Recitatif by Toni Morrison

The short story ”Recitatif” written by Toni Morrison is about stereotypes of the different races. Two young girls, Twyla and Roberta meet each other in an orphanage house. Those girls become friends despite bad and not comfortable situation. They are sent to orphanage house because their mothers could not take care for them anymore. Both mothers have problem. Roberta’s mother is hyper-religious and unfriendly and Twyla’s mother is pretty immature and dancing a whole night. Both girls have bad experience. In orphanage house they look at girls assault Maggie. She is disabled woman who works in the kitchen. Later both girls quit the orphanage house. Twyla meets Roberta by accident several times. As young adults in a  Howard Johnson’s where Twyla works, Roberta stops in with two young men on the way to coast for ‘’ an appointment with Hendrix’’, in a grocery store in NewBurgh, the blue-collar town on the Hudson river where Twyla lives, at a picket line against a busing plan and finally in a diner on Christmas Eve. Each time they meet, they piece together what has happened in their lives, but also about the bad moment of Maggie. The talked about what really happened and what role they played in the abuse.
 

Racism is one of themes of the story from the beginning of the story to the end, when the two girls met. Twyla’s first impression about Roberta was she disliked to share the room with Roberta at St. Bonny’s.

''It was one thing to be taken out of your own bed early in the morning-it was something else to be stuck in a strange place with a girl from a whole other race.''  

It’s clear for me that racism is real between two girls. That made it difficult to become friends in beginning.

‘’Maggie didn’t fall,’’ She said.

‘’Yes, she did. You remember.’’

” No, Twyla. They knocked her down. Those girls pushed her down and tore her clothes. In the orchard.’’

 ‘’ I don’t --- that’s not what happened.’’.

‘’ Sure it is. In the orchard. Remember how scared we were?’’

‘’ Wait a minute. I don’t remember any of that’’

Leaving my home, T. Morrison, Recitatif pg 217

Twyla didn’t remember that she saw what happened with Maggie. Because she was young and sometimes as young girl you can remember the bad things that happened to you. Some people can’t remember it because it’s fade away. I have bad experience in my childhood when I was victim of bullying during the cab trip to my deaf school. Now I couldn’t even remember it all.

Roberta lifted her hands from the tabletop and covered with her face with her palms. When she took them away she really was crying. ‘’Oh shit, Twyla. Shit, Shit, shit. What hell happened to Maggie?’’

Leaving home, T. Morrison pg Recitatif

Twyla and Roberta have regret they didn’t do anything to help Maggie. They did leave her behind. Now they don’t know where Maggie is and what she does now. Maybe she doesn’t life anymore.

Little Saigon by David st John

The poem is about two sisters. After their father’s death they planned to move away from bad place with murders. At night mother handed the suitcase. She wants to go to away with her girls to somewhere with boat. ‘At the horizon, towards some place of promises as distant. As any new world’’. But the boat man did push mother in different boat because the boat of two sisters was full, so mother could not join. Ngoc Be was already afraid for Jack Pirate. During boat trip Ngog Be and Mai Chi didn’t get much foods and water. They were starving until Jack Pirate suggested them something. Something terrible those two girls really don’t want to do it. When they arrived America, they are waiting for their mother so long. Later they got hear from their aunt Kahnh about her mother. She told them their mother was over boarding during boattrip and died. This poem is sad because before they were separate, their mother tried to tell Mai Chi and Ngog Be that she would be okay when she gets to see them again. It’s not happened.  It did hurt very much if you get hear that one of your parents is dead.

As the peacock slowly turned to face me, just the two of us alone, & as it spread the fan Of its tail I could see each elegant pale feather quietly catch flame. Each feather burning like the sails of the paper boats

Leaving home, Little Saigon D. St John, pg 168

Last week, one night I stayed so long upstairs painting that Mai Chi was sent up to bring me sown for supper. I have been working all day on my new secret painting, but I showed it to Mai Chi. it was of Mother walking in old Saigon, the beautiful streets of our childhood & beside her.. The white peacock, its tails spread like a snow storm like a snow storm along the whole of the background horizon.

Leaving home, little Saigon D. st John pg 178

Two cities are related to each other. First cite is from the beginning and last is in the last page. Ngog Be has dreamed about peacock before they went away from their neighborhood. Her dream has sign for the future. I think she never has imaged that she already could know that her mother will dead before they are separated.

Zelzah a tale from long ago by Norma Fox Mazer

 

Zelzah, a Jewish girl lives with her parents and sisters in farm Poland. Her family is poor. She is surprised about the names her mother had given her and her sisters. Her mother wants her daughter to feel special about their name.  Later her mother wants Zelzah to marry. She gets hear from her sister in America. She has 4 sons and she wants one of them to marry with Zelzah. And her mother wants her to marry with good boy and decides to send her to America.  When Zelzah arrives America, her aunt is picking her up in New York City and they travel to Vermont together. Zelzah meets her four cousins. She is surprised by Jake, one who she will marry, he is beautiful guy. She also met her cousin Ephraim, he has met new girl, and her name is Grace. Later Zelzah is told that Grace is pregnant by Jake, so they marry. Zelzah decided to move to NYC and worked by dress factory. During working in dress factory Zelzah went to high school. She wants to get high school diploma. And she sends money to her sister Shulamith then she could move to America too. She also works in dress factory and goes to high school. Then Shulamith meets man and married. Three sisters are married expect Zillah and her oldest sister Ruth. Later Zelzah gets College Bachelor and gets job in NY. At the end her parents were death and Zelzah is not married.

Reading Jake’s letter, again that impulse to laugh overcame Zelzah. Although here was no one to see her. She stuffed her fingers into her mouth, stifling the laughter. She didn’t understand herself. Was this a laughing matter!

Leaving my home, N. Fox Mazer, Zelzah a tale from long ago, pg 194

After Zelzah heard that Jake’s wife Grace is death by childbirth. She did write a letter about becoming his wife and send it to him. He responded it to her and said he does not want to marry with her because he is still grieving about his wife. Zelzah was laughing; it does not matter to her. I was surprised she did think about it. I think she never wants to marry, but she did for her mother.

She was humming under her breath, her mind was filled with details of the day ahead of her. Was she happy? Who could say? Zelzah, herself, never thought in such terms. What was happiness? Did anyone know?

Leaving my home, N. Fox Mazer, Zelzah a tale from long ago, pg 199

Zelzah realized later she probably was not happy. If she is married, she probably will be happy. She does not know even about that. I think she does not care about it because she is focus on things what she wants to finish it, such as her high school diploma, college and job. I cannot image myself to think in that way. I want to be happy with myself. People always think about their happiness

The Setting Sun and the Rolling World by Charles Mungoshi

The story is about the relationship between father and son. Old Musoni and His son Name and their family are poor. Old Musoni works on farm. His son Nhamo is ready to leave, but father won’t. He wants to know where his son will go and be safe. He can’t let him go without knowing where he will go. He has to release him. Parents always feel difficult to let their children go. If children become old then they feel that it’s time to go out home. I have been going out home since Augustus 2012. My parents have to accept that I go to study in America. My brother also went out house since he was eighteen year old and lives in city 4 hours’ drive from my parents ‘home. Now there are no children at home. My parents feel strange but they know that it’s time to letting their children go. Lucky they know where my brother and I go. They know that we are safe too. It does feel them better. I can realize that Nhamo’s father feels frustrate that he doesn’t know where his son goes. He wants to know his son will be safe or not.

Something you don’t know will drive you on along deserted plains, past ruins and more ruins, on and on until there is only one ruin left: yourself. You will break down, without tears, son. You are human too. Learn to the haya --- the rains bird, and heed its warning of coming storm: plough no more, it says. And what happens if the storm catches you far, far out on the treeless plain? What, then, my son?

Leaving home, the setting sun and the rolling world, pg. 163

Old Musoni is really worried about his son. He won’t his son disappeared in everywhere. He is afraid to lose his son. He thinks very negative about future of his son. He won’t his son to go anywhere without let him know. He wants that his son did listen to him what he taught him.

The psychological ties were now broken; only the biological tied him to his father. He was free. He too remembered the aeroplane which his father had seen just before their talk. Space had no bounds and no ties. Floating laws ruled the darkness and he would float with the fiery balls. He was the sun, burning, itself out every second and shedding tons of energy which it held in its power, giving it the thrust to drag its brood wherever it wanted to.

Leaving home, the setting sun and the rolling world, pg. 163

He said: ‘’the psychological ties were now broken; only the biological tied him to his father. He was free’’.  The sentence of freedom. He was free from suffocating of his father because it seemed that his father kept his son too firm that his son could not move anywhere he wanted. He was suffocated by his father. Now he has energy for things that he wishes he had do it before. 


I see there is connecting between this blog and previous blog ''On the rainy River'' . In two story have some similarities: Nhamo wants to go away from his father. He wanted to be freedom and have space from his father. Tim wants to go away from his hometown. he wants to have space between him and his family and friends. And Tim feels he needs time to rest and thinking about things. Nhamo also needs to have rest from his father.                                                                       

On the rainy river by Tim O'Brien

 

 



Tim O’Brien: a secret hero. The auteur did call his name in the story, so it’s his experience in his life. He never told to his family or wife before. He seemed embarrassment about his escape from hometown.  First he belonged to be soldier for Vietnam War, but he won’t. He seemed not ready for it yet. He found it ridiculous idea. Then he spent the summer of 1968 working in an Armour meatpacking plant. He seemed not enjoy his job there. After that he felt confused by himself. He did not know what he wanted to do. He escaped from his hometown and his family. He went to Canada, during drive he was exhaust and wanted to sleep. He found a place to sleep by Tip Top Lodge. He met the owner. He understood the feelings and welcomed him fast. He stayed six days by Tip Top Lodge. During those days he felt strange, but also better. He went back to his hometown.  And went to war.

Sometimes in my life I want to be alone. I want to leave, but it never happens because I can’t stand it alone. Later I get know that escape does not help you to solve the problems. Maybe it does help to have rest. If you have problem you better look for helps. My opinion is that if you run out from your location and stayed anywhere without helps. You still feel bad about things that you have been thinking about it. With the help can solve your problems. Then you think less about it and feel better.

 

The man was sharp --- he didn't miss much. Those razor eyes. Now and then he'd catch me staring out at the river, at the far shore, and I could almost hear the tumblers clicking in his head. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it

Leaving home, Tim O’brien. On the Rainy River pg. 145

Elroy Berdahl is an old guy and owner of Tip Top Lodge. I suspect he has large experience with uncertain feelings. The most of old people have experience to step over the difficult. He could catch that Tim feels bad. Tim could see that he saw it, but he was too embarrassment to talk about his problem. Elroy welcomes him and gives him space to have rest and solve his problems by himself

 

My whole life seemed to spill out into the river, swirling away from me, everything I had ever been or ever wanted to be. I couldn’t get my breath; I couldn’t stay afloat; I couldn’t tell which way to swim. A hallucination, I suppose, but it was a real as anything I would ever feel. I saw my parents calling to me from the far shoreline. I saw my brother and sister, all the townsfolk, the mayor and the entire Chamber of Commerce and all my old teachers and girlfriends and high school buddies.

 Leaving home, Tim O’Brien. On the Rainy River pg. 153

He was confused about his life now and future. He explains how he feels like to spill out into the river. He also said how he was falling deep down in the black hole. He could not stand strong at this moment. He feels that everything is up and he was down.  He thinks he was in hallucination, but everything looked real. That way you can get if you really was down. 

Dawn by Tim Wynne-jones

The story is told by Barnsey, actually his name is Matthew. He is thirteen year old and lived in Ottawa. He wrote about how he did meet Dawn. He did meet her during the bus trip to North Bay, the city where his grandma Barrymore lived. Because of Christmas day he visited his grandma Barrymore . He travelled alone with bus. His parents would follow Christmas day. I can remember myself when I am young and went to my grandma with train alone. My mother did drop me by train station. I brought some foods and books with me, but I did not read book because I was afraid that I was forgetting to step out. I also wanted to follow the name boards because I was afraid I stepped out by wrong place.  During this trip I felt not comfortable by others. I was young and I don’t like strangers. I was thinking too much about rape, stealing by dangerous people. When I arrive the place where my grandma lived, I stepped out and I saw my grandma stood by the station and waved to me. I was relieved when I saw her standing there. Whatever, you have to have experience the first time travel alone. Now I did travel alone by train, fly and bus because I can and did experience after first time.

It was only the way she looked that he had any problem with. The nine earrings, the nose rings, and the Mohawak in particular --- orange along the scalp and purple along the crest as if her skull was a planet and the sun was coming up on the horizon of her head. She was about twenty and dressed all in black, with clunky black Doc Martens, then Barnsey would listen to his and everything would be fine.

Leaving home, Dawn. T.Wynne-Jones pg 96

People always have prejudged about someone whom they don’t know. Most people are afraid by the dangerous person. Then they have some prejudge if they see person with dirty clothes and cap to cover face. That is Barnsey’s first impression about Dawn by external  

He didn’t go to the door. He watched from the window. They should have come in the big car. But there wasn’t any they. Just his dad

Leaving home, Dawn. T.Wynne-Jones. Pg 108

He realized his parents want him to leave, so they could divorce and manage it. It was really sad for Barnsey when he saw his father came without his mother. He was really in shock. 

Bad influence by Judith Ortiz Cofer

In the class we have discussed about bad influence, translated to Spanish: a mala influencia. You can have got bad influence from person from your surroundings. In this story is about Rita. Her parents sent her to Puerto Rico to visit her grandparents because her mother wants her to be separate from her boyfriend. Her mother thinks that her boyfriend does have bad influence on her and her friend Meli. Rita was doing something mischievous with Meli. I can remember two persons in my life do have bad influence on me. Two persons were my ex-boyfriend and my friend. At first my friend, I was at elementary school. He was my classmate. He was playing like as boss. He decided what people have to do and not. He forced us to treat other bad. My friends and I have to bully others. My mother suspected there’s something wrong with me because my behavior changed. She helped me to stop him. Later it’s successful. My ex-boyfriend, I did love him but he is bad guy like Johnny in the story. By him influence my behavior changed. I became more stubborn and acted not nice to my parents. My mother disliked him and she tried to speak with me about him, but I won’t listen to her. Later I understood her. I’m feeling better and less pressure when it was off with him. During looking for image i noticed that bad influence also means anorexia. in the story people thought Angela had anorexia. It could be that she has, because she has difficult at home. 

‘’In most of these cases where a restless of bad spirit has settled over a house, it’s just a matter of figuring out what it wants or needs. Then you have to help it to figuring out what it wants or needs. Then you have to help it to find its way to God by giving it a way out --- giving it light. The home is purified of the bad influence, and peace returns’’

Leaving home, Bad influence by Judith Ortiz Cofer, pg 80

Mid-America and south America was influence by Catholic from Spain by colonial. There are still old people who are strong religious. Rita’s grandparents were Christian religion, Catholic too. So they believed that God can help you with everything because in this house there was bad spirit. Papa Juan is pastor and he had to help the girl.

'' I spent a lot of time at the pink house over the next weeks. I even began liking the color. I told Angela about Johnny Ruiz even though I had not really thought about him, not as much anyway, in the last month. She said that he sounded like a troubled boy. A mala influencia? I suggested. 

Leaving home, Bad influence by Judigth Ortiz Cofer, pg 88

Rita is changed though vacation. She realised that Johnny was not well for her. She also realised about bad influence. sometimes it's not true. Angela did not have bad spirit. Her mother just thought. By the way Rita speaks with Angela she realised that Angela was nice girl. Rita wants to have good friends who does not have bad influence on her. She really enjoys her time with Angela. 

The Circuit by Fransico Jiménez

Circuit means turn over and cycle

The story is written by Latino auteur. I can notice it by Spanish name and the story. The story is about immigration and getting job. I suspect that the story is from experience of auteur. Because of his family need money. So Boy, his name is Panchito, moved with his family to terrible shack and work for bracero program. The program is Mexicans moved to America to work at the crops. They get little money for that and live in bad area. I cannot imagine myself to live there and work at the crops. When I was eleven year old. My parents want to move to other place because of my education. My school was one and half hour far from home. I went to school with cab every day. One year before my high school my parents decided to move, because they don’t want to send me to dorms. They want to raise me by themselves. That was our best decision in us life. I am very happy that I live close my deaf school and friends. I won’t move again. Panchito was happy he can get corridos lesson from Mr. Lema. Later he heard bad news that he has to move out. I think because his family were found by American cops. That’s very sad.

As we drove home Papá did not say a word. With both hands on the wheel, he started at the dirt road. My older brother, Roberto, was also silent. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Once in a while he cleared from his throat the dust that blew in from outside. Yes, it was that time of year.

Leaving my home, the circuit, pg 55

Yes, it was that time of year:  I think that means the time of year they have problems with money again. Dad and his brother were sad because they have to look for job again. They are not looking forward to work at the cops in dry area with hot sun, but they have to earn the money to feed family and pay for the school.

That day I could hardly wait to get home to tell  Papá and Mamá that great news. As I got off the bus, my little brothers and sisters ran up to meet me. They were yelling and screaming. I thought they were happy to see me, but when I opened the door to our shack, I saw that everything we owned was neatly packed in cardboard boxes

Leaving my home, the circuit, pg 62

Panchito was happy he could get corridos lesson. That’s Mexican music He wanted to tell to his parents, but he found out that his stuff are packed in cardboard boxes. He understood fast that his family and he have to move back to Mexico. Maybe the teacher of school has told the cops. 

Rules of the game by Amy Tan

The writer was known, she did write many stories. I did read other story ‘Two kinds’. I noticed two stories do have similarities, Amy tended to write about the Chinese background and relationship between mother and daughter. I suspected that she did have same experience as personage in the story. This one is about the chess game. MeiMei’s brother got chess game for Christmas gift. Meimei wants to play chess game, but her mother seemed do not like MeiMei playing chess too, then she became a good player. She did protect MeiMei from outside, but MeiMei did find out how to play by herself. I can remember my brother was huge fan of the chess game. He did play with dad. I did not understand how it works. My brother did explain me. I learned how to play the chess from him. We did play game, but I did not like it because I always lost. Sometimes I tried to confirm I was right and I won Then my brother explained that he was right and wins. I was stubborn. The start of game was nice, but the ended with quarrel, so I did really not focus on the chess game as MeiMei.

Amy Tan with her mother

‘’This is American rules,’’ she concluded at last. ‘’ Every time people come out foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, too bad, go back. They not telling you why so you can use their way go forward. They say, Don’t know why, you find out yourself. But they knowing all the time. Better you take it, find out why yourself’’. She tossed her head back with a satisfied smile.

MeiMei and her family live in USA now. They have to follow the rules of USA. They don’t tell them why, but just use their way to go forward. It has similar with the chess game.  MeiMei doesn’t know the rules and has to find out the rules by herself. That’s what her mom said, I think her mom already has involved in America culture and act like she’s smart. Afterwards MeiMei did research the rules by herself. She tries to learn how to play the chess game. 

Leaving Home, Amy Tan, pg 39

But I found it difficult to concentrate at home. My mother had a habit of standing over me while I plotted out my games. I think she thought of herself as my protective ally. Her lips would be sealed tight, and after each move I made, a soft ‘’Hmmmmph’’ would escape from her nose.

‘’ Ma, I can’t practice when you stand here like that,’’ I said one day. She retreated to the kitchen and made loud noises with the pots and pans.

When I read that sentences, I feel strange about her mother’s behavior. I suspect that her mother doesn’t want MeiMei to have successful because she did bother her during practicing. Her mother’s behavior made MeiMei more frustrated. I think she tried to avoid MeiMei practice the chess game.  Her mother feels she fails.

Leaving home, Amy Tan, pg 49

A gift of laughter by Allan Sherma

A gift of laughter is about father’s relationship with his son and his past.  The personage of the story is writer himself, Allan Sherman, because I read that it tells about Robert Sherman is narrator’s son. I can remember myself before. I cried several times because I want a candy or playing with friends outside when it already was dark. My memories are fragments for me now. I did remember I went to kitchen. My dad and mom was speaking about something important. I tried to attract their attention. They wanted me to let them talk rest, but I didn’t listen to them. My dad was frustrated. My mom also was crazy from me. They sent me to my room. I was crying in my room in whole time. I knew my behavior bad, but I tried to act as poor girl. It didn’t help before my family arrived. I washed my tears fast and tried to show that nothing was happening to me.  When my family left, my parents took me and putted on the chair and waited for my excuses. Before I as child I refused to bid my excuses. My parents said I may to eat dinner if I said sorry to them. Then I realized I was very hungry. I told them I’m sorry. Now I still am stubborn, but I know I have to say sorry if I went wrong.  I also read in the story and know that after bad time or quarrel the relationship between two people were better than before. I had quarreled with my parents many times. Our relationship were very strong now. I realized I have to thank them for everything they taught me.

Just then Robbie slammed the door of his room. But I heard a different door, a door I once slammed – 25 years ago – in my grandmother’s house in Chicago.¹

That’s a suddenly moment for Allan Sherman. The memory did come back through his brain. He remembered the moment from past. He did do that it before too. He slammed his door when his mother was laugh at him.  He did realize his son has committed same feeling as he had before.

Before Uncle sol could answer, Grandma continued, ‘’ it’s beautiful, yess – because from a child is beautiful, anything.’’ ²

Allan must be very happy to hear that sentence. Maybe grandmother did hear what Allan’s mother said to Allan and felt guilty with saying wrong words. She wanted to do something for Allan. Because from a child is beautiful, anything: It impressed Allan too. He did realize that art of his son is beautiful. Whatever he did draw anything. It did help Allan to realize and did do good thing for his son to thank him. He had to thank his grandmother’s lesson.

1. Leaving my home 4^th paragraph, pg 30.

2. Leaving my home 14^th paragraph, pg 32.