Thoughts From the Brain

Author's note: This is a point of view piece on the short story Thank You, Ma'am.

       
            Right foot, left foot, right foot left foot. Don’t forget to breathe. Right fo…. Aghhhh whats that. Quickly react, something's touching my purse. It’s a boy, about fifteen years old. Now what is he doing? He is trying to steal my purse, aghhh don't let him. Pull back. Pull! Oops he fell. Should I pick him up or leave him there? Ah whatever I'll just kick him in the blue jean sitter. Lets pick him up. Now what does he think he's doing? He was probably just hungry. Oh he doesn’t have a family, that makes me feel bad.

          I'm hungry, do you think he wants anything to eat? I will make some food. I wonder if he actually liked it. He's walking away….. Hmmm should I trust him? I guess if he runs I could just call the police, so I'll trust him. Wow he is changing, I feel maybe I shall let him get those shoes. I guess I will give him some money to buy those shoes. I really hope he doesn’t go stealing more purses.

Have you ever gotten that feeling,

 you don’t want to let go?

Then it starts heating,

and you almost blow.

Once it starts to fade,

you go hide in the shade.

Then you realize what you’ve gained,

but still you feel the pain

The feelings lost,

and so are you.

Your heart feels like frost,

really cold and very blue.

Even though it’s in the past,

you try not to but you still look back.

Your heart sinks very low,

you let it drop until you let go.

Family Conflicts Caused By War

Author’s Note: This is a compare and contrast piece, comparing the characters from the movie “The Patriot” and the book April Morning.

            The decision by a young man to go to war has an impact on all of his family members. In the book April Morning by Howard Fast many conflicts arose due to Adam’s (the oldest son) desire to enter the Revolutionary war and the father’s reluctance to see his oldest son put himself in danger. In the movie “The Patriot” by Mel Gibson there are similar challenges faced by the family regarding the decision to enter the war. For example the father not wanting his son to go to war, but in this case Gabriel (Benjamin’s oldest son) is old enough to make his own decisions. Adam’s mom also has opinions about his decision but Gabriel’s mom is not there to give that type of advice. In these two stories there are many similarities and differences with how the characters respond to the conflicts created within the families as a result of war.

In this case Moses and Benjamin’s sons want to enter the war but both adults are aware of the dangers they may encounter and are afraid they might get hurt. Having served in a prior war Moses felt he had more experience than his son Adam. Moses did not want Adam to fight in the war because he felt he was too young and was not aware of the dangers that can be encountered in war. In contrast Gabriel is old enough to make his own decision on entering war but Benjamin was a great war hero in the French and Indian war and so he has great knowledge and knows that Gabriel is not ready for the risks. Benjamin cannot stop Gabriel so he decides to join the war to watch over him unlike Moses because Moses can overrule Adam’s decisions. These characters face many similar conflicts but have different ways of solving them.

            Gabriel and Adam were young men in their late teens, with desires to enter the war to defend their freedom from Britain. Neither of the boys were concerned about their personal safety and with little experience did not understand the dangers of war. They both argued with their fathers over the same reasons. Their fathers did not believe that they were ready for war and thought that they were too young and inexperienced. Adam was only 16 and as a result his father was able to overrule his decision to enter the war. Gabriel on the other hand was 18 and considered a man. He was allowed to decide on his own if he should enter the war or not. Adam’s mother (Sarah) is also a big factor in his decision. She gives him advice, as all mothers do. Gabriel does not have a mother anymore. She had died when he was young and now when Gabriel and his father are away at war his other siblings are left to be cared for by his aunt (Charlotte). Adam and Gabriel both wanted to fight, not just to fight but to fight for their freedom and both fathers are oblivious to it.

            Both of the female characters Charlotte and Sarah exhibited a strong giving nature just like mothers even though one was not. Sarah was the mother of Adam and played a key role in his life, but Charlotte was only the aunt of Gabriel and the other siblings, although she had acted as a substitute since their mother had passed away. Charlotte as only being an aunt did not offer an opinion on Gabriel wanting to go to war but Sarah being Adam’s mother advised him that he shouldn’t go. Both women also experienced the tragedies of war first hand since the battles occurred close to their homes. From both perspectives they saw the violent side of war but Charlotte also saw and experienced the cruel side of it. When the war was occurring the British soldiers burned down her house because they knew that she was related to Benjamin. These female characters played an important role that was affected by the decisions of the male characters during the war.

            War creates many conflicts between family members. The youthful inexperience is shown in these two stories by the two eldest sons who are unconcerned and unaware of the dangers of war. The more experienced fathers want to protect their sons from the dangers of war and the other family members are left to deal with the ramifications of the decisions. These characters have many similarities and differences despite the different challenges that occur in their lives.

No Longer Oblivious

Author’s note: The Story “Dead Man’s Path” ended in a women dying in childbirth and the headmaster awaking to his beautiful garden destroyed. In this piece I plan to add more to the ending of the story.

“What has happened?” Mr. Opi blared at the priest.

“I haven’t a clue.” The teacher said sheepishly.

Mr. Opi was infuriated as he rushed into the village. He started asking different people if they knew of what happened to his gardens but he kept getting one response, “It’s the dead man’s path, we can’t control what goes on there.” Now he was even angrier, racing back to the school. When he got there he said “I want that path shutdown and I want it shutdown now.”

He tried to shut it down but that plan had failed. Three years later still as the headmaster he tried to shut it down again. The villagers would not allow it. One day there was an old and frail lady walking on the path, he walked up to her in a hurry. Once he got there in a very sincere voice he said, “Now ma’m out of the things you could be doing with your time why do you choose to walk upon a path like such?”

She replied to him, “This may be your school but my husband died eighteen years ago and I have visited this path every day since then. I have been able to connect with him even when he is not here and so I would not want you just embark on all the things this path has done for me and the village.

His heart had just dropped; he had finally realized what he had been so oblivious to in the past. He hadn’t questioned the path or anything else in the school from that day forward. That moment had changed his life.