For the entirety of elementary school, the one part of my day that I would look forward to the most was the very end. As darkness fell and the day drew to a close, I would be rested on top of my purple and pink bedsheet with only the bedside lamp on. My father would lightly tap on the door to signal his arrival and slowly push it open. The hinges would inevitably send out a shriek of opposition, and my father would make a face. This is how I knew my nightly routine was about to start. And it did, with my father perched on the foot of my cramped twin sized bed. He would open his mouth, and the stories would flow out. When my father told stories, the crow’s feet by his eyes crinkled up. I remember that distinctly. His stories, those of his …show more content…
You can always tell me an old story. I don’t mind.” But even so, old favorites are still old, and internally I was becoming restless. I was much more intuitive than I was in elementary school. I knew my father was holding back something. His childhood could not have only been the span of ten or so stories. I was aware of how he took the small anecdotes and transformed them into a captivating tale that could span over three nights. Being the brash sixth grader I was, I recklessly confronted him the moment he stepped foot in my room one night. “You’re not telling me all the stories!” I accused vehemently. “I’m in middle school now. Why won’t you tell me all of them?” With a sigh loud enough to move mountains, my father sat on my bed and motioned for me to join him. “I tell you stories to make you happy,” he started, and then paused. My father had never been too adept with words. “I tell you stories about my youth because it’s where I get my ideas. They are easy to tell. You find them funny, even though they may not have been funny to me back then. But if you want me to tell you the others, the ones that may not make you happy… then I will.” My father looked at me for approval, and when I nodded in return, he took a deep breath. He then opened his mouth, and the stories flowed
The narrator faces an internal Man vs. Himself conflict in “A Secret Lost in the Water” when he realizes that he no longer remembers his father’s gift. “Somewhere along the roads I’d taken since the village of my childhood I had forgotten my father’s knowledge. ‘Don’t feel sorry… nowadays fathers can’t pass on anything to the next generation’” (Carrier, 96). This impacts the narrator because it gives him a sense of regret. Consequently, the statement made him feel like he, who is a father now himself, may not be able to pass down any of his knowledge to his kids. Although, this teaches him that it is important to hold onto certain knowledge passed down because it is the only way that it can be remembered and preserved.
By the title A Story, it seems as if we are about to hear of a simple story similar to that of a bedtime story or maybe the events that one has faced in their life. It ends up being the story of a father that is unable to tell his five year old son a story. The father “rubs his chin” and “scratches his ear” due to his inability to remember a story from the top of his head even though there is “a room full of books in a world of stories”. However, it is not literal as in the story is not the problem, it is the son’s viewpoint of his father and him thinking that his father cannot satisfy his wishes. The story he wishes for is not one that involves adventures or superheroes, but rather asking his father to do something for him as if his father hasn’t done anything for him in the first place. The boy is growing up and as he growing away from his father and the father knows that this
In this memoir, Father is portrayed to the world as a normal guy. He has a wife that he loves, he has a job, he has children, he has a big house, and he has a passion. Father loved restoring
After receiving a letter from the principal about Greg’s low math grade, Greg refused to heed his father’s advice and listen to his tireless lectures. “His father’s voice came to him again…lecturing endlessly about his poor efforts in math. ‘I had to leave school when I was thirteen,’ his father had said…” (-). Sharing his childhood experiences was his father’s way of encouraging him to improve his math grade. Although he was not able to complete his own schooling, he hoped Greg would value his education and not just focus on the basketball team. Greg failed to realize that his father was lecturing him in love and wanted him to appreciate the opportunities he had never received. “His father had been a postal worker for all Greg’s life, and was proud of it, often telling Greg how hard he had worked to pass the test. Greg had heard the story too many times to be interested now” (-). Greg’s father was reminding his son of his accomplishments, in hopes that he would be inspired to work hard and remain determined in all things, not only at school. As a proud father, he hoped to pass on the honor and dignity of his
At 10, I never knew whether my father would be sober, reasonable, even pleasant - or drunk, argumentative and abusive. On one February day with four inches of snow on the ground and a freezing rain falling, I was walking home from my cousin's house in the early evening and saw my father lying on the soggy, snow-covered sidewalk. I didn't know what my father would do if I roused him, and I was afraid to find out. Perhaps, subconsciously, I hoped my father wouldn't waken at all. I continued on, did nothing, said nothing. This I will remember with guilt for the rest of my life.
Obtaining a thought process similar to one of a mature adult, Laurie acquired the ability to deceive his parents. The short story “Charles” was written by the author Shirley Jackson; the piece developed the early experiences of Laurie’s elementary years. He had been the older brother of an infant sibling; despite this factor, Laurie remained a young kindergarten boy. The anecdote occurred during the 1950’s between the home of Laurie and his kindergarten school. Throughout the early weeks of kindergarten, Laurie’s misbehavior was driven by jealousy, mischievous thoughts, and the pure desire to mislead his elders. Evidently, Laurie was unable to adjust to the kindergarten environment easily. The events that transpired in the story stimulated clues as to the reasons for Laurie’s unacceptable behavior.
The father loves his son very much and looks into the future and he “screams” (17) for his son “don’t go!” (11). On the account of the father not being capable of coming up with a “new” (4) story but wants to tell an old one he believes that will lead to his son leaving home early. However, the son views his father as a “god” (18); that his father can and will do anything for him. Which is why he repeatedly asks his “Baba [for] a story” (19).
Looking back at my past, I recall my mother and father’s relationship as if it were yesterday. I am only four years old, small and curious; I tended to walk around my home aimlessly. I would climb book shelves like a mountain explorer venturing through the Himalayans, draw on walls to open windows to my own imagination, or run laps around the living room rug because to me I was an Olympic track star competing for her gold medal; however my parents did not enjoy my rambunctious imagination. My parents never punished me for it but would blame each other for horrible parenting skills; at the time I did not understand their fights, but instead was curious about why they would fight.
The irony presented in the idea that “in a room full of books in a room full of stories” the father cannot recall a single story when asked concedes the point that outwardly it seems callous and uncaring that the father does not tell a new story to his eager and prompting son, yet the absurdity shows that the father does not tell a new story merely out of inability (given his inability to take advantage of such abundant story resources), and not lack of care or love. While the father’s thoughts reveal his desire to tell “the alligator story...the angel story… the spider story”, his “silence” provides a stark contrast to those ideal desires. The “boy’s supplications” juxtaposed with the father’s nearly deafening “silence” provides a stark contrast between the imperfect and the perfect that mirrors the function of the father and son’s relationship. Even while the father expresses one ideal, his love shown through internal thoughts speaks contrary to that
As my eyes squinted open, trying to adjust to the sudden consciousness, light streaming through the windows straight into my eyes. I became aware of the pit in my stomach, threatening to swallow me whole. I rushed out of the cabin in fear of missing breakfast, although a YMCA camp in the middle of the mountains serves food like something I would find at my school cafeteria. I had only three days with these amazing people that I only see once a year and I planned on making every second count.
For my first piece of original writing I intend to create a piece primarily written for entertainment however, I also want to portray an interest into historical and political persuasions. I aim to write this piece for an audience of teenagers to young adult who are aged from around fifteen to twenty-five and are male, I also wish to identify with those interested in political thrillers within this age range. The genre of which shall be a short fiction story consisting chiefly of narrative and written in the third person. I picture this piece as being one of a collection of short stories concerned with the political-thriller fiction sub-genre. Despite being a fiction text I aim to tie in real world non-fiction.
After listening to my grandfather and father shall many stories; it has given me a deeper appreciation of our
As I saunter onto the school field, I survey the premises to behold people in coats, shielding themselves from winter's blues. The sun isn't out yet, but the place bursting with life and exuberance, with people gliding across the ice covered floor almost cat-like. The field is effervescent and despite the dire conditions, the field seems to have taken on a life of its own. The weather is bad and the ice seems to burn the skin if touched, yet the mood is still euphoric. The bare shrubs and plants about the place look like they've been whipped by Winter himself. The air is frosty and at every breath the sight of steam seems to be present. A cold, cruel northerly wind blows across the playground and creates unrest amongst some. Crack! The crisp sound of leaves is heard, as if of ice splitting and hissing. Squirrels are seen trying to find a point of safety, scurrying about the bare trees that lie around the playground. Mystery and enigma clouds the playing field, providing a sense of anticipation about the place. Who is going to be the person to spoil the moment? To kill the conversation?
A Storyteller’s Home “I hope you remember the way home from here,” my grandpa said to my sister and I during one of our walks. Of course I knew the way back home. Despite getting caught up in my grandpa’s numerous nostalgic stories about his younger days, I knew where I was. We had arrived at the middle and high school, where I would be in two years.
I scarcely snoozed at all, the day before; incidentally, I felt insecure regarding the fact of what the unfamiliar tomorrow may bring and that was rather unnerving. After awakening from a practically restless slumber, I had a hefty breakfast expecting that by the conclusion of the day, all I wanted to do is go back home and sleep. Finally, after it was over, my dad gladly drove me to school; there, stood the place where I would spend my next four years of my life.