The Horned Toad

In "The Horned Toad" Haslam learns something new about his relationship with his grandmother which was the grandmother's wise advice that made a great impact to their relationship. At the beginning of the story, Haslam found the horned toad, the grandmother told him to put it down, because it spits blood. Then, as the story keeps going, the grandmother tells his grandson the reason of to why she lied to him about the horned toad. She stated this “Because the little beast belongs with his own kind in his own place, not in your pocket. Give him his freedom, my son" (Haslam 4). The quote makes an emphasis where the grandmother had to lie to his grandson about the toad, because he wanted to keep it, but the grandmother told him that the toad can't

stay with him, he needs to be where he belongs and also needs to be freed wherever the toad wants to. As well as the grandmother, when she died, the family wanted to bury her in the city but Haslam said this "But Grandma has to go home" (Haslam 6). To emphasize, the lesson where Haslam learned that every single thing has a place to belong, the grandma belonged in the ranch, where the lot usually reminds her about the ranch.
First of all, at the beginning of the story, the grandson and the grandma didn't quite to seem to get along at each other.

The grandmother is a very cruel, bossy, and grumpy and the narrator was just a normal kid and was also frightened of his grandma. In page 3 of the story, it emphasizes their relationship at the beginning of the story between the grandma and the grandson in the following quote " In fact, nothing I did seemed to impress her, and she referred to me as el malcriado, causing my mother to shake her head" (Haslam 3). It is indeed that this quote refers to the relationship between the grandmother and the grandson which it pretty seems that they don't get along each other. To demonstrate, the following quote, it makes an emphasis about the grandma's attitude of the relationship between his grandson "Oh, so you wan' some candy. Go to the store an' buy some" (Haslam 4). To emphasize, the quote explains their relationship and also emphasizes her attitude towards the grandson, when Haslam asked for candy to his grandmother and she refuses to and tells him to buy

it.
Secondly, in the story, there was a slightly change between the grandson and the grandmother's relationship.

Furthermore, the stated quote emphasizes how their relationship made a shift "Somehow that day changed everything. I wasn't afraid of my great grandmother any longer" (Haslam 4). The quote stated makes an emphasis about the shift of the relationship between Haslam and the grandmother because now Haslam is not afraid anymore, does not avoid her, and talks more to her grandmother, and the grandmother is now a pleasant person than how it used to be before. To emphasize the shift between the grandma and the grandson's relationship, another stated quote says "No more did I sneak around the house to avoid Grandma after school. Instead, she waited for me and discussed my efforts in class gravely, telling Mother that I was a bright boy" (Haslam 5). To clarify, it further explains the shift in the relationship where Haslam had an improvement in his relationship with his grandma, because he does not avoid her anymore and they talk more than how they used to be. The Horned Toad symbolizes someone who has importance in your life. When Haslam was starting to get along with his grandmother, it became someone important in his life. When she died, Haslam told his parents "But Grandma has to go home, she has to! It's the only thing she really wanted. We can't leave her in the city" (Haslam 6). To finalize, Haslam said this because it makes an emphasis where Haslam learned the lesson

from his grandmother and she belonged in the ranch where the grandfather is buried.
Lastly, Haslam learned a lesson after his grandmother died, which was that all things belong to their own place. The relationship between the grandson and the grandma made a huge impact. The lesson he learned from his grandmother was all little things have a place where they belong and to let them free wherever they want to go. For example, grandma gives an explanation of to why she lied to him about the horned toad. In the quote, it emphasizes of to why "The little beast belongs with his own kind in his own place" (Haslam 5). The quote emphasizes her reasoning which is every little thing has its own place to belong. The grandmother wanted his grandson that not all things can stay with him, because others have a place where they belong and they also want to have their freedom. This lesson also as a matter of fact, applies to the grandma's death and her burial. At first, when the parents where having a discussion of where to bury the grandma, Haslam didn't liked the idea of burying her in the city. Haslam said this to his family “When my horny toad got killed and she helped me to bury it, she said we had to return him to his place" (Haslam 6). To emphasize of what Haslam learned, it is clear where the grandmother's lesson that Haslam learned applies. Ultimately, the grandmother's lesson applies when Haslam made the comparison between the toad to the grandmother. Therefore, the grandma wanted to be back at the ranch, not in the city.