Cruise Control Terry Trueman Character Analysis

580 Words2 Pages

Family relationships are not always perfect. Cruise Control is a novel written by Terry Trueman. It is about a handicapped 14 year-old boy names shawn Mcdaniel. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and can not communicate with others. His brother paul is 18 years-old and doesn't get along with his dad well. Pauls realization that he is very much like his dad has ultimately helped their relationship move forward.
Pauls past relationship with his dad has been rough because of his dad leaving shawn. Paul feels as though his dad left the family so he didn't have to worry about shawn and their family problems. During the time his dad was gone paul has been angry that shawn hasn't been getting the fatherly support he needs to feel normal. “My dad couldn't stay with us and help us take care of my brother--no, he left me to handle all that so he could jet around and make a bunch of money whining about his tragic plight”(4). Paul realizes that if his dad really cared about their family situation he wouldn't have left the family in the position he was in. …show more content…

“Dad says, nonsense there are plenty of things for shawn and me to do .” (77)Paul didn't feel comfortable leaving dad and shawn alone for the whole day because of the way his dad has been talking about shawn. Once they got back his dad tried to call paul “pauly” and paul corrected him and got angry with his dad. Dad “Whips the van into the driveway and slams the door. I make sure to do the same making sure to slam my door at least as hard and loud as he did.” (84)Through the time his dad came back paul had trouble accepting his dad back into the family. Little did shawn realize that he is very much like his

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