This story so reminded me of my parents when I was that age. They were constantly arguing, and the house was a giant hive of tension. No one ever wanted to be there. I totally empathize with the kid wanting to stay home. I never wanted to go to school during their divorce.
I was annoyed with the mother's comments about how the father "wanted to tear apart the family." My mother talked trash about my father all the time and it didn't do anything but breed resentment in me. It certainly didn't bring me over to "her side" if there really was such a thing.
I think it's awful to put kids in the middle of it all, they didn't ask to be brought into the world or your mess, why should they get stuck sqare in the middle of something that they really don't have any choice in? It's awful to expect them to pick sides. They love both of their parents. You should't ask them to choose. (sorry..a little pent up anger coming out..my ex is constantly putting my boys in the middle of our crap. It frustrates them and infuriates me..which doesn't allieviate the situation any either). I keep praying for him to spontaneously combust..but God hasn't come through for me yet...Awful aren't I? No, not bitter...anyway...............
The rest of the story seems to pretty much follow the plan of action that any typical teenage boy would follow when he cut school. Wait until mom (or dad) leaves, turn on the television, eat a bunch of crap, then go find something to do and make sure you're home before your parents get there. It is almost like Ferris Bueler's day off..but not as much fun.
I wasn't getting the father's reaction to the fish, but again, I may need some remedial reading lessons from you all. It seems as though the further I read into the book, the less I'm understanding. I have had to read everything twice so far...I'm really feeling that my status as "reader" has greatly declined over the past 48 hours or so. I keep thinking..."What was that?"
Perhaps you all want to reconsider my membership to this club..You may consider voting me off the island, or perhaps providing me with a bunch of reading life-lines..yikes..(no I really don't watch that much tv..especially that kind of crap..) Maybe I'll get the bike and muscle one...
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I think the final lines, "I held him. I held that half of him." are very telling lines. They stick with you and really create an experience that's outside of the characters and the plot. I think it becomes about something more at that point. Who is he trying to hold on to? His dad, himself, his family? And that thing he is clutching to is halved, it's a remnant of the original catch, something he was enamoured of and fought for and now he's clinging to the broken piece of it.
ReplyDeleteI love the Ferris Buehler reference. The trout is the Ferarri...?!?
yeah, because you can't hold on to something that is not there--like the memories of his brother and him with their father at the water. I think the fact that the seasons are changing and the water is half gone is important too. I think I posted that, not sure.
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