Serving in Florida -- Barbara Ehrenreich

     I found this story to be good, although it wasn't my favorite. While I liked the plot very much--the story of a young woman, searching for a job that suited her socially and economically--I was a bit distracted by the lengthy sentences and the side comments. At times, I felt myself starting, stopping and rereading to make sure that I digested enough information to understand the story. Nonetheless, this story was, overall, entertaining.
     When I first noticed the title of this work, I thought it was going to tell the tale of a soldier (because often times, "serving" refers to serving in the military). However, I was taken by surprise when I read that it was actually the story of a lady dedicating herself to some very undesirable occupations. After reading just the first paragraph, I was able to pick up the author's voice. Her tone was comedic and refreshingly genuine. I giggled aloud as I read, "Picture a fat person's hell, and I don't mean a place with no food. Instead there is everything you might eat if eating had no bodily consequences--the cheese fries, the chicken-fried steaks, the fudge-laden desserts--only here every bite must be paid for, one way or another, in human discomfort (291)." A handful of authors would describe it differently, possibly in a more beautiful, poetic way. But the negative connotation of the words "hell," "fat," and "no" really were used honestly to paint the picture of the restaurant. I thought this was an intriguing way to open the story. Her word-choices made me laugh.
      Ehrenreich's style of writing really stood out to me. The first thing I noticed was the fact that she tells this entire story in present tense: "I complain to one of my fellow servers that I don't understand how she can go so long without food" (292). I thought that was quite interesting. Most narrative stories are set in the past tense. Also, Ehrenreich's reference to "catsup" made me wonder where exactly she was from and how old she was. I wasn't sure if this story was coming from the perspective of a teenager, looking for work, or from an adult struggling in a crumbling economy. However, while I was reading, I came across the following: "When I request permission to leave at about 3:30, another housekeeper warns me that no one has so far succeeded in combining housekeeping with serving at Jerry's: 'Some kid did it once for five days, and you're no kid'" (300). She obviously was not a kid looking for work.  I also wondered when exactly this story takes place. Was this a story written in the early 1950's? 1970's? 2000's? Luckily, Ehrenreich referenced the approximate time period in her footnotes and clarified my query: "In 1996 the number of persons holding two or more jobs averaged 7.8 million, or 6.2 percent of the workforce" (301). I assume this statistic references information relevant to the time period in which the story is set.
     This story reminded me of my first job at Dairy Queen. I was asked to work there, my sophomore year of high school by my friend, whose mother just took up the franchise. I delightedly said yes, incredibly eager to earn money and to work beside my close friends. I met new people--like Ehrenreich did--on "slow days," we got along and discussed moments of our personal lives (i.e., school friends, futures, foods, significant others). Some aspects were fun, some were tedious, others overwhelming. I remember it being a lot of work. I had to learn how to make the standard DQ cone, cup, blizzard, frostee and sundae, along with refill low supplies, work the cash register and cook hot meals.
Ehrenreich seemed to understand and put it...tastefully?:

"...the fudge-laden desserts...The floor is slick with spills, forcing us to walk through the kitchen with tiny steps...Put your hand down on any counter and you risk being stuck to it by the film of ancient syrup spills...The regulation poster in the single unisex restroom admonishes us to wash our hands thoroughly, and even offers instructions for doing so, but there is always some vital substance missing--soap, paper towels, toilet paper--and I've never found all three at once" (291).

    As for some of the lengthy sentences: "I'm on a 2:00-10:00pm shift now, and a male server from the morning tells me about the time he "pulled a triple" -- three shifts in a row, all the way around the clock -- and then got off and had a drink and met this girl, and maybe he shouldn't tell me this, but they had sex right then and there and it was like beautiful" (293). Though these sentences were filled with excessive details at times, I felt myself getting lost in their length, especially towards the end of the story. 

   Overall, though, I did enjoy this story!

Looking For Work -- Gary Soto

     I've read some of Gary Soto's works before so I knew I was in for a treat; however, after glancing at the title, I was reminded of how our nation is in a weak economic state. I wasn't sure if this was going to be somewhat of a dull story, dealing with a man who couldn't find a job. Luckily, I was wrong. This story was one from the point of view of a young boy, growing up and searching for a profound way to make his family "perfect," like the families on television. I really enjoyed this short story and a lot of what was discussed I could relate to.
     I was incredibly compelled by just the first paragraph. Soto says, "One July, while killing ants on the kitchen sink with a rolled newspaper, I had a nine-year-old's vision of wealth that would save us from ourselves. For weeks I had drunk Kool-Aid and watched morning reruns of Father Knows Best, whose family was so uncomplicated in its routine that I very much wanted to imitate it. The first step was to get my brother and sister to wear shoes" (27). I think this first paragraph says so much. I really connected to the relaxing image of summer time portrayed: lazy mornings, killing the ants and watching silly television reruns. That was familiar and thus, comforting to read. I also enjoyed the fact that I got a real sense of the narrator's voice, and I loved that. I could instantly pick up the fact that he was young, eager, optimistic and chock full of ideas. I think I really connected with this story because I vividly remember being the exact same way. One summer, my sister got a pamphlet in the mail, saying that she had the potential to go into modeling. Though it was a scam at the time, my summer was free, and my sister and I dedicated part of our summer attempting to set up a car wash services and lemonade stand to raise money. We all need to start somewhere. For Gary, the first step was getting his siblings to dress more formally for dinner. For me and my sister, the first step for me was advertising and getting our parents to let us wash their car. Because we were young--both me, my sister and Gary Soto--we were so enthralled and hopeful. We denied all reality to achieve our goals at the time.
     I thought Gary's nine-year-old perspective of TV was really unique and fascinating. He says, "This was the summer when I spent the mornings in front of the television that showed the comfortable lives of white kids. There were no beatings, no rifts in the family. They wore bright clothes; toys tumbled from their closets. They hopped into bed with kisses and woke up to glasses of fresh orange juice" (29). This really got to me. Ever since I was diagnosed with Diabetes, I wanted a similar thing; I wanted perfection and simplicity. It was obviously much easier wished for than granted. Even to this day, I strive for perfection. I am learning though that reality has room for mistakes and that life isn't scripted like a television show is. And as much as we hate to admit it, it's true.
     I also was taken back by the fact that television shows portrayed the easy, "perfect" lifestyles of the "whites." Gary Soto goes on to say something ground-breaking: "I tried to convince [my siblings] that if the way we improved the way we looked we might get along better in life. White people would like us more" (30). I was intrigued by the fact that Gary connected an attractive appearance with an attractive lifestyle; he thought the two went hand-in-hand. This obviously was a time period during which skin color yielded discrimination and experiences, so of course, in a way, appearance did influence the type of life led. I wondered what it must have been like to have been a Mexican American during that time period and how that would have compared to have grown up as a Caucasian American at the time.
     Towards the end of the story, Gary Soto briefly discusses his sister's "profanity stage." I loved this part and laughed aloud to myself as I read it because I know exactly what he is talking about. I remember my friends and my sister going through the same phase. My heart skipped a beat the first times I heard my close friends and sister curse. Why were they growing up so fast? That was something I feared as a child.
     I thought this story was well-written, discussing a very interesting issue. This thematic concept of familial perfection yielding societal acceptance was quite evident. I thought Gary Soto really conveyed a strong and youthful point of view for the reader to pick up on and relate to, and I really enjoyed that. I liked the fact that I could reflect back to my younger years.

Personal Conflict Narrative: Rough Draft & Final Draft --by Matthew Link

     I enjoyed Matthew's personal conflict narrative. It sounds like the experience was tremendously significant in his life. The reader was able to pick up on the influence of the event after the revisions were made on the rough draft.  Along the way, I was able to relate to Matthew's passion for music; it reminded me of my love for theater. There truly was an immense difference in the drafts from beginning to end, and I enjoyed the story very much.
    The first draft was a bit weak, though it had a lot of potential. A lot of what was stated was phrased awkwardly. The reader was not informed of some major details that could have pulled the story together in a sensible manner. And the story, I feel, lacked a drive. There was no passion, no need to tell this tale. However, the second draft definitely used well constructed paragraphs/sentences to illustrate Matthew's experience interestingly and effectively. The concluding paragraph ended on a bit of a sour note. I respected Matthew's honesty and I understand that his dreams were crushed. However, the ended almost made me believe that he didn't take much from the experience.
    Matthew's revised draft captivated me. It was so much more thorough and satisfying to read. I felt like he really expressed himself, and as the reader, that was fulfilling. Towards the beginning of the story Matthew says, "The feeling that I had on stage was like a drug induced high. The rush was so intense that I became a junkie of music" (67). I really can relate to this and I like the way Matthew described it. His passion for music is quite similar to my passion for theater. Being on stage was/is, in a sense, hypnotic. It makes me feel whole, like the cares of the world don't matter, like nothing can come between me and the performance.
     Matthew then went on to describe the process of getting a "gig." I liked that because I am not too familiar with it. I have seen shows before but am not very used to seeing live bands perform. I had no idea that bands often need to sell a certain number of tickets to perform. That really surprised me. I have asked friends to come see some shows that I've been in, and the fact that they have to pay makes it a lot less enticing. But to have them pay and then not be able to see you perform must be incredibly frustrating and disappointing. I put myself in Matthew's shoes and imagined how incredibly upsetting it must be to prepare yourself for a show and then not be able to perform, after being called a liar. I definitely felt for him even more than I had originally because I understood more of the situation through the details he provided.
     He discussed, in his revised narrative, the moment before he walked into Paul's office to discuss ticket sales. He said, "I walked through the smoky club, passing the dimly lit mixing board and into the lobby. I rounded the corner and opened the weathered door to the coat room" (68). This reminded me of an acting technique called "sense memory," a method used, by an actor/actress, in which the senses are engaged to get a point across the audience. Matthew's description of the "smoky club," "the dimly lit mixing board," and the "weathered door" helps to set the scene for the reader. I could clearly picture where we went and how it looked through his sense-based description. I liked that a lot.
     I thought Matthew's analysis of Paul's behavior added such depth to his story. He said, "Part of the reason that Paul wanted to take money from bands is that he was not a rich man. he was also growing older, around thirty-five...He could also just be tired of having to deal with teenage bands" (69). The fact that he saw Paul with a different perspective, altered Paul from being a two-dimensional character--in my mind--to a three-dimensional character. I liked that commentary very much. It showed the reader that the author had matured and with time, saw this man differently.
     "Conflicts exist whenever one is confronted by change...Exploring the unknown is not supported by our society today...People are also inclined towards routine. Routine is good because it is not dangerous" (71). I thought this was brilliantly stated. It is so true! And often times, following your dreams yields sacrifices and therefore conflicts. But it builds personal strength and character. As Matthew said, "The bright side of being conflicted is the end result...'There is no teacher like experience'" (71).  It is very true.
     "[Music] is a form of therapy for me" too (69), just like Matthew. I liked this story because I could relate to it and also because I could see the process and the evolution of his writing. The final draft was very well done, very well-written.

Malcolm X-- Malcolm Little

     I was, for some odd reason, intrigued by this story. I don't know if that's because I have a very personal and connected relationship with my own hair, but I liked it. I followed this story with much ease.
     The first thing I noticed was the date and title of the story, first. This gave me a good idea of the setting and time period. From the research I've done, this time period (1960s) was one filled with changes that influenced every single individual in America. There were political changes going on (i.e., Cold War, Bay of Pigs invasion, shooting of president J.F.Kennedy), social changes (i.e., racism/discrimination, Martin Luther King Jr. speeches, rise of feminism) as well as a change in the American facade (the majority of the American population no longer yearned for a sense of domestic perfection, but instead yearned for a sense of justice). From the title, I also was reminded of one of my favorite Broadway shows: Hair. It took place during the same time period and provides similar changes (political, social and "physical") for the audience to see. So even before I read the story, I predicted that this story would be one dealing with the thematic idea of change.
     I finally approached the story, eager to read, but came to a halt when I didn't know what the word "conked" meant. After a quick investigation online, I learned that "conking" the hair was a process by which hair (often African American hair) was chemically straightened. Though the look was beautifying, it was described as such a horrifically painful experience. The vivid description really put me in Malcolm's shoes. As his "head caught fire" (22) and his "eyes watered (23) from the "jelly-like, starchy-looking glop" (22), I felt it. It burned tremendously. But he described the look of his new hair-do later and said, "I'd seen some pretty conks, but when it's the first time, on your own head, the transformation, after the lifetime of kinks, is staggering (23)." This story proves the saying, "pain is beauty" to be true. Though I've never had my hair "conked"--and though I don't plan on it--I could feel Malcolm's sense of accomplishment. I also picked up on his sense of disappointment reflecting on the fact, years later: "How ridiculous I was! Stupid enough to stand there simply lost in admiration of my hair now looking white" (23).
     I was really taken back when he said, "This was my first really big step toward self-degradation: when I endured all of that pain, literally burning my flesh with lye, in order to cook my natural hair until it was limp, to have it look like a white man's hair. I had joined the multitude of Negro men and women in America who are brainwashed into believing that the black people are 'inferior'--and white people 'superior'--that they will even violate and mutilate their God-created bodies to try to look 'pretty' by white standards" (23). Wow! How empowering and incredibly honest! This really gave me a perspective; at that time, Malcolm X was taught to believe that he was  born inferior because of the way he looked. And he wasn't the only one. Like many African Americans, he was persuaded by society to believe that changing his hair would change his social standing. When he decided, with a friend, to "conk" his hair, I think he approved of the idea; it would make him look "cooler," fit in, more "superior." But as time passed, it looks like Malcolm's opinion changed. The fact that he used words with such a negative connotation (i.e., "violate," "mutilate," and "brainwashed") proves that.
     This story did in fact illustrate several changes that occurred for Malcom, such as his change in hairstyle and his change of perspective. So in a sense, this story serves as a parallel to the changes that the America was going through, on a much smaller scale. It really gave the reader insight into many aspects of the 1960s, such as degradation, hairstyle and social standings. I thought it was well-written and very interesting!

Hating Goldie- Phyllis Rose

     I found this to be a very interesting story. I thought it was well-written and truly illustrated the viewpoint/perspective of the author. It also, I think, displays her unique and refreshing senses of style and tone,  as well as her very interesting take on her childhood life. Rose spoke with such intensive abhorrence, describing her experiences with Goldie with words and phrases of such a negative connotation--i.e., "insipid," "caterwauling," "I waited for him to die." I was waiting for the story to alter and take a positive twist--i.e, an experience in which she learned a lesson from her antagonizing pet canary--but it remained very forthright and veracious. In a sense, it was very refreshing.

     This story yielded my own personal reflection on the events of my childhood. I remember my buying fish and hermit crabs and dogs; not once had my parents ever lied to me about the conditions of my pets. In fact, my parents never lied to me about anything...well, at least, I don't think they lied to me about anything. We had/have a very open relationship. They exposed me to the "good" things the world had to offer, but they never hid the "bad"/truthful things from me. We always talked things through. I think an open and honest sense of communication was missing from Phyllis' relationship with her parents. Her parents, did, in a sense "deprive her of the pain [she] needed to be nourished as an artist." If they had talked more about how they feel in regards to what was going on in life, it could have saved their entire family a great deal of time, money and distress.

     The bird, in a very obscure way, symbolizes the challenges that life throws at us. They may not last long, just like the canary in the story, but they are ever-present. We can avoid them or confront them. We can lie about them or truthfully accept them. We have choices and learn lessons with each given experience.