store which appears normal enough. After buying the fruit, the owner of the store takes her into the back and shows her she is selling words made of solids liquids and gasses. The woman "breaks" some of the gasses including the word hope. She refuses to pay and flees the scene despite the owners threats. This normal scenario including elements of magic effectively shows the reader one must believe that hope can never truly be broken.
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