Reactions to First set of readings

 “The Drama Bug” Moore 229-35

I started this story really not liking the mother. She did not encourage her child to pursue his dreams. She feels that he is abnormal for wanting to be in a play. At the end, I really liked her. She attended his play and told him how great he was in it. Even though she disapproved, she showed support for what was important to him. The story tells us about the loss of hero worship one boy experienced toward an actor. I think everyone is guilty of jumping to conclusions about someone based on first impressions and superficial reasons, then when you look beneath the surface you either like them more or less, depending on what you find.

“Mirrorings” Moore 157-66

This story struck a chord with me. I can understand the author’s struggle to accept herself the way that she is. She kept telling herself that life would be better with the next surgery or the next treatment. I have experienced something similar. While my physical deformity is more self-imposed than anything else, I kept telling myself if I lost the weight I would be happier, healthier and life would magically get better. The problem with this mindset is that if you do not fix the underlying issues, nothing will change, even if your looks do. I have had to take quite a journey to figure out how to be okay with who I am and what I want. Now, I am finally ready to work on the outside, because the inside is on the way to being healed.

“My Children Explain” IB 133-5

This story is a great example of how something you did as a child resonates with who you are now.

 “Out There” Moore 127-31

This story begins very conversational, very calm. There is a shift after the convenience store though. You can begin to feel the author’s terror and insecurity. Through her writing you can feel how scared and panicked she is. It is almost as though you are there with her, you can hear the threats and slurs from the next car as you frantically are trying to find a way to escape. It is a very powerful and moving piece, especially because we did not get the expected ending. The other driver gets off at an exit. They are not caught or arrested, we never even find out if he is the criminal that she talked about at the beginning. Sometimes the unknown is the scariest part of a story.

“Brothers” Moore 205-10

This is the story of two brothers and the difference between what is remembered and what is true. It begins with a description of a video, which was strange to me. Then it goes on to explain that even though the writer had seen the video, he could not remember the day that it was taken. He remembers his childhood and his relationship with his brother, but not this particular incident. Then there is a description of a picture taken years later of them with their arms around each other. He seems to be letting us know that even if a sibling does something mean to us as a child, we should not necessarily hold it against them for life.

“Interlude” IB 123-4

This story shows the different ways that people can view the same person or thing. The uncle is seen by adults as lazy and a dreamer. The children see him as someone who does what he wants to and doesn’t worry about all of the things adults seem to think are worrisome.

 “Courage of Turtles” Moore 184-8

This story uses the turtles as a metaphor for the times that someone is trying to do the right thing and help, but thigs don’t go the way it was expected and you can’t go back and undo your “help”. You have to move on and try to be okay with it.

“Silent Dancing” Moore 132-9

This story is one of the struggle between two different cultures within one person. Which culture does she choose to honor, or does she honor neither and do what she wants. I like this story because it exemplifies the pressures put on children by those around them and the confusion that it can cause for them.

“Wind from the North” IB 104-6

This is a sad story about someone’s uncle whom they never had a chance to know. The uncle let every opportunity to get to know his family go by. What a sad commentary on the state of the world that we do not even take the time to get to know our own family.