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STEP BY WICKED STEP
a. The Main Story
b. Richard Clayton Harwick – My Story
c. Claudia’s Story – Green Pyjamas
d. Colin’s Story – The Bluebird of Happiness
e. Ralph’s Story – A Tale of Three Stepmothers
f. Pixie’s Story – The Pains in My Life
g. Robbo’s Story – Dumpa’s the Problem
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STEP BY WICKED STEP
a. The Main Story
• Synopsis
• The Plot
• Setting
• Point of View
• Subject Matter
• Theme
• Mood
• Tone
• Repetiton
• Onomatopoeia
• Preominition
• Characters
• Quality of Characters
• Analysis
• Lesson and Moral Value
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b. Richard Clayton Harwick – My Story
• Synopsis
• The Plot
• Setting
• Point of View
• Subject Matter
• Theme
• Mood
• Tone
• Chart
• Characters
• Quality of Characters
• Lesson and Moral Value
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c. Claudia’s Story – Green Pyjamas
• Synopsis
• The Plot
• Setting
• Point of View
• Subject Matter
• Theme
• Mood
• Tone
• Chart
• Characters
• Quality of Characters
• Lesson and Moral Value
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d. Colin’s Story – The Bluebird of Happiness
• Synopsis
• The Plot
• Setting
• Point of View
• Subject Matter
• Theme
• Mood
• Tone
• Chart
• Characters
• Quality of Characters
• Lesson and Moral Value
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e. Ralph’s Story – A Tale of Three Stepmothers
• Synopsis
• The Plot
• Setting
• Point of View
• Subject Matter
• Theme
• Mood
• Tone
• Chart
• Characters
• Quality of Characters
• Analysis
• Lesson and Moral Value
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f. Pixie’s Story – The Pains in My Life
• Synopsis
• The Plot
• Setting
• Point of View
• Subject Matter
• Theme
• Mood
• Tone
• Characters
• Chart
• Quality of Characters
• Lesson and Moral Value
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g. Robbo’s Story – Dumpa’s the Problem
• Synopsis
• The Plot
• Setting
• Point of View
• Subject Matter
• Theme
• Mood
• Tone
• Chart
• Characters
• Quality of Characters
• Lesson and Moral Value
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Novel
Synopsis
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Five children are put together in a minibus not
inadvertently but preplanned by the teacher. The simple
reason is that their names were in a particular column on
which there were two addresses.
The children discover an album in one of the secret
room and after reading the album all of them were able
to relate to the story in the album. They decide to tell
their stories.
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All five of them relate their stories from which one
understands their character and their problems. They
discover a few lesson in life and learn that one cannot
run away from problems. That they have to fix their
problems one way or another.
To Colin their advise is the same, he has to fix the
problem and not run away from the problem.
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The Plot
Exposition
Five children who seemingly have something in
common are inadvertently placed together in Harwick
Hall. They discover an album which contains the story
of a boy of their age. The boy, Richard, makes a
mistake of leaving his home which causes more
problems than before he left. He loses his whole
family.
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Rising Action
Consequently the children narrate their experiences.
Each of them have a unique story but all are from
families where the parents are divorced. The problems
each face is however different and in the end some of
their problems are solved.
Climax
Everyone except for Colin is able to solve their
problem.
Colin however plans to run away just like Richard.
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Falling Action
The other children, Ralph, Claudia Robbo and Pixie
however believe that running away is not the solution.
Resolution
Colin needs to fix the problem himself there and then.
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Setting
The inside of a minibus.
Old Harwick Hall.
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Subject matter
The whole novel seems to center around the five
children and a character of an album. Who are all
in one way or another from troubled families.
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Theme
When a break up in the family is inevitable, you do
not fight it, you accept the inevitable and try to fit
in.
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Preominition
These five have something in common.
(pg12)
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Claudia
Claudia is sensible and a very emotional person. Thus
when her father and mother broke up she was affected,
as any child would be. The love for both her parents
made it difficult for her to accept anyone coming into the
family. She saw them as an adversary to the family. She
refused to accept her stepmother. Eventually her
emotions overwhelmed her and she accepted Stella. That
changed her life forever. For the better.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Colin
A sad boy who yearns for his stepfather, (sorry Colin, I
mean your dad!). Loves him so much that to him he is
Dad. The sadness is over powering and creates
emotional problems for him. He is unable to confront his
mother since he loves his mother too (who doesn’t love
their mum!). Clearly the separation causes a deep
emotional problem in Colin. He becomes very quiet and
day dreams (ie. an introvert).
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Ralph
The youngest in his family. A jovial person and takes life
quite simple. He is so experienced, in the complicated
lifestyle that he has been experiencing form childhood
that he seems to be able to get over any problem quite
easily. The complicated life had made him more
responsible, sensible and quick in his actions and wit.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Pixie (Priscilla/Cilla)
Priscilla is young and immature. She goes to her father’s
house on the alternative week. She finds it difficult living
there as she herself is immature and uncompromising.
She wants to be noticed but does not notice the others in
the house. She seems to find fault with others while her
faults are brushed away.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Robbo
Robbo seems to be a matured, intelligent, friendly and
non-confrontational. He loves his parents, his sister,
his step-brother and his step-dad. He is able to live in
any condition and does not have any problem in the
divorce.
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Quality of Characters
Mr Plumley
Characteristics Supporting information
Concerned
“You settle down. I’ll go
and see if I can find what
the housekeeper has left us
for supper.” (pg5)
Timid “Anyone want to come with
me.” (pg5)
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Richard Clayton Harwick –
My Story Read and Weep
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Synopsis
Richard’s father died in Harwick Hall. He was liked by
everyone. Richard’s mum later married Reverand
Coldstone, a disciplinarian. Charlotte liked him and Mr
Coldstone liked her. Richard however regarded him
coldly because he believed that the Reverand had taken
over the whole family. Thus when the Reverand decided
that he should be sent to school as a boy should be,
Richard regarded school negatively. Consequently
Richard ran away from home and traveled away on a ship
to faraway lands.
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He did return home but saw Harwick Hall from a distance
and did not enter, nor meet his family. One day, he saw an
advertisement requesting him to return. He discovers
that his family members have all passed away. He reads a
letter left by his sister and discovers that his mother and
sister loved him so much. That his absence only created
more problems for them. Disappointed of the turn of
events he had caused, he wondered he should leave or
live in Harwick Hall. However he chose the former.
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The Plot
Exposition
Richard’s father Mr Harwick, passes away. His mother
marries Mr Coldstone, who is kind to his sister,
Charlotte. Richard hates his step-father and believes
his step-father hates him too.
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Rising Action
His step-father begins controlling Richard including
sending him to school. Richard looks at the negative
aspect of the school and regards the schooling very
negatively. Eventually he decides to run away from
the country.
Climax
Broken hearted, his mother dies, after spending a
fortune looking for her son. Mr. Coldstone passes
away too. Charlotte who is unable to finance the
search for her brother marries Charles who agrees to
finance the search.
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Falling Action
Richard returns to Harwick Hall as a rich man. And
discovers the heart breaking situation he had created.
Regrets too late.
Resolution
Without his family, Richard feels the emptiness again
and decides to leave again.
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Setting
Old Harwick Hall
Mordanger School Foreign ports
The port
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Subject Matter
Children do not have the ability to judge the
intricacies of life or decide the situation or
circumstance accurately. Whatever happens may
have a variety of reason for it to happen which a child
may not be able to grasp. A child’s perception of
things is certainly narrow. It takes a lot of experience
and knowledge to understand things around us. This
may be true to matured persons too.
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Theme
Upon knowing that a situation or circumstance is
against you, you should then be patient and discover
how to manage the problem. When you run away from
the problem, it will become bigger and bigger and
difficult to handle.
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MR HARWICK LILY HARWICK
LUCY (Housemaid)
GEORGE DIGBY (Gardener)
RICHARD (DICKIE)
CLAYTON HARWICK
CHARLOTTE HARWICK
CHARLES DEVERE
Se
rva
nts
are
Children are
marries
Married
next
Married to MR COLDSTONE
The Chart for Richard Clayton Harwick - Read and Weep
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Characters (The Main Characters)
1. Richard (Dickie) Clayton Harwick
Is a very young boy who erroneously believes that the
whole world is against him after his father died. His
immature mind considers every thing done by others
which he does not like as an action against him, a typical
childish thought. Richard regrets for his follies.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
2. Mr Coldstone
He comes into the Harwick’s life to perhaps help out the
family which was clueless after the death of Mr Harwick.
Was he after their money or was he genuinely concerned,
is the unanswered question? However after his death we
discover in the story that it was Richard who inherits the
wealth. (Perhaps in the eye of a child, someone to replace
their father is unforgivingly unacceptable.)
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Characters (The Main Characters)
3. Lilith (Lily) Harwick/Coldstone
After her husband’s death she seems to lose control of the
family, not due to the dominant Mr Coldstone but perhaps
due to illnesses. Richards disappearance aggravated her
mental health further!
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Characters (The Main Characters)
4. Charlote Harwick/Devere
She loves her brother dearly. Since he is the only sibling
she has it is no wonder she loves him so much. The fact
that she merely married Charles so that he can fund the
search for her brother clearly shows how much she loves
him in spite of him forsaking her.
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Characters (The Minor Characters)
1. Lucy
A sincere servant to the family..
2. George Digby
Another servant of the family, a gardener, had a soft spot
for Richard.
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Childish “Is my father dying? (pg15)
Emotional
“How many nights my pillow would
become flood...cloudless afternoons I
have to water with my private showers..”
(pg17)
Sensible
“Show me the child who reaches for the
hand of father or mother and says
farewell and I will show you a storm of
weeping under a face of stone”
Richard (Dickie) Clayton Harwick
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Immature
“Will it be tonight?
“Now you would think he really does own
my mother. And everything of hers is his as
well.”
“It seems that I am his. And so is Charlotte.”
(pg19)
“And what did my mother say?...” (pg19)
“I have learned nothing except how to
freeze, and how to starve, and how to be
bullied and beaten.” (pg20)
“I’ll be no son of his! Not ever!” (pg21)
“...a boy as young as I...” (pg22)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Obedient “Yes Father.” (pg18)
Selfish
“But what of me?(twice)...But why did
my father forget to mention me? Does
my happiness not matter? Do I count for
less? Am I supposed to nod and be a
brave lad for ever, while everything
changes around me and everything I
loved is different?” (pg18)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Mean
“Now, Mrs Harwick, you cannot see the
holes in the chapel path for tears. Please
take my arm. I’ll see you safely home.”
(pg19)
“...ask him why he so hates me” (pg21)
“You have forgotten our father!” (pg21)
“And if it should be true?” (pg22)
Love “...dried her tears, and begged her
pardon.” (pg22)
Regret “If I’d had my stepfather’s globe more
firmly in my mind back then...” (pg25)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Mean
“He gripped my arm tighter.” (pg16)
“...he has done his best to beat fear out
of me.”
Anger
“There was a flash of anger...” (pg17)
“...as money steadily slipped away...”
(pg27)
Mr Coldstone
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Disciplinarian
“Are these your best manners? (pg17)
“I shall take time to mend your manners
soon”
“That boy runs wild. He must in any
case be sent to school.” (pg19)
Kind “He has been kind enough to me” (pg21)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Motherly
“...brushing the unruly hair back from
his forehead...” (pg17)
“spent a fortune seeking you...” (pg27)
Devoted wife “I will not have your father go troubled
to his grave.”
Lilith (Lily) Harwick/Coldstone
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Concerned “No tears, my dearest. Your poor father
has seen enough of tears.”
Sensible
“...everything he does is for your own
good, so you will grow up strong and
manly...” (pg21)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Innocent “Papa has hugged and kissed me and
now he is asking to see you.” (pg16)
Concerned “Why must you hate him so?” (pg21)
Compromised “...she’s picked her way between the two
of us like...” (pg21)
Sensible “Why should I treat Mr Coldstone as if
he were a murderer...” (pg22)
Charlote Harwick/Devere
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Philosophical
“Just because life has dealt us one hard
blow, there is no reason for us to be
unhappy for ever.” (pg22)
“...If you had found the courage to stay,
and show patience, and take your part in
our troubles, not heap on more by
vanishing.” (pg27)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Love
“...you are still dearest to me though you
have been so cruel...”
“...I married Charles Devere...he has
promised to keep up the search...”
(pg28)
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Lucy
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Worried/
Concerned
“...her thoughts were far from this little
tower room.” (pg15)
Supersitious “Don’t even speak of it.”
Sorrowful “...hurried away, weeping.”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Concerned “...crushing me to his breast...” (pg15)
George Digby
Characteristics Supporting information
Popular “Everyone loved him” (pg15)
Proud “There’s my strong lad...No tears...”
(pg18)
Richard’s Father
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Lessons and moral values
1. Running away is not the solution.
The courage to stay and fight the battle of life is the
sensible thing to do than to run away from the battle like a
coward. We should stay and confront the problems which
come our way, running away from the problem would not
make the problem to go away. In fact the problem may
only grow bigger.
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2. Patience and preserverence.
Whatever the problem, we must have the patience to
surmount it. What we may not be able to solve in one go
or in one day we may be able to solve little by little or
during a longer period.
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3. Problems shared is problems solved.
When a problem comes our way, we may not be able to
solve it ourself but if we were to get a few person to help
us we may be able to solve the problem which we saw as
too big for us to solve.
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4. If unable to help, at least do not cause more
problems.
There are occasions where we are unable to help others
but then it is during this trying times that we should not
cause more problems for them.
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Synopsis
Claudia’s mum and dad were having differences of
opinion. The basic reason being financial problems.
This created tensions between them everyday. The
father usually goes to his mother’s house when there
is a fight. However, this time the signs showed that it
was permanent.
The breaking apart of the family became obvious when
her father moved in with Stella. Unable to withstand the
split, Claudia went against Stella with every method
she could. She had to ensure that her mother too did
not feel that she was more close to her father and
Stella too.
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One day, on a spur of a moment, Claudia resists her
animosity and befriends Stella.
It was a start to an acceptance of the breaking up of the
family.
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The Plot
Exposition
Claudia’s mum and dad quarrel nearly everyday.
Rising Action
They split up.
Climax
Her father moves in with Stella.
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Falling Action
Nobody wants to accept Stella. Claudia breaks the ice.
Resolution
Claudia accepted the break up and accepted Stella
too.
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Setting
1. Claudia’s home where she lived with her mum.
2. Her Granny’s house where her father lived
whenever he fought withher mum.
3. Stella’s home.
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Subject matter
Differences of opinion between parents
results in broken family. If a compromise
is not reached sooner, matters will only
get worse. Lastly, unless the breaking up
is accepted by all, unhappiness will
only continue.
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Theme
Accept the inevitable, opposing the
inevitable only creates tension
and unhappiness.
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DAD MUM
STELLA
Claudia’s
GRANNY
CLAUDIA SHREELA
GEORGE MARY BARNEY
Married to
Best
friend
Child
ren
are
girlfriend
Frie
nd
are
The Chart for Claudia’s Story – Green Pjymas
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Claudia’s dad
Due to bad business, he was having a financial problem.
Claudia’s mum did not want to understand the problem
and was nagging him which resulted in the quarrels. He
left home as he was the party who was not contributing
and was the weaker one in the relationship. His action of
befriending with Stella soured the relationship with
Claudia’s mum. However, he did try his best to keep
Claudia in his life and the new relationship.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Claudia’s mum
Her expectation was that her husband should contribute
to the family welfare, however bad the situation. The
problem was that after venting her frustrations, she is
unable to relent and give in. Pride stopped her from
taking him back. She regretted. When Stella came into
her husband’s life, her outburst, indicates that she wants
him but pride was stopping her.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Stella
Entering into a relationship with a person who has just
come out of a broken relationship is a nightmare.
Stella found it the hardway. She had to prove herself and
with stand the volatile relationship. She made it.
Grannny
Typical mother to her son. Protects the daughter in law
rather than the son as her love for her son need not be
proven.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Shreela
A good friend.
Barney,Mary,George and Linda
wanted to be “politically” right.
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Naughty “It wasn’t their fault if he didn’t know the
rules.” (pg5)
Observant “...only Claudia had noticed...” (pg10)
Emotional
“...blowing her nose on a tissue.”
“...Openly wiped away her tears.” (pg23)
“Claudia’s tissue is soaking.” (pg24)
Impulsive “I made a decision in the time it took to
blink.” (pg29)
Claudia CHAPTER 1
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Compromising “...I’d try not to sound so keen...” (pg33)
Simple minded “...I just want things back the way they
used to be...” (pg34)
Sad
“...had a separate Christmas, and it was
horrid...
...Boxing day...I felt terrible...” (pg35)
Rude “Goodbye, I said, which was extremely
rude...” (pg36)
CHAPTER 3
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Hate “And I hated him for it.” (pg37)
Faithful
“Don’t call her that” (pg37)
“And all the time, I would be thinking of
Mum.” (pg40)
Kind “I felt sorry for her.” (pg46)
CHAPTER 3
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Nasty
“Fine, I’d say coldly,...But I don’t get to see her
so much...now that I have to come here.” (pg39)
“She’s alright. She’s going on a holiday soon,
with her mother and father.” (pg39)
“If I wanted butter, I’d ask Dad to pass it....”(pg40)
“I pretended that I hadn’t noticed her...” (pg42)
“I shrugged, as if I couldn’t care at all...” (pg43)
“...I never wore the green pyjamas that she’d
given me.” (pg43)
CHAPTER 3
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Sensible
“...it wasn’t helping mum...what had gone
wrong was nothing to do with...
(them)...treating Stella as if she was invisible
was never going to solve it.” (pg46)
Bold
“I came from behind the fern (pg46)...Stella...
These are the pyjamas you bought me. Aren’t
they beautiful?...They’re brilliant...Thank
you.” (Pg47)
CHAPTER 3
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Quitter “...he was gone....” (pg31)
Unrelenting
“...and more arguments...” (pg32)
“Have it both ways...” (pg38)
“...hardly speaking to one another...”
(pg39)
Dishonest “Either he’d fib to ...” (pg37)
Untrustworthy “If he couldn’t be trusted...” (pg37)
Claudia’s dad
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Faithful “Don’t talk about Daddy like that, please!”
(pg31)
Nags
“I’m fed up with the way he spends all his
time...” (pg31)
“...spent more time there...” (pg38)
Claudia’s mum
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Unrelenting
“...and more arguments...” (pg32)
“Just tell me when...” (pg39)
“...hardly speaking to one another...”
(pg39)
Angry “Mum spat it down the phone...”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Friendly “...smiling and friendly...” (pg35)
nervous “Wish me luck.” (pg44)
compromise “...she knew I was faking but she didn’t
push it.” (Pg44)
Stella
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Angry “...have a row with Dad...” (pg37)
Philosophical
“I shouldn’t fret, everything will come out
in the wash, and I can’t even remember
what I was worrying about last year.”
(pg47)
Granny
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Sensible “...we’re best friends again.” (pg41)
Characteristics Supporting information
Rude
“No one was talking to Stella” (pg45)
“...they talked to Dad, or to the air...no
one spoke about the lovely food...they
wouldn’t couldn’t make friends with
Stella...they were ignoring her...” (Pg46)
Shreela
Barney, Mary, George, Linda
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Lessons and moral values
Prevention is better than cure.
Claudia’s parents should be more compromising and one
of them should have given in during the quarrels.
Arguments and quarrels are quite normal in any
relationship, however one should quickly decide to give
in before matters gets worse.
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Patching up is hard to do.
Breaking up seems to be easy, the patching up is the
difficult part. Quarrels and difference in opinion is normal
in relationship but patching up must be fast and decisive.
Someone must give in even though one has to give an
artificial victory to the other.
Claudia’s parent’s were moving towards a breakup. The
classic financial problem with the small quarrels
escalating to a major break up is foreseeable. They
should have patched up sooner before the situation
became permanent.
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Summary
Colin was only the stepson of Jack. Colin never knew
his biological father. Colin’s mum left him as she
realised that he was more of a rough character. Jack
however was the epitome of niceness. A perfect
father, however Colin’s mum could not withstand his
lack of seriousness in getting a job. So she left him.
Not informing Jack where she and Colin were going.
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However, Colin loved Jack and regarded him as his
Dad. Colin admired him, and missed him so much
that he began to “look” for him in his memories,
listened and sang the songs they sang together,
remember the things “Dad liked” and began to “see”
him everywhere in his imagination.
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Lastly, after noticing his mother’s stand about his
Dad, Colin decides to run away from home to look for
his Dad. By his action he wants to teach his mother a
lesson on the “waiting he had to endure for his Dad”.
Would he or wouldn’t he meet his “Dad”?
Will he leave home as Richard did?
Ralph, Charlotte Claudia and Pixie do not agree with
Colin’s action to “run away”.
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The Plot
Exposition
Colin’s mother left his biological father when he was a
few weeks old. When Colin was 8 months old she
hitched up with Jack. Colin regarded him as his Dad.
Rising Action
Jack who was not having a proper job took care of
him as his mum was too busy with work. Colin was
very close to Jack.
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Falling Action
Colin missed Jack so much that he got into trouble
with the teachers. He was hopeless in school. His
mother was not bothered about his happiness. So he
was saving money to look for his Dad and leave his
mom one day.
Climax
One day, Colin’s mum packed and left Jack. The
reason being that Jack did not have a proper job or a
proper income.
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Resolution
Colin’s story does not have an ending, but there is a
foreshadowing...
“It’s about following the bluebird round the world, but
finding happiness where you began.”
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Setting
Colin’s home where he lived with his mom and Jack.
Colin’s present home.
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Subject matter
Children are the most affected when families
break up.
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Theme
Running away from the cause of a problem is never
the solution. Nor is running away to make another
understand the pain or as a “lesson” to the other as it
only creates more problems, especially when it is
among family members.
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MUM DAD
COLIN
Married to
Ma
rried
ne
xt
Has s
on
JACK (stepdad)
The Chart for Colin’s Story – The Bluebird of Happiness
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Characters (The Main Characters)
A sad boy who yearns for his stepfather, (sorry Colin,
I mean your dad!). Loves him so much, that to him, he
is “Dad”. The sadness is over powering and creates
emotional problems for him. He is unable to confront
his mother since he loves his mother too (who doesn’t
love their mum!). Obviously the separation causes a
deep emotional problem in Colin.
Colin
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Characters (The Main Characters)
She is emotionally affected too. She has a defense
system for problems with men, she leaves them. Thus
when she found Colin’s “Dad” inadequate, she left him.
However, to Colin she had to hide certain things which
she felt he is too young to handle.
Colin’s mum
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Characters (The Main Characters)
Kind honest man. Loves Colin like his own son.
Does everything for him. His weakness is he is jobless.
Jack
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Quality of Characters
Colin
Characteristics Supporting information
Observant “Look...In the wall. It’s a door. There’s a
door hidden in the wall.” (pg7)
Day-dreamer
“...who had been quiet the whole
journey.” (pg1)
“...whose habit of drifting through the
hours of each school day as if his
thoughts were hundreds of mile away...”
(pg13)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Interested
“...had come a sharp intake of
breathe...” (pg23)
“Colin’s been listening for once...”
(pg24)
“Go on. And just be sure you don’t miss
out a single word.” (pg25)
“...he was determined to hear the end...”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Naive “You only saw his good side.” (pg53)
Unhappy
“It wasn’t nice for me” (pg52)
“His black eyes glittered...” (pg54)
“Pale silver tears spilled from his
eyes...” (pg57)
CHAPTER 4
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Thoughtful
“And if I stuck up for him...so I shut up”
(pg54)
“...staring out into the night as though
pretending that he hadn’t heard.” (pg55)
Intelligent “And I knew.” (pg54)
Understanding “Listen, he said. She didn’t mean it...she
thought it was better that way” (pg55)
CHAPTER 4
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Defensive “I never finished with him. It wasn’t like
that...” (pg56)
Loyal
“I’m sure she didn’t mean to tell lies,”
(pg58)
“You see, the thing about my mum...”
Creative
“I pretended.” (pg56)
“And I’d pretend that he was there with
me.” (pg56)
CHAPTER 4
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Emotional
problems
“...I started getting into trouble at
school from being half asleep...” (pg57)
“...this man came around and talked to
Mum...
...I was a bit upset...”
“I was still hopeless in school.” (pg59)
“I still get in trouble with teachers.”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Love
“I haven’t got used to it...I took it off the
shelf, and carried it round the shop for
ages.” (pg60)
“Enough to go back and find him”
(pg61)
“As soon as I’m tall enough, I’m off”
“Their favourite song” (pg62)
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Colin’s mum
Characteristics Supporting information
Hard working “My mum worked in a shop” (pg51)
Mean “My mum and I did the flit.”
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Characteristics Supporting information
Cunning
“She just waited for the one day a month
when Dad used to go and spend the day
with his sister...” (pg52)
“...and Mum said, Ssh! to him, and gave
me a funny little sideways look.”
“Mum hadn’t left him any clues.” (pg54)
“...what she said wasn’t the truth...”
“...Mum didn’t even tell him about Dad...”
“...she just pretended he meant the other
one...”
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Characteristics Supporting information
Too busy “...found a job in a canteen...always too
busy...” (pg52)
Impulsive “...She didn’t mean it...she thought it
was better that way” (pg55)
Complicated “And one day you’ll understand it’s for
the best.” (pg55)
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Jack
Characteristics Supporting information
Friendly “...you can talk to him...” (pg53)
Thoughtful/
nice/
fatherly/
Lovable
“...remembers what you say...heard
them from me in the first place” (pg53)
Mysterious “You didn’t know the half of it.” (pg53)
Quality of Characters
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Characteristics Supporting information
Irresponsible “...never having a proper job” (pg53/54)
Talented “He knows the words of practically
every song...” (pg50)
Quality of Characters
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Characteristics Supporting information
Love (Colin)
“The child who is loved has many
names.” (pg51)
“...it was Dad who walked me to school
and back...”
“...And took me to park”
Light hearted “...he used to tease me.”
Quality of Characters
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Lesson and Moral Value
1. We should meet problems headlong and not run
away from them. How long can we run away from
problems in life?
Colin’s mum ran away from the first husband, to avoid
the problems associated with him. She ran away from
Jack too. Her character is as if she runs away from
problems.
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The problems for her never reduced in fact it
increased. She was too tired with work, Colin was not
taken care of. In fact Colin’s character had
deteriorated. Perhaps if she had compromised on Jack,
he may have handled Colin well, Colin could have
become a better person, she could have persuaded
him to work.
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Colin on the other hand seems to have acquired the
same trait from his mum. He wants to run away too. He
loves his mum too much, and is unable to persuade his
mum to agree to his reasoning. Adults sometimes think
that they know everything. He wants to run away rather
than talk to his mum and come to a compromise.
He is not able to foresee that his going away may
cause more problems than solve the present problems.
Just like Richard.
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Synopsis
Ralph’s Dad and his mum were divorced. Ralph the
youngest had two brothers George and Edward. His
mum married Howard. His Dad married Annabelle to
whom he was crazily in love.
His first stepmother was possessive. She wanted
Ralph’s Dad for herself. She was a health enthusiast and
wanted the children to adhere to it too. She was also
against mistreatment of animals and an extreme
spiritual believer. Her enthusiasm to share her idealistic
believes did not go well with her step-children. She
eventually ran away with a “descendent of King Arthur”.
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Janet, was their second stepmother. She was a strict
disciplinarian and was akin to a ruler. She had rules for
every aspect of behaviour or actions. The rules were
strictly adhered to. The children hated it, as their life
was managed as per the clock. Liberty was at the
lowest. However the adults loved it because everything
was done orderly and perfectly. However, Janet left
because she noticed that Ralph’s dad and Mum were
taking advantage of her.
Lastly, Ralph’s father met Flora, the 3rd stepmother who
was as young as Ralph. She was irresponsible,
spendthrift, modern and outgoing. Ralph liked her a lot
and got along well with her. She got pregnant and Ralph
has decided to take care of the soon to be born child.
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The Plot
Exposition
Both of Ralph’s parents married again after their
divorce. Ralph’s mum got married once and Ralph
stay’s over in her home for half the week. However his
dad remarries several times and lives in with his
present girlfriend who may become Ralph’s
stepmother.
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Rising Action
His first stepmother Annabelle was a dominant
character, spiritual and regarded herself always right.
She left when she discovered a “better” person.
His second stepmother was Janet, “a ruler”. She
created rules for everything.
She left because she found out that his father and
mum were taking advantage of her.
Flora was his father’s current companion and she was
pregnant.
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Climax
Ralph likes Flora and they do get along well as she
was of his age. In fact he intends to take care of the
baby, his half-sister when she is born.
Resolution
He was hoping that his dad will marry Flora. Hopefully
she becomes stepmother three and the final one.
Falling Action
He wants to take responsibility because he believes
that Flora will not be able to take care of his half
sister. He is even reading baby books.
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Setting
Ralph’s Mum’s
House
Ralph’s Dad’s
House
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Subject matter
The consequences of a break-up in a marriage
is so complicated and affects all aspects of life
including simple daily matters. The most
affected are the children.
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Theme
The adult’s break-ups although sounds ominous
may result in healthy extended families whereby
the children of the “broken-marriages” find
themselves having a more bigger family which
makes the children more tolerant, ability to cope
with complex problems and learn life’s lesson’s
early in life.
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Angus & Patricia
HOWARD MUM DAD
RALPH FELICIA VICTOR
ALICIA
EDWARD GEORGE
ANNABEL (stepmother one)
JANET (stepmother two)
FLORA (stepmother three)
BABY GIRL TO
BE BORN
TOM
JOE
DOUG
ANN
Now
Married
to Married to
Have
ch
ildre
n
Daughter is
Alr
ea
dy h
ave
ch
ild
ren
Have
ch
ildre
n
Have
ch
ildre
n
The Chart for Ralph’s Story – A Tale of Three Stepmothers
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Ralph’s Schedule
After
school
goes to
Sleeps
at
Mum’s
drives
him to
Howard
drives
him to
Has orchestra on
Week 1
Monday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S
Tuesday MUM’S MUM’S
Wednesday MUM’S MUM’S
Thursday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S MORNING
Friday MUM’S MUM’S
Saturday dad’s? DAD’S
Sunday dad’s?
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Ralph’s Schedule
After
school
goes to
Sleeps
at
Mum’s
drives
him to
Howard
drives
him to
Has orchestra on
Week 2
Monday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S
Tuesday MUM’S MUM’S
Wednesday MUM’S MUM’S
Thursday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S MORNING
Friday MUM’S MUM’S
Saturday MUM’S MUM’S DAD’S
Sunday MUM’S MUM’S
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Ralph’s Schedule
After
school
goes to
Sleeps
at
Mum’s
drives
him to
Howard
drives
him to
Has orchestra on
Week 3
Monday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S
Tuesday MUM’S MUM’S
Wednesday MUM’S MUM’S
Thursday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S MORNING
Friday MUM’S MUM’S
Saturday dad’s? DAD’S
Sunday dad’s?
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Ralph’s Schedule
After
school
goes to
Sleeps
at
Mum’s
drives
him to
Howard
drives
him to
Has orchestra on
Week 4
Monday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S
Tuesday MUM’S MUM’S
Wednesday MUM’S MUM’S
Thursday DAD’S
PLACE DAD’S MORNING
Friday MUM’S MUM’S
Saturday dad’s? DAD’S
Sunday dad’s?
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Characters (The Main Characters)
1. Ralph
The youngest in his family. A jovial person and takes life
quite simple. He is so experienced in the complicated
lifestyle that he has been experiencing form childhood
that he seems to be able to get over any problems quite
easily. The complicated life had made him more mentally
alert, responsible and sensible.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
2. Ralph’s Dad
Looking for love in so many places. He is more
concerned with his life and quite selfish. Never has much
time for the children and uses his spouse for his selfish
needs.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
3. Ralph’s mum
A dominating character, is still able to handle her
children with first husband’s children while having a
second family.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
4. Annabel
A modern lady, interested in social idealism. A nature
lover. Animal lover. Dominating character. Possessive.
Nags.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
5. Janet
The perfectionist. Disciplinarian. Lives by the rules.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
6. Flora
Too young a lady for Ralph’s Dad. Dominating character.
Irresponsible.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
7. Howard
Sensible.
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Quality of Characters
Ralph
Characteristics Supporting information
Quick-witted
“Quick...Pixie and Claudia - upstairs! Try and look
fast asleep. Robbo and Colin - into bed, quickly.”
(pg10)
From “If Miss O Dell thinks we’re asleep.....”
(pg10) to
“...how many chances do you get to peep into
someone else’s life.” (pg11)
“Of course, ...none of my stepmothers have ever
been wicked.” (pg24)
“I bet what we have in common is that we all wrote
down a second home address,” (pg24)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
A genius “You’d have to be a genius to work it
out”. (pg64)
Cheerful “...told them cheerfully”
“Right,’ he said. “Coming up,” (pg65)
Confident “Easy,” Ralph said.”
Surprised/
Astonished “For heaven’s sake!” (pg65)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Irritable “...she got on their nerves.” (pg66)
Independent “...getting myself a cheese sandwich.”
(pg78)
Responsible
“...sneak away and ring Dad.” (pg78)
“All the responsibility will fall on me.”
(pg80)
“...reading baby books.” (pg80)
CHAPTER 5
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Claudia
Characteristics Supporting information
Understanding “...patted his hand” (pg65)
Quality of Characters
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Ralph’s Dad
Characteristics Supporting information
Love
“He carried on as usual...” (pg67)
“Annable muscled in on everything...”
“...he was in love. Totally, idiotically,
soppily in love.”
“Dippy in love...” (pg68)
“...risk the fuss of explaining how George
and Edward felt.”
“Everything Annabel did was fine with
him. She didn’t like jazz, so he stopped
listening to it.
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Characteristics Supporting information
Mean “...taking advantage of her...” “neither
pulled their weight...” (pg74)
Angry
“...squawked at me...” (pg 78)
“...he went spare...” (pg 79)
“...was climbing the walls...” (pg79)
Love “...bewitched look spread over his
face,...” (pg79)
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Ralph’s mum
Characteristics Supporting information
Dominant “...if your Dad makes a fuss, tell him
from me...” (pg69)
Appreciative
“It’s so nice to have a bit of order in our
lives for once,” (pg73)
“And credits where it’s due...just fixed
up with Janet” (pg73)
Satisfied “What a joy,”
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Characteristics Supporting information
Mean “...taking advantage of her...” “neither
pulled their weight...” (pg74)
Unfair “So unfair”.
“My mum’s a bit like that,” (pg75)
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Annabel
Characteristics Supporting information
Possessive
“Never left any of us alone with Dad.”
(pg66)
“She came on every trip...like shopping
or getting petrol...every meal...every
telly programme...when Dad drove us
back to Mum’s...”
Nags “She nagged and nagged...” (pg67)
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Characteristics Supporting information
Dominant “Annable muscled in on everything...”
Health
conscious
“...was always on a diet.” (pg67)
“...dispproved coffee...”
“...drink dandelion tea...”
“...fussed with yeast, and kneaded...”
(pg69)
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Characteristics Supporting information
spiritual
“...believed that everyone had an aura
round their head...” (pg68)
“...claimed she could...”
Animal lover
“...how cruel we were, poor little
Brandy, hardly room to breathe...”
(pg69)
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Characteristics Supporting information
Fickle “...went mad. Totally unhinged...” (pg70)
Idiosyncratic
“...said that Brandy was an evil
beast...sheer spite...
I saw the creature for what it was the
moment he came in the
house...malevolent aura...”
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Janet
Characteristics Supporting information
Disciplinarian
/Organised/
Sensible
“In the main office. Running
everything.” (pg71)
“She was more keen on rules than
anyone I’ve ever known. Janet had rules
for about everything...telly...how
long...to bed...to get up...food...to take
out of the fridge...how to chew...what
you had to do with your elbows...how to
hold your knife and fork...etc” (pg72)
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Flora
Characteristics Supporting information
sexy/ bold/
modern “...with hardly any clothes on.” (pg76)
Spendthrift “...they went shopping for food...”(pg76)
Immature
“I’m far too young to be his mother...”
(pg77)
“I’m not your mother.” (pg79)
Outgoing “So off we went” (pg78)
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Characteristics Supporting information
Dominating
“Another time, maybe you’ll think
twice...without checking about my
plans.” (pg79)
Irresponsible
“She’s done all sort of terrible things to
me...” (pg79)
“...she sent me miles to buy a bottle of
mint sauce...”(pg80)
“She’ll never look after it properly...”
(pg80)
“...found floating belly-upwards in its
bowl” (pg80)
Quality of Characters
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Characteristics Supporting information
Disorganised “She’s completely disorganised.”
(pg79)
Quality of Characters
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Howard
Characteristics Supporting information
Sensible “...she’d got no more than she
deserved...” (pg75)
Quality of Characters
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Edward/George
Characteristics Supporting information
Irritable “...She got on their nerves.” (pg66)
Hate “...just hated it.”
Responsible/
Love “...brushed the crumbs off me,...” (pg69)
Appreciate “...because they had tons of time alone
with Dad...” (pg72)
Quality of Characters
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ANALYSIS
Although divorce is looked upon as a family breaker,
it seems to have its good side too. Children seem to
have an all round emotional life. It may make the
child, if carefully, guided into a very formidable
human being.
Technical Analysis
Compare
“I have two brothers, two half brothers, one half
sister...” (pg63)
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ANALYSIS
With
“Let me guess.” Robbo said. “They’re your
stepsisters and brother.”
“Half sisters and brother.” “Ralph corrected
him...” (pg65)
Submitted
Pg63 should read...
One half brother, two half sisters.
Prove: Two half sisters: Alicia and Felicia.
One half brother: Victor.
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Lesson and Moral Value
1. No one likes divorces. No one wants to become
stepmothers or stepfathers. No one wants half-brothers
or sisters. Everyone wants an ideal family of: a father, a
mother, brothers and sisters. When parents divorce,
which is happening more often in this modern world,
one of the issue is the high number of individuals in the
extended family.
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For societies which do not experience the joint-family
culture, it is a new experience and difficult to get used
to. In joint-family culture the cooperation and
experiences of managing a high number of individuals
creates person of extraordinary calibre. Similarly,
divorces create extended families, and the individuals if
guided well would become well rounded individuals.
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Synopsis
Pixie’s story, is about the problems she has to go
through, when her mum and her father divorced. The
story is about, how she had to share her father in her
own house with her step mother and step
sisters.
The trouble is, it is not the step family which is difficult
but Pixie. She does not want to like them nor does she
want to mix with them.
During a confrontation, she discovers with her
stepmother, each other and understand her family and
her father.
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The Plot
Exposition
Pixie visits her dad every alternative week. Her
stepmother has two daughter’s from her previous
marriage. The two step-sisters, Hetty and Sophie,
have a fight resulting in Hetty moving into Pixie’s
room.
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Climax
Hetty inform’s her mother about Pixie’s plans. Lucy
confronts Pixie who divulges all.
Rising Action
Pixie’s doesn’t like her step-sisters at all. She hates
Hetty as she is too smart and popular, in fact Hetty is
a nice person. However Pixie wants Hetty out of her
room. She tries every trick she could. She succeeds
but in a different manner than the way she planned.
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Resolution
The mother and children understand each other and
their father and live happily.
Falling Action
The mother compromises with Pixie. They understand
the father’s stand.
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Subject Matter
Extended families emanating from broken families is
sometimes inevitable. The difficulty in the families
assimilating into a cohesive family is most trying. As
long as one does not put out one’s hand to accept the
family relationship or friendship there will never be
cohesiveness.
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Theme
When parents break up, the family shatters, no one and
no one will feel it most than those family members,
particularly the teenagers. Being a teenager is already
most trying, but when families break up at that period of
time, the difficult feeling is multi-fold.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
1. Pixie (Priscilla/Cilla)
Priscilla is young and immature. She goes to her father’s
house on the alternative week. She finds it difficult living
there as she herself is immature and uncompromising.
She wants to be noticed but does not notice the others in
the house. She seems to find fault with others while her
faults are brushed away.
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The Chart for Pixie’s Story – The Pains in My Life
MUM DAD
PIXIE
LUCY
HETTY & SOPHIE’S FATHER (UNMENTIONED IN NOVEL)
HETTY
SOPHIE
Was married to
Ha
s d
au
gh
ter
Ma
rried
ne
xt
Ma
rried
to
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Characters (The Main Characters)
2. Pixie’s Dad
Avoids all controversial issues. Wants the family to be
happy but treats all the family issues as not his problem.
Has to bend backwards towards Lucy’s family.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
3. Pixie’s Mum
Very possessive of Pixie and her things. Does not like
Pixie leaving any of her things at her dad’s place.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
4. Lucy
Pixie’s stepmother. Takes care of the whole family
without complaining. Wants to make the family
successful. She tries very hard.
5. Hetty
Very intelligent and kind. Very matured.
6. Sophie
Hetty’s sister.
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Quality of Characters
Pixie (Priscilla/Cilla)
Characteristics Supporting information
Afraid “...Pixie preferred safety in numbers...”
(pg5)
Witty “They probably still will be...” (pg6)
Keen “Give it to me.” (pg14)
CHAPTER 1
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Boastful “I’m brilliant at reading.” (pg14)
Brilliant “I had to put two home addresses on
my permission form.” (pg24)
CHAPTER 1
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Frustrated “...don’t want to bother to seeing my
father any more,...” (pg83)
Dislike “And I can’t stand Hetty Payne” (pg85)
“I’m not too keen on Sophie...” (pg85)
CHAPTER 6
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
mean
“...crawling round his new family as if
everything about them mattered more?”
(pg86)
“First, I tried a haunting...” (pg87)
“...scratching and scribbling noise...”
“...flung the window wide open...” “...it
was like the Arctic...”
“...murder happened here!”... (pg88)
CHAPTER 6
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
mean
“...about poor Henrietta Forbes...””...her
ghost was seen up and down the
street...”
“I waited until she was deep in her
homework...brought it over to her desk..
(and asked her to explain)...” (pg89)
“...the semi silent treatment...” (pg89)
CHAPTER 6
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
mean
“Hetty the perfect! Hetty the pain!”
(pg94)
“She is a pain...A total pain” (pg95)
“I don’t like the people in it” (pg95)
“I don’t care...They’re not mine...”
(pg96)
“as me wanting you to get run over by
accident...”(pg98)
CHAPTER 6
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Quality of Characters
CHAPTER 6
Characteristics Supporting information
Irritate
“They drive me up the wall” (pg83)
“...Hetty drives me mad...” (pg85)
“Lunch time Priscilla”
Selfish
“This isn’t fair...She’s Sophie’s sister,
not mine.”
“Do you think it would kill him to try and
stick up for me..” (pg86)
“...think about me...” (pg86)
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Quality of Characters
CHAPTER 6
Characteristics Supporting information
Pitiful
“Being packed up every other week
and forced to sit and be polite to
someone else’s boring family.” (pg96)
Confrontational “Sophie and I had a fight” (pg86)
Immature
“Sophie took the top-bunk without
even asking me or tossing a coin.”
(pg86)
“Hetty teases me about my name...”
(pg100)
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Quality of Characters
CHAPTER 6
Characteristics Supporting information
Understanding
“...but we never made a noise...Dad and
Lucy came in...saw what a terrible
mistake they’d made and how much
they were fooling themselves and how
stupid they were to think we would ever
feel anything about one another ...”
(pg86)
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Quality of Characters
CHAPTER 6
Characteristics Supporting information
Jealous
“...Except mine...” (pg86)
“I want to snatch it from her and rip it...”
(pg87)
“I want to push her face in it”
“...point to all the little mistakes in my
maths..”
Creative “First, I tried a haunting...” (pg87)
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Quality of Characters
CHAPTER 6
Characteristics Supporting information
Shrewd
“I hoped she’d suddenly get so fed up
with me that she’d decide even her
sister was better company and ...storm
back to her Sophie...” (pg90)
Bold
“...you and Dad at least got to choose
one another....” (pg91)
“...you two who made things turn out
this way, not me....” (pg92)
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Quality of Characters
CHAPTER 6
Characteristics Supporting information
Ungrateful “...you never even bother to thank me
for any of it.” (pg93)
Loyal “Don’t do that please!” ...Make snide
remarks of my mother” (pg94/95)
Unfair You have just called my daughter a
Perfect Pain!” (pg95)
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Quality of Characters
CHAPTER 6
Characteristics Supporting information
Pretending
“...you sincerely and honestly believed
that without me and Sophie and Hetty,
everything in your life would be hunky-
dory” (pg97/98)
Compromising “I’m only here because I don’t want to
hurt my father’s feeling...” (pg98)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Compromising “Lucy thinks Hetty might find that
unsettling,” (pg85)
Pixie’s Dad
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
spineless
“...crawling round his new family as if
everything about them mattered more?”
(pg86)
“...he’d just decided to stay safely out of
things...” (pg92)
“...staying out of things, and not facing
up to what was bothering anyone, and
only creeping in when he thought the
trouble was over...” (pg99)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Unfair
“So long as I pretend that everything’s
fine ...He’s all smiles...But if I say
anything its very different.” (pg97)
Selfish
“...he just got on with his own selfish,
quiet life, pretending he didn’t notice
things or leaving them for Lucy...”
(pg99)
Coward “...just to tease him, one of us might
mutter: Well Lucy thinks...” (pg103)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Responsible
“...I knew she was taking this seriously.
It mattered to her.” (pg90)
“I cook your meals...change your
sheets...clean your room...wash your
clothes...” (pg93)
Fair
“Hetty says you’re not talking to her.”
(pg91)
“...you don’t even get to choose your
own parents...” (pg91)
Lucy
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Tactful
“...I still tried to get along with you...”
“...he tries to get along with them...”
(pg92)
“Be as nasty as you like. But I know
which I’d choose: a child who knows
how to behave, or one who doesn’t.”
(pg94)
“You insist you are not family...but you
certainly have no idea how to behave as
a guest...” (pg94)
“Priscilla’s a beautiful name.” (pg100)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
disappointed “...she was really irritated,...” “...Leave it
all to the Wicked Stepmother...” (pg93)
Sarcasm
/regret
“...if I’d had the faintest idea what I was
getting into, I wouldn’t have done it in a
million years.” (pg93)
“Because it’s not a life anyone in her
right mind would choose.” (pg93)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Embarrassed “She went bright red” (pg94)
“Lucy went scarlet.” (pg96)
Unappreciated
“But do i get any support from her?”
“Whatever I do I simply cannot win!”
(pg97)
Fighter “I have to keep trying” (pg98)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Confrontational
“...Sophie and Hetty had a terrible quarrel...”
“...a real stand-up fight...” (pg83)
“Hetty’s using my calculator, and she won’t
give it back...” (pg84)
“Sophie keeps switching channels while I’m
watching...”
“Hetty wore my blue wooly...”
“Sophie’s sitting on the stairs, and she won’t
let me past her.”
“All of a sudden there was this giant bust-
up...”
“Sophie and I had a fight” (pg86)
Hetty
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Intelligent “...gift for maths...” (pg86)
...can explain things till...” (pg89)
well-mannered “...natural good manners...”
talented “...way with animals...”
popular “...everyone’s darling...”
Sensible “...went straight to her mother and told
her what was going on...”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Confrontational
“...Sophie and Hetty had a terrible quarrel...”
“...a real stand-up fight...” (pg83)
“Hetty’s using my calculator, and she won’t
give it back...” (pg84)
“Sophie keeps switching channels while I’m
watching...”
“Hetty wore my blue wooly...”
“Sophie’s sitting on the stairs, and she won’t
let me past her.”
“All of a sudden there was this giant bust-
up...”
Sophie
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Lesson and Moral Value
1. Life is mean. We can’t be mean too. An eye for an eye
would only make the whole world blind. Meanness
creates only enemies and confrontations. Kindness
should be recognised and appreciated. It should not be
replied with meanness.
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Synopsis
Robbo had no problems living with his mum, Hope,
step-father Roy and their son Dumpa. Cassie, Robbo’s
sister, however, hated Roy and did everything
possible to show her dislike. She tried to break mum’s
and Roy’s relationship but she agreed that Dumpa’s
the problem.
She was the reason for them having fights and
causing Roy to leave the house for a week. Dumpa
was unable to tolerate Roy’s absence. That is how the
family discovered how much Dumpa loved Roy.
Robbo understood that Dumpa’s the problem in their
plans.
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Hope usually protects Cassie in confrontation’s with
Roy. In one, of the outburst by Roy, Robbo discovers
that Roy is also having problems leaving them
because he loves Dumpa too much. For Roy too,
Dumpa’s the problem.
Hope discovers that she may lose Dumpa if she
protects Cassie too much. Robbo discovers that,
Dumpa’s the problem for his mum too.
And to solve all the problems, Hope allows Cassie, to
stay with her father. Dumpa is not a problem anymore.
However, was Dumpa the problem or the binding force
in the family? Was Cassie the problem then?
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The Plot
Exposition
Robbo and his sister Cassie live with their biological
mum, Hope. Their mum marries Roy and they have a
son called Dumpa.
Rising Action
Cassie does not like Roy and tries very hard to break
Roy’s relationship with her mum so that she can join
back with her biological Dad. She tries very hard. But
fails. However Roy and Hope do have a confrontation
because of Cassie.
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Climax
Dumpa’s the problem. Roy loves Dumpa so much that
he returns after leaving after a fight with Hope. Hope
gives up patching up Cassie with Roy for if she takes
side, she may lose Dumpa. The problem is every one
loved Dumpa.
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Resolution
Dumpa is not the problem. Cassie, Robbo and even
their father agreed that Dumpa can stay with them
anytime, to which Hope too agreed.
Falling Action
After discovering that Cassie cannot tolerate Roy at
all, Hope agrees to allow Cassie to live with her Dad.
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Subject Matter
Non acceptance of the divorce, non-acceptance of
the new relationship in the family, non acceptance
of the new circumstance the broken family is in
is perhaps felt most by the children. In those
circumstances sometimes there will be a binding
force which may be holding the whole broken
family together but the binding force may only be a
thin line.
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Theme
However, great the love of the adults among them, when
they have children, the children’s love for the parents
and the love of the parents of the children play a mighty
role in the new family relationship. There is a great
possibility that even the new extended family
relationship may be broken due to the parent’s love for
the child and a great possibility that the love for the
child may only be the binding force holding up the
family relationship.
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The Chart for Robbo’s Story – Dumpa’s the problem
DAD ROY
DUMPA
MUM
ROBBO CALLIE
Was married to Married next
Have children
Have
so
n
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Characters (The Main Characters)
1. Robbo
Robbo seems to be a matured, intelligent, friendly and
non-confrontational. He loves his parents, his sister, his
step-brother and his step-dad. He is able to live in any
condition and does not have problem in the divorce.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
2. Callie
Callie is unable to stand her step-father. This is mainly
due to the fact that she does not want her parents
separated. In fact she tries very hard to patch them back.
She loves her father very much. In the end she makes a
compromise and decides to live with her Dad.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
3. Robbo’s mum
She tries very hard to be fair to her husband and her
children. And eventually gives up maintaining peace
between her husband and Callie. She compromises
and allows Callie to stay with her Dad.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
4. Roy
Roy is fair to his step-children. However he is unable
to be on the good side of Callie as she never gives
him any chance. He loves his biological son, Dumpa
so much.
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Characters (The Main Characters)
5. Dumpa
Only 3 years old and very intelligent. Loves his
father so much. And everybody loves him.
6. Robbo’s Dad
Never gets along with his wife. Was happy to
accept Callie into his house.
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Quality of Characters
Robbo
Characteristics Supporting information
brave
“...and went on a prowl up two or three
stairs...” (pg6)
“...had cast the spell of his own courage
on them...” (pg8)
CHAPTER 1
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Matured “I don’t think he’s too bad...” (pg106)
“I don’t mind terribly...”
Love
“Dumpa’s the problem you see.” “the
sweetest child in the whole world.”
(pg101)
Thrilled “I almost fell like cheering.” (pg108)
Impulsive “Like being a real family again.” (pg109)
CHAPTER 7
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Skeptical “But I wasn’t nearly so sure...” (pg111)
Sensible
“..there was still a big difference
between the two of them trying to get
along like reasonable people and...
wanting to get back together...” (pg111)
“Lots of people argue. It probably
doesn’t mean what you think.” (pg112)
CHAPTER 7
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Intuitive
“...suddenly realised Mum had had
enough of being the umpire between
Callie and Roy” (pg120)
CHAPTER 7
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Strategist
“Force it open, boys! I’ll tell you why he won’t
come back inside,” I said. Because he’s fed up
as we are. he feels unwelcome in this house. In
fact he’d really like to leave, but Dumpa’s the
problem.” (pg121)
“Keep up that pressure. Push them hard!”
(pg122)
“Don’t lose it now, Callie, I was willing her. Go
on for goal” (pg123)
“I think she probably said she want to go and
live with Dad.” (pg123)
CHAPTER 7
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Quality of Characters
Callie
Characteristics Supporting information
Immature “The Beard’s moved in and taken
everything, and it’s not fair.” (pg106)
Dislike
“Callie really hates him.”
“Callie hates it (to lord over us)...”
“I can’t stand him.” (3 times) (pg122)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Mean
“Sometimes she stands behind a door
and does this imitation of him under her
breath.”
“...she’d put rat poison in his food...”
(pg107)
“...took great pleasure in tormenting
Roy...” (pg108)
“...whose eyes lit up at every little
niggle...” (pg111)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Mean
“He’s fixed up some overtime for the
evening she wanted to go out.” (pg111)
“You can’t tell me what to do! You’re not
my father!” (pg113)
“And we’ve all had enough of you.....
(to).....and even Mum’s sick of you!”
(pg113)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Mean
“The Beard’s a pig! An interfering pig! I
hope he stays out all day and freezes to
death!” (pg117)
“He’s totally mad” (pg120)
Love “And if it weren’t for Dumpa.”pg107
“Dumpa’s the problem of course.”pg112
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Grateful
“At least he and his dada get to live in
the same house...” (pg108)
“we could look after Dumpa here...”
(pg125)
Intelligent
“Callie had been right all week” (pg108)
From “Callie still thought that it was....
to...take us in that café’ for a drink.”
(pg109)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Hopeful “People do get back together. You never
know. It might happen.” (pg109)
Cunning/
Crafty/
Inventive/
Creative
“The something else turned out to be a
load of barefaced lies.” (pg110)
Optimistic “Well, Dumpa will simply have to learn
to cope.” (pg112)
Stubborn “Roy is as stubborn as Callie...” (pg115)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Protective “Mum only let him tick us off if we were
doing something really stupid...”(pg106)
Intuitive “He’s definitely his dada’s son.”
Defensive “You’re in a real family.” (pg110)
“Everyone has arguments.” (pg121)
Hope, Robbo’s mum
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Confrontational
“They’re hopeless when they
meet.”pg110
“It seemed they couldn’t come to terms
at all.” (pg114)
Sensible
“Let go of Callie at once, please.” “But she
wants you to let go of her, and I want you to
let go of her” (pg113)
“Callie’s so proud and if you push it, all that
will happen is she’ll start to hate you.”
(pg114)
“Do you really dislike him that much? Do you
really?” (pg124)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Motherly
“Come inside, Dumpa.” (pg115)
“Dumpa! You’re freezing out there.
Come in with us.”
“Roy, Send Dumpa in, please! (pg116)
“Roy, Can you please persuade Dumpa
to come back inside” (pg116)
“It’s very cold. I’d like him back
inside,please.” (pg116)
“Come with me, Dumpa.” (pg116)
“I’m going out to fetch him now,”
(pg120)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Desperate “Robbo, ...Please try and get him to
come in for me.” (pg117)
Dejected
“Because he’s dada’s son” (pg120)
“Mum sank on the edge of a chair as if
I’d punched the stuffing out of her.”
(pg121)
“And I’m stuck in the middle.” (pg121)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Sensible
“Go round” (pg112)
“That’s my car you’re about to scratch.”
(pg113)
Mean
“...I’ve just about had enough of you!”
(pg113)
“Are you taking her side?”
Hurt “Because she’s not my daughter? Is
that it?
Roy “the Beard”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Responsible
“...I’m good enough to get up half an
hour earlier than i need every morning
to drive her to school, and good enough
to work overtime to pay for repairs...trail
round the supermarket for her favourite
food...” (pg113/114)
confrontational “It seemed they couldn’t come to terms
at all.” (pg114)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Stubborn
“Roy is as stubborn as Callie...” (pg115)
“I think it’s obvious he wants to stay
with me.” (pg116)
sarcasm
“Why? Aren’t two children out of three
enough for you?” (pg116)
“Come in to what though?” (pg118)
sulking “I don’t see why not. You obviously
have! She can too.”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Love “I’m still here, aren’t I? Isn’t that
enough?” (pg118)
Compromise “All right,...Take Dumpa in with you.”
(pg119)
Tactful
“I’m sending Robbo in to fetch you an
ice lolly. And when its finished, you go
back inside. Is that a deal?” (pg119)
Defensive “Everyone has arguments.” (pg121)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Love
“...stared up at Roy...” (pg107)
“He’s been following Roy around ever
since like a little baby duckling.”
“...he struggles till they let him go and
rushes down the stairs into Roy’s
arms.”
“He’s definitely his dada’s son.”
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Excited “...went tumbling down the stairs...”
(pg108)
Cunning
“The three of us ...watched for nearly
an hour as Dumpa outsmarted us”
(pg119)
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Quality of Characters
Characteristics Supporting information
Hard working “...work for years and years to pay for
a nice house...” (pg106)
Defensive “Don’t snap at the boy, Hope...”
(pg110)
Confrontational “They’re hopeless when they meet.”
(pg110)
Robbo’s Dad
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Lesson and Moral Value
1. One cannot expect everything to fall into place like one
wants to in any situation. This applies to divorces too.
Just because one finds the first marriage is unable to
continue, that does not mean the second marriage will
fall into place neatly.
2. The most difficult issue in any divorce is the children’s
issue. When adults are unable to solve their differences
even though they are married can children be forced to
accept the differences which is naturally present in the
new family members?
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3. After a divorce, what can parents do if their own
children fight against them and the new relationship? A
precarious situation which is difficult and unsolvable
unless there is ample compromise.
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Analysis
From time immemorial stepmother’s have been
portrayed as witches, the devil’s mistresses,
murderers, child kidnappers, child slayers and what
not. Every aspect of media has helped in this frenzy, a
frenzy to impress on people that stepmothers are bad.
The odd circumstance is that stepfathers have not
been given the same treatment. Perhaps the media
dominated by males is the cause! The truth is, the die
is cast, until and unless the die is broken this trend
will continue whatever the actual truth is.
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Analysis
Richard believed, so be it erroneously, that his
stepfather was evil. The irony is that Mr Coldstone is a
reverand. In spite of that, Richard believes in his
perception and sadly makes a wrong decision. If, his
perception had been more sensible, the whole sad
affair may not have happened. His one wrong
perception made him make another wrong decision and the rest was merely a domino effect of disasfer.
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Analysis
Claudia, did not want to accept the breakup of her
parents. She just accepted the fact that her parents
merely were not together and that she had to stay with
her mum and go off to her father’s occasionally.
Claudia in her whole life only knew her father and her
mum as her parents. A belief so strong and unshakeable.
In fact it is even ridiculous to even mention that fact. But
when Stella came into her father’s life, it was an alien
circumstance which she did not accept. She showed her
rejection by not cooperating with Stella. Stella to her
perception had taken the place which rightly belonged to
her mother.
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Analysis
Arguably, Claudia perceived that Stella was there to
take the position of mother to her. So she resisted it.
After discovering that Stella was vulnerable and was
unable to come near that “position” she discovered the
misconception every one had. She broke the mould
then by accepting Stella publicly.
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Analysis
Colin was a pitiful soul. Colin perceived his stepfather as
his father. Who wouldn’t? His stepfather was there for
Colin anytime and brought him up with all the love a child
needs. Although Colin’s perception was erroneous his
was a healthy perception. However, his mother made
judgments on her spouses. She seems to perceive that
they are not worthwhile. The first husband is perceived as
a rough person, the second as not earning. So, she
decides to ride life on her own. She could have accepted
the spouses as companions but she did not. If she had
done that Colin would not have become the introvert that he had become, living in the memory of his stepdad.
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Analysis
She had created an erroneous perception in her son’s
mind that his father will one day come or that he will be
able to meet him one day. That erroneous perception had
grown in the child’s mind, grown so big that the boy lived
and thought only of his father. Anything else was
secondary. His future was lost in the thoughts he had
nurtured.
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Analysis
Ralph is a success story. He was responsible, disciplined
and seems to take life lightly. Perhaps he should thank
his three stepmothers. He seems to be intelligent, full of
common sense and lastly full of love for his yet to be
born sister. The issue seems to be, his father, who seems
to perceive that love is to be discovered in others. He
seems to be looking for love in so many places. He had
to go through four wives, even then one is unsure if he
will stick to Flora or that Flora will stick to him, for that
matter. The reason is Ralph’s father seems to be
spineless. All the ex-wifes perceive him to be a pushover
and that he was taking advantage of them.
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Analysis
Pixie’s perception of the Payne’s was that they were “a
pain”. Lucy and her two daughters was “them”. She
perceives “them” as an adversary rather than family. She
even hopes that Lucy will meet an accident and die so
that her father and mother can be together again. She
lives in that house against her will. The irony is that Pixie
is able to comfortably enjoy the benefits coming her way
from “them”. Her perception was they were not her family
and that they were not invited nor welcome there.
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Analysis
Robbo was not the problem. Dumpa was not the problem.
His mother was not the problem. The beard was not the
problem. Yes, his sister Callie was the problem. She
wanted her parents back together. What she failed to
understand was it was not in her hands, and that her
parents had decided to go separate ways. They were
friendly but they just could not be married to each other.
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Analysis
She believed erroneously that she could patch them up.
She believed that “the beard” was the stumbling block in
her plans. To her even Dumpa was not the problem. Her
perception was, she could patch up her parents if “the
beard” and her mum broke up. Dumpa was not the
problem. Was her perception erroneous?
I wish I can say, “You tell me!”
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Unanswered questions to ponder.
How does one manage the old family and the new family
fairly so that both do not regard themselves left out?
Is it possible for divorced families or extended families,
the former families and the present families to be
managed by the parents without any problems in the
relationships, so that none feel left out?
Can the parents justify their actions when they attend to
one child while the other feels left out?
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Even if the parents are fair, would the children regard it
so?
What if the grandparents treat their biological
grandchildren better than their non-biological
grandchildren? Is this fair?
Would the children feel it is fair?
Do you think these are subjective questions which is
applicable to the families in question?
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1. But what of me?
But why did my father forget to mention me.
Does my happiness not matter?
Do I count for less?
Am I supposed to nod and smile and be a brave lad
forever? (pg18)
Children who are neglected create social problems.
Parents need to spend quality time with their children.
In fact teachers who neglect school children may also
cause problems for the students.
Lesson and Moral Value
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The children on the other hand should regard this
concern by parents and teachers positively and do not
regard the concern negatively, busybody etc. Children are
capable to be scarred for life due to the psychological
effect of neglect by the parents.
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2. One should not vent his frustration on a person who is
not a party to the event. When the father died, Dickie
vented his frustration on Mr Coldstone. When her
parents divorced, and were separated Claudia vented
her frustration on Stella. When Pixie’s parents divorced,
Pixie vented her frustration on Lucy. When Robbo’s
parents divorced, Callie his sister vented her frustration
on the Beard.
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The person who was the cause or the guilty party was
not vindicated. The children did not dare. An innocent
person was vindicated. This is unfair. The problem is the
children do not understand this. Parents should educate
the children and not support the children on this issue.
In fact in most cases, the new relations fail as the child,
the apple of the eye of the parents will take precedence
over the new comer. (pg22)
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3. If one were to think carefully, step by step, one will be
able to find the solution to any problem. This sounds
like a maths problem. If we work it out step by step, and
not missing any wicked step, we will eventually find the
answer. And score we will. Be it Additional Maths or
Modern Maths. If, you miss any of the steps, you will
lose a mark, and you will call the teacher who marked
the answer sheet, a wicked person. In real life, if we
were to have a problem, and if were to think carefully
step by step (don’t include any wicked steps) we will
find the solutions for any problem we face. We need to
take some time to think and we will have the solution.
(pg24)
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4. One day, a very long time in the future you will realise
what your parents did for you was right. Not necessarily
in the long future. Dickie found soon enough, regarding
the Geography lesson his stepfather gave him. There
are so many things parents who are much more
experienced than a child may say or ask the child to do.
The child may find it difficult to follow as the child does
not have the maturity to look so far in the future nor the
ability to look at a plethora of circumstances around an
issue which the parents have gone through. One day,
perhaps it will be too late, but they will realise.
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Ask any adult, is there anything his or her parents had
said and he or she had not followed and regretted now.
The answer will be a resounding Yes! At the same time
ask them what are the things their parents have told
them to do and they did it although they did not like it
then. Now what do they think about what the parents
had told them then, is it right. The answer will be Yes.
(pg25)
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5. Better if you had found the courage to stay and show
patience.
Sometimes the best way to solve the problem is to wait
patiently and let “the storm” pass by. The courage to
withstand the might of “the storm” is crucial. After
which one can gather oneself and assess the damage to
solve the problem. Problems are just like a storm, they
come and they go. We should have the courage and the
patience to withstand it.
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“And take your part in our troubles.”
Where problems befall a family, if all the family members
do their part, take some minor part in solving the
problem, the problem becomes manageable. However
small the part played, the problem becomes smaller for
the others.
“Not heap on more by vanishing.”
“...the damage I have done by piling one wrong on
another till all I loved was broken from the strain...”
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Running away from problems is never the solution, the
problem will never go away, it will gather more
associated problems. In the end we will have more
problems, some caused because we did not solve the
first problem, other problems comes because we are not
there! to solve them. The one which was there in the
beginning will still be there staring at us. (pg27)
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6. “it isn’t very nice just having to keep waiting and
hoping...” (pg29)
It is never nice to be waiting even for a minute, more so
if it is years. The worst part is when we are made to wait
without being informed why we are made to wait. If we
are made to wait and we are told how long we will have
to wait, it will be tolerable to wait. If we are made to wait,
and we are not told how long we have to wait, we would
be hoping and hoping that the wait will end. It isn’t nice
to be made to wait. Don’t you think so!
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7. “...no one should make decisions that will change the
lives of everyone round them without thinking about it
for a very long time”
One decision. That one decision can and will affect so
many person. So many decisions were made by so
many characters in the novel. It affected so many people
in so many ways. Some were affected in a pleasant way
some were not. Claudia made a decision in less than a
blink!
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However, one should note that there are occasions
where split second decisions are necessary for the
normal working of society. Example when driving, when
in times of impending disaster etc. Other exceptions is
when it involves professionals and specialists who need
to make split second decisions. One sometimes cannot
take too long to decide certain things.
Arguably, it is agreed that there are a time when a
decision should not be made hastily when it will effect
too many people.
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Arguably if there are several people involved in the split
second decision and they do agree, they should be
allowed to make split second decisions which will
change the lives of everyone around them. (pg29)
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8. “I just want things back the way they used to be”
9. You can’t make things right by wishing.
Everyone wants things back the way they used to be as
long as it was pleasant. Change is part of life.
Everything changes. This is wishful thinking. We cannot
live in the past. We have to live today for today.
(Pg34/pg98)
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10. You can’t have it both ways.
Sometimes members of the broken families try to get
benefits from both sides of the family but do not
contribute to either family. It could be the father, or the
mother or even the children.
You can’t have the pudding and eat it too. (pg97)
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11. I have to keep trying.
Never give up. When the going gets tough the tough
gets going. Even in a game of football if the losing team
even thinks of giving up they might as well stop the
game and give a walkover. That does not happen they
continue playing and sometimes the losing team does
win! Life is like that. Try, try and try. (pg98)
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12. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
To regard a childish name calling seriously and to create
such a big problem with the name calling which is
clearly a no-issue, is certainly making a mountain out of
a molehill, a worthless issue. But there are some issues
which needs to be blown out of proportion if we want
people’s attention on it. A good example would be
environmental issues.
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Although some environmental issues are physically
small, unless one blows it out of proportion, and make it
a big issue, scrupulous people might enlarge the
damage for the pecuniary advantage. e.g the destroying
of forests which begins on a small scale when timber is
stolen from the jungle. (pg100)
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13. Parents should be together for the sake of the children.
Divorce does not solve all the problems. it creates more.
In certain cases divorce is inevitable however the
divorcees should take into consideration the children.
For the love of the children the parties can be together
and pursue life on that understanding till the children
reach the age of adulthood.
...Dumpa is not the problem, he is the binding force.
(pg106)
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14. Everyone is not made the same. Adults or children. Just
because adults can cope it does not mean children can.
Just because some children can it does not mean others
can or vice versa.
Not even fingers of the same hand are similar in size or
shape, how can we expect a complicated human being
to be of the same character.
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It is not right to expect from someone anything just
because another is able to the same thing. Parents who
divorce, and subsequently get married expect the
children to have a cordial relationship with the new
family members. It is not as easy as that. This should be
foreseen. The difficulty is real. The adults and the
children should be prepared for any eventualities.
Keluar Belakang Depan
However it should be noted that children are fast
learners, once children are put in a difficult situation
they can learn lessons in life. Robbo is the example.
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15. Expectation works both ways. If we expect someone to
do or behave in a certain way. We should expect them to
impose some things on to us too.
Roy had to care for Callie. Callie should reciprocate. It
was not so in the novel. In real life, “there is no free
ride”. (pg113)
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16. Teenagers or children are to be treated with kids glove,
if we push them too hard, they will start to fight back or
hate you.
Although children have a fertile mind, theirs is an
immature mind.
If the parents or adults impose too high a pressure on
them, they may absorb the pressure and do what is
wanted but then they may retaliate, if they do so the
chances of patching up with the child may be difficult or
it may psychologically affect them. In both cases there
is a possibility that the child may hate the adult. Force
may not be the answer. (pg114)
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17. Sometimes we want to protect someone close to us
from another, by protecting them we may be closing that
person from the outside world.
Callie’s mum was the umpire between Roy and Callie.
She wanted to protect her daughter as a mother. The
protection created a shell for Callie where she began to
attack Roy whereas Roy was not able to discipline her.
Callie’s character will be psychologically affected by the
“shell” created by her mother for her. (pg120)
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18. Sometimes you have to take a risk to finish the game.
An often said caption by captains of sports games.
Every game has a risk. The highest risk is towards the
end of the “game”. The last few minutes may decide
who wins the “game”. In Robbo’s game-plan, his mother
could have gone berserk and stubbornly disagreed. It
was a risk. Robbo took it. In real life too, life is a risk. We
study in the last minute just because we get news that a
question may come out. Knowing quite well that the last
minute studying “may” put us off tempo. (pg123)
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19. New season. Fresh teams. Brand new game.
When the team is not cohesive. It is time we plan for the
new season.
When the family members are not cooperating, create an
occasion where cooperation is necessary, a birthday if
possible or an outing etc.
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When the members of the family is the same for too long,
there may be inflexibility, perhaps we need a new input,
(an uncle, a grandfather etc) a fresh member to make it
into a fresh team or perhaps change some of the roles
to create a fresh team.
A Brand new game, perhaps by shifting house, change
the business, move to a new country etc. (pg125)
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20. Your sister isn’t running away. She’s simply trying
something different to make things work. Callie is not
running away from the issue. She had simply gone to
the her father’s as her presence will not make things
better for Roy. It is not a “running away” and not
accepting the responsibilities in the family, it is only a
reprieve. (pg126)
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21. Unhappiness works like one of those huge snowballs
you see on the parks. The more you roll it round and
round, the more there is of it. And your tiny bit that
started it stays in the middle cold and hard, where you
can’t get at it anymore. And where it lasts the longest.
Sad thoughts should not be kept in the mind and
pondered repeatedly. It should not be pondered and
expanded to include all the expected negative
conclusions it may cause. The more one thinks about it,
the more it affects us.
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22. He didn’t try hard enough and he didn’t try long enough.
Whatever one does one should not do it superficially,
one should do it with full vigour and concentration, if we
do not do it hard enough, the result may not be up to
expectation. Sometimes it may need a longer period of
time to come to fruition. We should have the sustenance
to withstand the onslaught of time. (pg128)
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23. Somebody has to make the effort.
...the ones who mess everything up in the first place aren’t
quite so good at fixing thing again after.
People who cause some calamity or mess everything up
probably messed it up because they were incapable or
were not in the right frame of mind, if so, the chances
are they are not the right person to correct the situation.
Arguably, the experience in being involved in the
particular situation would have made the person more
experienced to handle it as he or she knows the
intricacies of the situation better than a third party who
does not know anything about the situation. (pg128)
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24. Perhaps he thought he was the only one.
Whenever we face some problems, we think only we can
get into such a problem. We always think that the
problem is peculiar to us. The truth is everyone faces
problems of a similar kind every minute of the day.
There is no such thing as problems only looks for one
single person, you. (pg129)
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