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An Analysis Of Drop By Drop By Vivian Vande Velde

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It is a known fact that drinking and driving is an extremely unintelligent decision. Not only does this affect someone's life by making the decision to be intoxicated behind the wheel, but also this can completely change a stranger's life. Although the mind is being affected while under the influence, it still has shown for a long period of time afterward. This concept is seen in the short story, “Drop by Drop”. The main character, Brenda, is in confusion throughout the story about her decisions to drive while intoxicated. It takes the presence of a ghost and going through a state of denial for Brenda to come to realization with what she has done. In Vivian Vande Velde’s “Drop by Drop”, Vivian uses Brenda as a prime example of mentality from being intoxicated.

Brenda’s mind is making her see things that are not exactly real. Throughout moving into a new house Brenda is noticing several mischievous actions, such as clothes falling to the floor, hearing a toddler's bike with no sight of kids anywhere, and even to the point of seeing a ghost. Little does Brenda know, these events are taking place because of her decision to drink and drive, which she has little to no memory of. This is beginning to change the way she sleeps, when she notices something in her bed and runs to her parents for help, “ I was angry, even though he was right. ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘ It doesn’t have to be a rat. I couldn’t see what it was. I only felt it’” (Vande Velde 25). Brenda is fully

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