"Revised Story Analysis"

The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is about a woman who is ill.  At the beginning of the short story the protagonist speaks of a mansion that her husband John and herself have secured through inheritance.  The woman believes the mansion was a bargain because the mansion is haunted; otherwise why would it have been untenanted for so long.   John is a doctor and only believes of results through action and not theories of speculation.  Both John and her brother are doctors and both believe that she is not ill; that she for a moment has a temporary nervous depression which makes her think, act, and behave in a certain way.  She is given home remedies, stimulating physical exercise and natural breathing air from the surroundings that her husband has placed her in.  Causing conflict due to the fact that all work is forbidden of his wife until she is well again.  Even though she believes that work suited to her needs would make her feel better quicker.  She speaks about the beautiful home that was left empty for years which disrupts the thoughts and feelings of her home being haunted.    She takes her pain medication in front of John so she won’t respond quickly to take offense to the attitudes of others which makes her weary.  She is basically grateful for John because he takes care of her and has brought her to their mansion to recover.  She speaks of the room John has situated her in and to her it is revolting and suicidal from every corner and dimension in the room to the color.

I believe that she is having post partum depression because she states “It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby.  Such a dear baby!” ”And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous (8)”.  John being a doctor gets her into this home which on his own can treat his wife and have only the familiar faces that he wishes to be around her.  She is alone most of the day so she is intrigued with this hideous yelow wallpaper and in visions what she wants to see in the yellow wallpaper.  She stays depressed because, she is not allowed near stimulating people which brings her spirits down and is also not allowed to concentrate on her work; which is writing causing feelings of hopelessness.  She explains of the figures she sees in the yellow wallpaper “Up and down and sideways they crawl, and those absurd, unblinking eyes are everywhere There is one place where two breaths didn’t match, and the eyes go all up and down the line, one a little higher than the other (9)” causing rising action.  She feels alone and without nothing to do imagines different images in the yellow wall paper, causing increasing conflicts, since John does not allow her to write and must write in secrecy throughout the short story.

John threatens her to pick up faster or he will send her to Weir Mitchell a specialist who treats for neurasthenia, hysterias, by absolute rest in bed, frequent and abundant feeding, and the systematic use of massage and electricity.  By this point she is feeling irritated and full of complaints crying at everything and nothing.  She is kept restrained to the mansion throughout the short story in an immovable bed which is nailed down.  She again speaks of the yellow wallpaper as to compare it to the life she is living.  She speaks of the yellow wallpaper as if describing how she feels.  She wants to snap out of her temporary state for her husband and babies sake and is thankful that their okay.  On the otherhand she is feeling better and believes the crisis is near its end ,but feels that John and his sister are acting strange due to her behavior.  Describing flashbacks of how the old yellow wallpaper reminds her of all the old bad yellow things she ever saw and that horrible bad stench that follows her like comparing it to her past.  Continuing to compare her life of when she was young to her present life with that old yellow wall paper she sees herself struggling inside those walls underneath the yellow wallpaper as she struggles to break out of her nervous breakdown.  She thinks of hanging herself with a rope or maybe jumping out the window, but that would not be proper for a lady of her stature.  She is struggling with herself to bring back the life that she has lost the life that she once had.  Back to the woman that she has always been not letting anyone restrain her any longer and continue her work.

List of Directions

wake up the kids; make the kids breakfast; drive the kids to school; drive your self to school; check for daily arons and follow through; pick up the kids from school; drop off the kids and make lunch for them; drive yourself back to school; come home and fix dinner if it's not already done; help the kids with their homework; do your own homework and wash the laundry at the same time; clean up the kitchen and the dishes; fold the laundry when it's ready; give the kids their allergy medicine before they go to sleep; 

"Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga"/Revised Draft

Myrna E. Vega

Professor Stacey Knapp

English 1B

March 20, 2011

“Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga”

Sonny Bravo is a fifteen-year-old Mexican American portrayed in The Flowers written by Dagoberto Gilb.  Sonny has come to live at Las Flores apartment complex with his mother Silvia and stepfather Cloyd Longpre.  Sonny at the beginning of the novel is a laid back teenager who does not seem to have any cares or worries about the present or his future.  Before Cloyd, Sonny’s mother was always working or on the go, “My mom would be around for maybe an hour or two, and she’d either change clothes and leave or be so tired she went into her bedroom and went to sleep” (6).  It was certain that Sylvia never had time for Sonny on an individual basis.  Sonny did not have a father figure but also lacked a mother figure because, of the fact that Sylvia was always preoccupied with herself.  Sonny wants to do what he believes is the right thing to do and also does what he is told to do because he wants Sylvia to be happy with him and her new surroundings.  “It’ll be good living here,” she said.  “Don’t you think?” “I nodded like I was trying to really mean it.”  “You’ll see” (17).  Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga, the owner’s of the Alley Cats diner, serving as the parental figures Sonny never had and provided a temporary replacement for the family he yearns for.  I am writing from the reader response theory perspective to explain how visiting the Zuniga's gives Sonny the means to deal with the emptiness and void of a family environment.

Sonny has lacked many things throughout his life that I hold to be priceless.  Sonny never had a male role model who he could call his father.  Sonny once had a family surrounding him when his grandmother lived, but lost that sense of belonging somewhere when she passed.  “I used to hang out with my grandma, who didn’t speak English, and I could talk with my primos who lived there with my tíos, but that all stopped once Grandma died.”  “I never saw my cousins no more after that either” (37-38).  If Sonny had a supportive mother this loss might not have been so influential however Sonny never had the complete nurturing from his mother Sylvia that each child desires.  There was minimal to no attention and praise given to him.  “I couldn’t remember the last time she kissed me anywhere, unless it was for show when she’d also be drinking.”  “You know one of those Que guapo es my little man!”, and then a hard smooch like she couldn’t resist me, leaving her audience, her fans, usually her girlfriends, “giggling and aahing” (18).  The mother that Sonny hoped Sylvia would become seemed far from reach with the little acts she portrayed.

Since Sonny couldn’t find love, nurturing, or a homemade meal at home Sonny loved to go to the corner diner with the bowling alley, Alley Cats owned by a Mexican couple Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga whom spoke Spanish.  Sonny really liked eating there and wanted to get used to going into the diner because Mrs. Zuniga liked asking him questions which he enjoyed.  It was a diner with six lanes and Sonny was the only one who ever bowled.  At the beginning it was nerve wracking for Sonny because instead of everyone watching TV the customers on the stools at the counter would watch Sonny bowl.  Although after a while he got over it and he didn’t seem to mind the glaring eyes of the customers.  The diner was filled with a bunch of old men with bad eyesight and lonely drunks which Sonny stated they probably had nowhere else to go either.  Sonny paid close attention of the individual duties Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga had.  “Mrs. Zuniga did all the floors and dusting and dishwashing and cooking, and Mr. Zuniga had the tools, the register, the trash, the beer openers, and changed the channel on the TV up in the corner”(55).  Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga were always smiling but mostly Mrs. Zuniga smiled and winked at Sonny.  Sonny paid close attention to what was going on in the environment of the Alley Cats diner because, to Sonny it was a home Sonny felt cared for with the homemade food and the little extra attention Mrs. Zuniga gave to Sonny which we all know he’s not used to.  “To me it was going into a home except there was a bar and bowling alley and a cash register” (55).  Mrs. Zuniga always giving him so much more of everything, I believe that for Sonny this was the family he desired.  When he walked into this diner to Sonny it was more of a home to him than a dirty bar.  “I already put my favorite ball in a corner of the rack at the most distant corner, and I never had to worry about it getting moved” (56).  Sonny knew that no matter who came in he was always expected.  Sonny had his place in the diner without any worries of bringing in money if he didn’t have any which is typical of a family member.

Sonny is hungry for food when he visits the Zuniga’s at the Alley Cats, but he also hungers for the sense of a family.  He wants what every other child and teenager desires and that is a family.  He sees the Zuniga’s as parental figures or grandmother and grandfather figures to him.  Mrs. Zuniga always asking if he’s okay, how his day has gone and serving him like a grandmother would do for his grandson.  If you recall when Sonny’s grandmother was alive she expressed herself in Spanish and showed her grandchildren the meaning of togetherness and family.  I believe Sonny see’s his grandmother in Mrs. Zuniga just like his grandmother Mrs. Zuniga only speaks Spanish.  “Por que siempre cenas aquí, muchachito?”  “She always spoke to me in Spanish” (145).  Mrs. Zuniga always shows concern for Sonny especially once she gets to know him and his home life situation with Sylvia and his stepfather Cloyd.

Sonny always had it in his thoughts that he should always be at the Alley Cats diner because, he felt so comfortable there.  Why not eat their every single day, but then he felt embarrassed because this would mean Mrs. Zuniga would think he did not want to be at home.  He also had respect towards the Zuniga’s like you do with your grandparents or parents which leads me to believe that he sees them more like family then just the corner diner owner’s.  “I cussed loud this once when I missed a way-easy spare, and that’s when Mr. Zuniga shouted at me that if I didn’t watch my mouth, he wouldn’t let me bowl here again”(146).  Sonny always defending himself or talking back would never do that with the Zuniga’s because he didn’t want to screw up because he wanted to come back to the diner.  Sonny even said I’m sorry to Mr. Zuniga as he was leaving the diner and Mr. Zuniga said “Thank you very much” (146).  Mr. Zuniga thanked Sonny I believe because to earn respect you must give respect and mutually they liked one another.

Sonny knows Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga as well as you would get to know someone you cared about this also tells the reader that he feels closeness to them and desires their well being.  For example, the scene with the two African Americans in the diner Sonny sensed Mr. Zuniga’s fear and Mrs. Zuniga’s nervous front.  Even though the men looked like two well dressed business men because of their ethnicity this made the Zuniga’s uncomfortable.  Sonny assisted the Zuniga’s with the two African American customers by translating and giving the Zuniga’s a sense of comfort that he was there to ease the situation at hand.  I believe Sonny again helped the Zuniga’s because in many ways they have made him feel at home and have gone beyond hosting him like a family member which in return Sonny is doing the same for the Zuniga’s. 

Sonny noticed that Mrs. Zuniga always showed concern for him like he wished he had at home.  “Why are you here at this hour, muchachito?  “It’s late for a young boy.”  “Aren’t you in school by the morning?” (186)  If Sonny was hungry he knew where to go where he felt at home to the Alley Cats diner.  No matter what time he got there he was feed and taken care of as well as listened to if he needed to talk to relieve his mind and put him at ease.  “She didn’t ask what I wanted to eat.”  “She made me a plate of enchiladas with hamburger meat and onion and chunks of green chile with white cheese all over it.”  “Beans, rice.”  “It was as good as food got!” “Home cooking.”  “If only my mom cooked” (187).  Sonny felt comfortable enough to where he could tell Mrs. Zuniga what went on at home like if he were speaking with his grandmother.  Mrs. Zuniga treating him like a grandson “She gave me two more enchiladas while she was talking.”  “They were the last ones in a glass casserole.”  “I could’ve eaten more” (187).  “Thank you,” “I told her as she took the plate.”  “Until tomorrow,” she said (188).  “Mr. Zuniga didn’t look at me when I asked him how much I owed.”  “He barely shook his head.”  “Thank you very much,” he said” (188).  Just like a grandmother does Mrs. Zuniga at times even went out of her way to make Sonny feel comfortable and bring up his spirits.  Just like in the scene when Sonny comes in all upset and does not want to eat and he states he’s not hungry Mrs. Zuniga brings him a hamburger and chocolate shake anyway.  Mrs. Zuniga never brought food to the lanes before, but this time she did for Sonny’s sake, “You feel better” (207).  The last time that Sonny went to the Alley Cats diner is when he realized that the diner was busted up.  Sonny showed concern for the Zuniga’s especially Mrs. Zuniga.  Sonny and Mrs. Zuniga I believe lifted up each other spirits when something was making them feel bad or uneasy they seemed to be there for each other.  Mrs. Zuniga was I believe a grandmother for Sonny. 

With the Zuniga’s Sonny had a sense that he belonged somewhere that someone actually cared for him and what happened to him.  Sonny had a home in his mind that he could come to and express how he felt as well as ease his mind and body of any bad thoughts he was carrying with him.  Sonny in some strange way had the family he yearned for throughout his life.  Sonny seemed happier when he was with the Zuniga’s he seemed to make the best of what the world had in store for him when he was at the diner.  Sonny’s void for the need of love and family was given and shown by Mrs. Zuniga throughout the novel The Flowers.

"Story Analysis"

The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is about a woman who is ill.  At the beginning of the short story the protagonist speaks of a mansion that her husband John and herself have secured through inheritance.  The woman believes it was a bargain because the mansion is haunted otherwise why was it left untenanted for so long.   John is a doctor and only believes of results through action and not theories of speculation.  Both John and her brother are doctors and both believe that she is not ill that she for a moment has a temporary nervous depression which makes her think, act, and behave in a certain way.  She is given home remedies, stimulating physical exercise and air, but all work is forbidden until she is well again.  Even though she believes that work suited to her needs would make her feel better quicker.  She speaks about her beautiful home that was left empty for years which disrupts the thoughts and feelings of her home being haunted.    She takes her pain medication in front of John so she won’t respond quickly to take offense to the attitudes of others which makes her weary.  She is basically grateful for John because he takes care of her and has brought her to their mansion to recover.  She speaks of the room John has situated her in and to her it is revolting and suicidal from every corner and dimension in the room to the color.

I believe that she is having post partum depression because she states “It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby.  Such a dear baby!” ”And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous (8)”.  John being a doctor gets her into this home which he can on his own treat his wife and have only the familiar faces that he wishes to be around her.  She is alone most of the day so she is intrigued with this hideous wallpaper and in visions what she wants to see in the wallpaper.  She stays depressed because, she is not allowed near stimulating people which brings her spirits down and is also not allowed to concentrate on her work which is writing causing feelings of hopelessness.  She explains of the figures she sees in the yellow wallpaper “Up and down and sideways they crawl, and those absurd, unblinking eyes are everywhere There is one place where two breaths didn’t match, and the eyes go all up and down the line, one a little higher than the other (9)” causing rising action.  She feels alone and without nothing to do she imagines different images in the yellow wall paper causing increasing conflicts since John does not allow her to write and must write in secrecy throughout the short story.

John threatens her to pick up faster or he will send her to Weir Mitchell a specialist who treats for neurasthenia, hysterias, by absolute rest in bed, frequent and abundant feeding, and the systematic use of massage and electricity.  By this point she was feeling irritated and full of complaints crying at everything and nothing.  Again she is kept restrained to the mansion throughout the short story in an immovable bed which is nailed down.  She again speaks of the yellow wallpaper as to compare it to the life she is living.  She speaks of the wallpaper as if describing how she feels.  She wants to snap out of her temporary state for her husband and babies sake and is thankful that their okay.  She believes John and his sister are acting strange.  She on the other hand is feeling so much better and believes the crisis is near its end.  Again describing how the old yellow wallpaper reminds her of all the old bad yellow things she ever saw and that horrible bad stench follows her like comparing it to her past.  Continuing to compare her life of when she was young to her present life with that old yellow wall paper she sees herself struggling inside those walls underneath the yellow wallpaper as she struggles to break out of her nervous breakdown.  She thinks of hanging herself with a rope or maybe jumping out the window, but that would not be proper for a lady of her stature.  She is struggling with herself to bring back the life that she has lost the life that she once had.  Back to the woman that she has always been not letting anyone restrain her any longer and continue her work.

"Transitions"

Addition Category:  again, also, and, and then, besides, equally important, finally, first, further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, last, moreover, next, second, still, too
Comparison Category:  also, in the same way, likewise, similarly
Concession Category:  granted, naturally. of course
Contrast Category:  although, and yet, at the same time, but at the same time, despite that, even so, even though, for all that, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead, neverthless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, regardless, still, though, yet
Emphasis Category:  certainly, indeed, in fact, of course
Example or Illustration Category:  after all, as an illustration, even, for example, for instance, in conclusion, in deed, in fact, in other words, in short, it is true, of course, namely, specifically, that is, to illustrate, thus, truly
Summary Category:  all in all, altogether, as has been said, finally, in brief, in conclusion, in other words, in particular, in short, in simpler terms, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to put differently, to summarize
Time Sequence Category:  alter a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as long as, at last, at length, at that time, before, besides, earlier, eventually, finally

"Mr. & Mrs. Zuniga"/Final Draft

Myrna E. Vega

Professor Stacey Knapp

English 1B

March 8, 2011

“Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga”

Sonny Bravo is a fifteen-year-old Mexican American portrayed in The Flowers written by Dagoberto Gilb.  Sonny has come to live at Las Flores apartment complex with his mother Silvia and stepfather Cloyd Longpre.  Sonny at the beginning of the novel is a laid back teenager who does not seem to have any cares or worries about the present or his future.  Before Cloyd, Sonny’s mother was always working or on the go, “My mom would be around for maybe an hour or two, and she’d either change clothes and leave or be so tired she went into her bedroom and went to sleep” (6).  It was certain that Sylvia never had time for Sonny on an individual basis.  Sonny never seemed like a happy teenager from the beginning.  Sonny did not have a father figure but also lacked a mother figure because, of the fact that Sylvia was always preoccupied with herself.  Sonny wants to do what he believes is the right thing to do and also does what he is told to do because he wants Sylvia to be happy with him and her new surroundings.  “It’ll be good living here,” she said.  “Don’t you think?” “I nodded like I was trying to really mean it.”  “You’ll see” (17).  Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga, the owner’s of the Alley Cats diner, fulfilling as parental figures Sonny never had and provide a temporary replacement for the family he yearns for.  I am writing from the reader response theory perspective to explain how visiting the Zuniga's gives Sonny a family environment.

Sonny has lacked many things throughout his life that we hold to be priceless.  Sonny never had a male role model who he could call his father.  Sonny once had a family surrounding him when his grandmother lived but, lost that sense of belonging somewhere when she passed.  “I used to hang out with my grandma, who didn’t speak English, and I could talk with my primos who lived there with my tíos, but that all stopped once Grandma died.”  “I never saw my cousins no more after that either.” (37-38) Sonny never had the complete nurturing from his mother Sylvia that each child desires.  There was minimal to no attention and praise given to him.  “I couldn’t remember the last time she kissed me anywhere, unless it was for show when she’d also be drinking.”  “You know one of those Que guapo es my little man!”, and then a hard smooch like she couldn’t resist me, leaving her audience, her fans, usually her girlfriends, “giggling and aahing.”  (18)  The mother that Sonny hoped Sylvia would become seemed far from reach with the little acts she portrayed.

Sonny loved to go to the corner diner with the bowling alley, Alley Cats owned by a Mexican couple Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga whom spoke Spanish.  Sonny really liked eating there and wanted to get used to going into the diner because Mrs. Zuniga liked asking him questions which he enjoyed.  It was a diner with six lanes and Sonny was the only one who ever bowled.  At the beginning it was nerve wrecking for Sonny because instead of everyone watching TV the customers on the stools at the counter would watch Sonny bowl.  Although after a while he got over it.  The diner was filled with a bunch of old men with bad eyesight and lonely drunks which Sonny stated they probably had nowhere else to go either.  Sonny paid close attention of the individual duties Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga had.  “Mrs. Zuniga did all the floors and dusting and dishwashing and cooking, and Mr. Zuniga had the tools, the register, the trash, the beer openers, and changed the channel on the TV up in the corner.”(55)  Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga were always smiling but mostly Mrs. Zuniga smiled and winked at Sonny.

Sonny paid close attention to what was going on in the environment of the Alley Cats diner because, to Sonny it was a home, “To me it was going into a home except there was a bar and bowling alley and a cash register.” (55)  Sonny felt cared for with the homemade food and the little extra attention Mrs. Zuniga gave to Sonny which we all know he’s not used to.  Mrs. Zuniga always giving him so much more of everything, I believe that for Sonny this was the family he desired.  When he walked into this diner to Sonny it was more of a home to him than a dirty bar.  “I already put my favorite ball in a corner of the rack at the most distant corner, and I never had to worry about it getting moved.”(56)  Sonny knew that no matter who came in he was always expected.  Sonny had his place in the diner without any worries of bringing in money if he didn’t have any which is typical of a family member.

I believe Sonny is hungry for food when he visits the Zuniga’s at the Alley Cats but, he also hungers for the sense of a family.  He wants what every other child and teenager desires and that is a family.  He sees the Zuniga’s as parental figures or grandmother and grandfather figures to him.  Mrs. Zuniga always asking if he’s okay, how his day has gone and serving him like a grandmother would do for his grandson.  If you recall when Sonny’s grandmother was alive she expressed herself in Spanish and showed her grandchildren the meaning of togetherness and family.  I believe Sonny see’s his grandmother in Mrs. Zuniga just like his grandmother Mrs. Zuniga only speaks Spanish.  “Por que siempre cenas aquí, muchachito?”  “She always spoke to me in Spanish.”  (145)  Mrs. Zuniga always shows concern for Sonny especially once she gets to know him and his home life situation with Sylvia and his stepfather Cloyd.

Sonny always had it in his thoughts that he should always be at the Alley Cats diner because, he felt so comfortable there.  Why not eat their every single day but, then he felt embarrassed because this would mean Mrs. Zuniga would think he did not want to be at home.  He also had respect towards the Zuniga’s like you do with your grandparents or parents which leads me to believe that he sees them more like family then just the corner diner owner’s.  “I cussed loud this once when I missed a way-easy spare, and that’s when Mr. Zuniga shouted at me that if I didn’t watch my mouth, he wouldn’t let me bowl here again.”(146)  Sonny always defending himself or talking back would never do that with the Zuniga’s because he didn’t want to screw up because he wanted to come back to the diner.  Sonny even said I’m sorry to Mr. Zuniga as he was leaving the diner and Mr. Zuniga said “Thank you very much.” (146)    Mr. Zuniga thanked Sonny I believe because to earn respect you must give respect and mutually they liked one another.

Sonny knows Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga as well as you would get to know someone you cared about this also tells the reader that he feels closeness to them and desires their well being.  For example, the scene with the two African Americans in the diner Sonny sensed Mr. Zuniga’s fear and Mrs. Zuniga’s nervous front.  Even though the men looked like two well dressed business men because of their ethnicity this made the Zuniga’s uncomfortable.  Sonny assisted the Zuniga’s with the two African American customers by translating and giving the Zuniga’s a sense of comfort that he was there to ease the situation at hand.  I believe Sonny again helped the Zuniga’s because in many ways they have made him feel at home and have gone beyond hosting him like a family member which in return Sonny is doing the same for the Zuniga’s. 

Sonny noticed that Mrs. Zuniga always showed concern for him like he wished he had at home.  “Why are you here at this hour, muchachito?  “It’s late for a young boy.”  “Aren’t you in school by the morning?” (186)  If Sonny was hungry he knew where to go where he felt at home to the Alley Cats diner.  No matter what time he got there he was feed and taken care of as well as listened to if he needed to talk to relieve his mind and put him at ease.  “She didn’t ask what I wanted to eat.”  “She made me a plate of enchiladas with hamburger meat and onion and chunks of green chile with white cheese all over it.”  “Beans, rice.”  “It was as good as food got!” “Home cooking.”  “If only my mom cooked.” (187)  Sonny felt comfortable enough to where he could tell Mrs. Zuniga what went on at home like if he were speaking with his grandmother.  Mrs. Zuniga treating him like a grandson “She gave me two more enchiladas while she was talking.”  “They were the last ones in a glass casserole.”  “I could’ve eaten more.” (187) “Thank you,” “I told her as she took the plate.”  “Until tomorrow,” she said. (188)  “Mr. Zuniga didn’t look at me when I asked him how much I owed.”  “He barely shook his head.”  “Thank you very much,” he said.” (188)  Just like a grandmother does Mrs. Zuniga at times even went out of her way to make Sonny feel comfortable and bring up his spirits.  Just like in the scene when Sonny comes in all upset and does not want to eat and he states he’s not hungry Mrs. Zuniga brings him a hamburger and chocolate shake anyway.  Mrs. Zuniga never brought food to the lanes before but, this time she did for Sonny’s sake, “You feel better.” (207)  The last time that Sonny went to the Alley Cats diner is when he realized that the diner was busted up.  Sonny showed concern for the Zuniga’s especially Mrs. Zuniga.  Sonny and Mrs. Zuniga I believe lifted up each other spirits when something was making them feel bad or uneasy they seemed to be there for each other.  Mrs. Zuniga was I believe a grandmother for Sonny. 

With the Zuniga’s Sonny had a sense that he belonged somewhere that someone actually cared for him and what happened to him.  Sonny had a home in his mind that he could come to and express how he felt as well as ease his mind and body of any bad thoughts he was carrying with him.  Sonny in some strange way had the family he yearned for throughout his life.  Sonny seemed happier when he was with the Zuniga’s he seemed to make the best of what the world had in store for him when he was at the diner.  Sonny’s void for the need of love and family was given and shown by Mrs. Zuniga throughout the novel The Flowers.

"Mr. & Mrs. Zuniga"/ Rough Draft

“Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga”

Rough Draft

Sonny Bravo is a fifteen-year-old Mexican American who has come to live at The Flowers with his mother Silvia and stepfather Cloyd Longpre.  Sonny I believe at the beginning of the novel is a laid back teenager who does not seem to have any cares or worries about the present or his future.  Before Cloyd, Sonny’s mother was always working or on the go, “My mom would be around for maybe an hour or two, and she’d either change clothes and leave or be so tired she went into her bedroom and went to sleep.” (6) It was certain that Sylvia never had time for Sonny on an individual basis.  Sonny never seemed like a happy teenager from the beginning.  Sonny did not have a father figure but also lacked a mother figure because, of the fact that Sylvia was always preoccupied with herself.  Sonny wants to do what he believes is the right thing to do and also does what he is told to do because he wants Sylvia to be happy.  Sonny wants Sylvia to be happy with him.  “It’ll be good living here,” she said.  “Don’t you think?” I nodded like I was trying to really mean it.  “You’ll see.”  (17)

Throughout Sonny’s life he has lacked many things in his life that we hold to be priceless to us.  Sonny never had a male role model who he could call his father.  Sonny once had a family surrounding him when his grandmother lived but, lost that sense of belonging somewhere when she passed.  “I used to hang out with my grandma, who didn’t speak English, and I could talk with my primos who lived there with my tíos, but that all stopped once Grandma died.  I never saw my cousins no more after that either.” (37-38) Sonny never had the complete nurturing from his mother Sylvia that each child desires.  There was minimal to no attention and praise given to him.  “I couldn’t remember the last time she kissed me anywhere, unless it was for show when she’d also be drinking.  You know one of those Que guapo es my little man!, and then a hard smooch like she couldn’t resist me, leaving her audience, her fans, usually her girlfriends, giggling and aahing.”  (18)

Sonny loved to go to the corner diner with the bowling alley, Alley Cats where he would go to eat most of the time.  It was a diner with six lanes and Sonny was the only one who ever bowled.  At the beginning it was nerve wrecking for Sonny because instead of everyone watching TV the customers on the stools at the counter would watch Sonny bowl.  Although after a while he got over it.  The diner was filled with a bunch of old men with bad eyesight and lonely drunks which Sonny stated they probably had nowhere else to go either.  Sonny paid close attention of the individual duties Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga had.  “Mrs. Zuniga did all the floors and dusting and dishwashing and cooking, and Mr. Zuniga had the tools, the register, the trash, the beer openers, and changed the channel on the TV up in the corner.”    Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga were always smiling but mostly Mrs. Zuniga smiled and winked at Sonny.

Sonny paid close attention to what was going on in the environment of the Alley Cats diner because, to Sonny it was a home, “To me it was going into a home except there was a bar and bowling alley and a cash register.” (55)  Sonny felt cared for with the homemade food and the little extra attention Mrs. Zuniga gave to Sonny which we all know he’s not used to.  Mrs. Zuniga always giving him so much more of everything, I believe that for Sonny this was the family he desired.  When he walked into this diner to Sonny it was more of a home to him than a dirty bar.  “I already put my favorite ball in a corner of the rack at the most distant corner, and I never had to worry about it getting moved.”(56)

I believe Sonny is hungry for food when he visits the Zuniga’s at the Alley Cats but, he also hungers for the sense of a family.  He wants what every other child and teenager desires and that is a family.  He sees the Zuniga’s as parental figures or grandmother and grandfather figures to him.  Mrs. Zuniga always asking if he’s okay, how his day has gone and serving him like a grandmother would do for his grandson.  If you recall when Sonny’s grandmother was alive she expressed herself in Spanish and showed her grandchildren the meaning of togetherness and family.  I believe Sonny see’s his grandmother in Mrs. Zuniga just like his grandmother Mrs. Zuniga only speaks Spanish.  “Por que siempre cenas aquí, muchachito?”  She always spoke to me in Spanish.  (145)

Sonny always had it in his thoughts that he should always be at the Alley Cats diner because, he felt so comfortable there.  Why not eat their every single day but, then he felt embarrassed because this would mean Mrs. Zuniga would think he did not want to be at home.  He also had respect towards the Zuniga’s like you do with your grandparents or parents which leads me to believe that he sees them more like family then just the corner diner owner’s.  “I cussed loud this once when I missed a way-easy spare, and that’s when Mr. Zuniga shouted at me that if I didn’t watch my mouth, he wouldn’t let me bowl here again.”  Sonny always defending himself or talking back would never do that with the Zuniga’s because he didn’t want to screw up because he wanted to come back to the diner.  Sonny even said I’m sorry to Mr. Zuniga as he was leaving the diner and Mr. Zuniga said “Thank you very much.” (146)    

Sonny knows Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga as well as you would get to know someone you cared about this also tells the reader that he feels closeness to them and desires their well being.  For example, the scene with the two African Americans in the diner Sonny sensed Mr. Zuniga’s fear and Mrs. Zuniga’s nervous front.  Even though the men looked like two well dressed business men because of their ethnicity this made the Zuniga’s uncomfortable.  Sonny assisted the Zuniga’s with the two African American customers by translating and giving the Zuniga’s a sense of comfort that he was there to ease the situation at hand.  I believe Sonny again helped the Zuniga’s because in many ways they have made him feel at home and have gone beyond hosting him like a family member which in return Sonny is doing the same for the Zuniga’s. 

Sonny noticed that Mrs. Zuniga always showed concern for him like he wished he had at home.  “Why are you here at this hour, muchachito?  It’s late for a young boy.  Aren’t you in school by the morning?” (186)  If Sonny was hungry he knew where to go where he felt at home to the Alley Cats diner.  No matter what time he got there he was feed and taken care of as well as listened to if he needed to talk to relieve his mind and put him at ease.  “She didn’t ask what I wanted to eat.  She made me a plate of enchiladas with hamburger meat and onion and chunks of green chile with white cheese all over it.  Beans, rice.  It was as good as food got! Home cooking.  If only my mom cooked.” (187)  Sonny felt comfortable enough to where he could tell Mrs. Zuniga what went on at home like if he were speaking with his grandmother.  Mrs. Zuniga treating him like a grandson “She gave me two more enchiladas while she was talking.  They were the last ones in a glass casserole.  I could’ve eaten more. “(187) “Thank you,” I told her as she took the plate.  “Until tomorrow,” she said. And Mr. Zuniga didn’t look at me when I asked him how much I owed.  He barely shook his head.  “Thank you very much,” he said.” (188)  Just like a grandmother does Mrs. Zuniga at times even went out of her way to make Sonny feel comfortable and bring up his spirits.  Just like in the scene when Sonny comes in all upset and does not want to eat and he states he’s not hungry Mrs. Zuniga brings him a hamburger and chocolate shake anyway.  Mrs. Zuniga never brought food to the lanes before but, this time she did for Sonny’s sake, “You feel better.” (207)  The last time that Sonny went to the Alley Cats diner is when he realized that the diner was busted up.  Sonny showed concern for the Zuniga’s especially Mrs. Zuniga.  Sonny and Mrs. Zuniga I believe lifted up each other spirits when something was making them feel bad or uneasy they seemed to be there for each other.  Mrs. Zuniga was I believe a grandmother for Sonny. 

With the Zuniga’s Sonny had a sense that he belonged somewhere that someone actually cared for him and what happened to him.  Sonny had a home in his mind that he could come to and express how he felt as well as ease his mind and body of any bad thoughts he was carrying with him.  Sonny in some strange way had the family he yearned for throughout his life.

"Idea Paper"

I will write a reader response paper on the role of Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga in the novel.  Why I believe Sonny visits the Zunigas and what he searches or sees in them.  I believe the Zunigas have a big influence on Sonny life.  I will attempt to show this with Sonny's visits with the Zunigas throughout the book.

"Sonny"

Well Sonny is still a fifteen year old teenager who I believe at this point of the book is only more confused and lost than at the beginning of the book.  He seems to be going back to his old habits of stealing and drinking as well as smoking weed with Cindy and enjoying it.  Instead of doing the right thing which at the beginning of my character evaluation of Sonny I believed he was going to do.  Even though he still does his chores around the apartment building I believe he does this to keep his mind off of the bad things he knows he is doing and to spy on all the tenants.  His only two friends the twins I believe have little to no influence on him which he uses as enjoyment and a good laugh.  I believe Sonny is getting himself into deeper problems ones that he is not going to be able to handle.  Instead of bettering himself in his education and setting certain goals I thought he could of accomplished he is disappointing himself.  I believe he will not improve his lifestyle or carry himself any better.  I believe that Sonny still wants to improve his situation but does not know how to because he was not taught any better.  Sonny still has not learned the time and patience he needed to have learned by now.  I predict he will just end up getting caught and end up in trouble and maybe even in the street.  Cloyd will not put up with dishonesty or stealing in his home especially from a Mexican like Sonny.

"Money"

The way that things are happening in the novel I believe is very frustrating and confusing for Sonny.  Sonny I believe is loosing focus in every perspective of his life right now.  He is not thinking straight and seems to be doing certain things because he does not care about the consequences.  I believe Sonny is going to end up leaving Cloyd's apartment thinking he could go a long way with this money.  In the process I believe he is going to attempt to take Nica by asking her to come along far away maybe Spain like Nica wants in order for both of them to be happy.  Nica sees herself in a trapped place but is extremely happy when she is with Sonny so I think she would jump at the chance to once in her life be happy.  If I were in Sonny's position I would of stuck it out a little longer until I got through school if my mom was willing to stay with Cloyd.  I would of improved my education and set my goals to better myself and get a good job and maybe even attempted to go to college for a good career.  In the long run it would benefit me and maybe then I would of gotten together with Nica because then I would have something good to offer her and put her up in a nice environment like both of us have always dreamed of.

Car Salesman

Pinkston who Sonny calls Pink through the novel lives in number six, a one-bedroom.  He has wiry hair mostly white with a hint of orange and red in it.  He has freckles and a river of a scar that cuts from the side of his eyebrow, where it trickles down, winding down to his jaw, where it gets wider and disappears under his neck.   Pink, an albino man is always standing in the front of the building selling used cars.  I believe the significance of Pink the car salesman is to show the significance of racism in the novel.  The racism that is depicted from Cloyd towards Pink.  I also believe that Pink has anger towards Cloyd because he can sense his racism and this is going to give Pink the opportunity to try and turn Sonny against Cloyd to help Pink better himself in The Flowers.  I believe in the long run Pink is a bad influence for Sonny because he already has given him beer and expects him to drive when he is not even of age.  Pink only wants to better himself and does not care about anyone else other wise he would remember simple facts such as Sonny not being old enough to drive.  In the long run Pink will use Sonny for his own benefits like Cloyd is doing right now with Sonny.  If Sonny keeps listening to Pink he will end up in serious trouble I believe not only with Cloyd but also with Silvia his mother.

Metacognitive Reflection

As a teenager I have always loved to read.  Even though I enjoy many types of novels, I would have to say my favorite are romantic novels.  I do have to say though ever since I had my first born I read less but, never stopped reading completely even if just thirty minutes out of my busy day.  As my children got older I would take a walk down the revein near our home and plop my self down to read.  This would give me time alone and some relaxation time which I very much enjoyed and at the same time did not cost me anything.  But, most of the time I take some time to read at least three times out of the week right before bedtime when my kids are in bed and my husband is watching T.V..  Of course, I have ear plugs in because I do not like to be disturbed while reading and my family knows that.  Since I have always loved to read I have no problem with this aspect of the course.  Scheduling my reading for the novel The Flowers is one of the easy and relaxing things to do on my never ending list.  Especially, when I enjoy reading a novel and the novel we are reading I find very interesting and am always wanting to read ahead because, I'm curious of what is going to happen next.  When I read a book I like to be in silence because I like to picture what I am reading.  With any book I read I visually picture or imaging in my head what is going on which helps me understand and be aware of whats going on throughout the novel.

"Free Write"

My father always...made it a point to try and give me everything I ever asked for. My father always inspired me to be independent and attain as much education as I could for my own benefit. My father always provided materialistic things thinking that would replace time spent with him. But my father always knew he was loved even though we hardly had any quality time with him.

"Passage/Reader Response"

"When my eyes closed, it was the desert, black space and sparkly stars, so up there it made me feel both old enough for this and way young-thought of and seen so much, it had all been too far away or hidden from what I knew about- a sky too high and far away that I could have never seen it from this city if I were to look up, straight at it, as someone kept pointing it out like constellations I didn't see."  Throughout the novel we have read how Sonny places himself in different imaginary scenarios.  I believe Sonny does this when he does not know exactly how to go about handling a certain situation he is being pushed into or he is just confused about what he should do or how he should react.  Sonny feels he is old enough to fully experience what Cindy is willing to offer.  But in his mind knows he is not mature enough and visually pictured himself older.  This experience was still very far from Sonny's thoughts at least with this person and would not happen any time soon because, this had always been hidden from anything that he knew about.  Sonny was almost one-hundred percent positive that an experience like this was nowhere near especially, were he was moving too even if it had hit him in the face literally.  For example, the passage I quoted arises from the scene in which Cindy begins to seduse him as they are in her apartment.  She begins to get closer and closer to Sonny to the point which she is making him feel uncomfortable but, at the same time arousing him to become excited.  She not only made Sonny feel comfortable but, strongly guided him to what she wanted him to do.  But Sonny confused and in his mind thinking he should stop he just lays there.  Not sure of what Sonny should do with many thoughts running through his head.  "I'm sure if I touch her she won't stop me," but the unsure feelings make him just lay there even as she undressed him and caressed his manliness.  Sonny once again falls into another imaginary scenario as she proceeds to arouse him knowing that at this point if she hasn't stopped he is not about to stop her. At this point Sonny wants Cindy to continue doing what she has started.  Sonny feeling good but, in sudden shock with what just occurred is unable to speak.  Following I believe with immediate humiliation and embarrassment of the unkind words he felt Cindy had said to him which he felt were undeserved.  Which in turn brought back feelings of anger as in the past which made him want to go back to his old habits of stealing.  Due to the fact that he believed Cindy made him feel like he was worthless and at the same time made him look like a punk.  He felt there was no way he could defend himself.

Open The Door

3: " He was screaming like You bitch, open the fucking door right now, you goddamn thief, you slut, you bitch, open this door, Silvia, right now, or I'll fucking bust it in" (pg. 6).  I found this passage interesting because out of no where this man shows up wanting to start problems with Silvia and starts trouble with Sonny.  There is no explanation of who he is and Sonny doesn't know who he is.  I would like to know who this man was, what he wanted, and what he was talking about.  Did she steal something from him?  After busting in he just left and we never heard of him.  I just find it interesting that he came into the picture unexpectedly and left unexpectedly.  I would like to know what he has to do with the scenario or was he a depiction of the life style Sonny's family was accustomed to due to their mothers ways. Sonny just seemed very surprised and scared at the situation like it was something new to his world and this seems interesting. 

Silvia Bravo

2:  Assuming we are speaking of Sonny Bravos mother he would write.  My mother never... seems to have any time for me or my sister.  My mother seems to come home to get ready to go out on a date or go to sleep when she's tired after work.  My mother never looks messy she is always made up she must always look perfect from head to toes.  My mother never cooks so most of the time we eat frozen reheated meals.  My mother never listens to what we have to say but argues a lot.  Most of the arguments are with my sister they seem to go at it until they both end up in tears.  My mother never seems to ask us how we feel, what we are thinking, or what we want, she just assumes we will go with what she does and thinks everything is good or funny.  My mother never had it this good to were she did not have to work and support her family.  So I assume my mother is not so much happy but, content with what this man Cloyd is giving her.  Although, my mother never asks she has always been there to shelter and provide and for that I am grateful and thankful.

Sonny

1:  Sonny is a fifteen year old teenager who I believe at this point of the book is happier than at the beginning of the book.  He seems to due what he believes is the right thing to do and also does what he is told to do because he wants his mother to be happy and he wants her to be happy with him.  Sonny enjoys what he is doing around the apartment complex because it takes up his time and it's not hard work for him.  At school it seems like he hangs around with the right crowd and avoids problems.  I believe Sonny will better himself in his education and set certain goals he might not of thought he could accomplish before.  I believe he will improve the way he carries himself such as speaking properly.  I believe that Sonny wants to improve his situation so he could carry himself and not worry about anyone telling him what to do or how to act.  Which will take time and patience because he is only fifteen.  I predict he will become an educated successful young man.

I Am

I Am ...a thirty-seven year old hispanic woman.  I have lived in Morgan Hill since I was fifteen years old, I graduated from Live Oak High School in 1992.  I earned my Associate of Arts Degree in Paralegal at Phillips Junior College Condie Campus in Campbell, California in 1994. After graduating college in 1994 I met Marcus Anthony Vega whom I married that same year.  We have to wonderful teenagers a fifteen year old daughter who attends Ann Sobrato High School and a thirteen year old son who attends Britton Middle School.  We reside in Morgan Hill, CA. to date and enjoy our life style in this small city of ours.  I don't believe we would be happier any where else.  I have returned to Gavilan College to better myself and my education since the economy is slow to date.  I plan on graduating this year from Gavilan with an Associate of Arts Degree in Social Science and then transfer to San Jose State for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.  I believe education is the key to success in almost every situation and it's never to late to accomplish certain goals you set for yourself in life.