A theme I find running wild this winter is "growing up." Its not a common used term, but I can see it every day. In this chapter of my book Jack tells of his early sporting experiences. With a rediculous father figure such as Dwight (there must be a reason they use that name in the office), coming away with new cleats wasn't something that was going to happen. This is that one thing in Jacks life that happens to every boy. At least once, your parents make you do something or wear something against your will. Mostly this happens quite freaquently. In this case, Jack has joined the basketball team. Dwight is forcing Jack to wear the same shoes he wheres to school. "I outgrew two pairs of shoes in 7th grade alone" (140). The shoes don't fit and they aren't meant for polished wood floor. Jack ends up clomping around the court, sliding and falling when he tries to stop, essentially looking like a fool. I can remember family pictures and visiting relatives and being forced to wear rediculous outfits. All in the name of saving money and looking cute. Jack just deals with it. This shows he is maturing. I think we're all maturing. With the new year coming can we say it isn't all too soon? As Ms. Freohlich says, "What are you thinking!? You're young adults now!" (Froehlich often during class).
Jack suffers another life event that I also am finding quite prominant now. Secretly Jack crushes on a friend named Norma. She is frequent in Jacks daily life and often hangs around with Bobby. Bobby is in college, as is Norma. They're schooling together. Jack never makes the connection of the two. They hang out alone all the time, they plan over the future after college etc. Finally on the ride home from one of Jack's basketball games, he realizes exactly what has been in front of him all this time he'd been crushing on Norma. "She called him Bobo, her pet name for him" (150). The evidence shines on one clear conclusion. They're in love! They're together! Jack loses it. Showing his maturity by "punching her, slapping her, calling her names!" (150). Jacks fit lasts and he kicks her out of the house. "Then I let her back in. There was no choice. Whenever I heard Ray Charles sing I can't stop loving you, I just had to stop and get sad for a while. A lot of us now are experiencing similar circumstances. Many of us end up like Jack, we just need to feel bad for a while.
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2 comments:
I believe that every child goes through these phases. It's all about understanding the world. As we grow older, we understand why certain people do certain things and what you have to do when you have to do it. Jack learns to swallow his pride and wear the stupid shoes because he realizes that his dad is stubborn and won't get him new ones. He also realizes that he doesn't actually need new ones because he won't become a serious basketball player. As for the whole crush thing: typical. A kid really likes some pretty girl whos a lot older than him but she's dating someone. The punching her thing is a little out of line though. It is a step back in maturity.
I definatly know what you are talking about when you relate the term growing up to being forced to wear clothes that do not fit just to save money or make life easier for your parents. Its one of those things that you have to just take in stride and grin and bear it for the common good of your family.
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