Dialogue Essay: An Epilogue To Grandma's House

“SHE’S DEAD AND SHE WILL NEVER COME BACK! NOW SHUT UP!” Allison shouts and runs to her room. “ALLISON!” I shout. “I WISH YOU WERE DEAD INSTEAD OF MOMMY!” Amelia screams with tears running down her face. “Don’t say that sweetie, you don’t mean that,” I say. “YES I DO!” She runs to her

Next, “Behind the Grandma’s House”, is the poem written in 1985 by Gary Soto. Gary Soto was born in Fresno California; he gives voice to San Joaquin Valley agriculture workers whose deprivations have been part of his experience and social awareness from early age” (291). Gary Soto graduated with honors from California State University in 1974. Also, he has received numerous writing awards, including the distinction of being the first writer identifying himself as a Chicago to be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Commutatively, because of the Soto grew up in, he occasionally writes about the life on the streets.

Gary Soto, author of "Behind Grandma's House," often utilizes his cultural background to enhance the engagement his audience discerns from his poems. He alludes to his residence in Fresno, California and his Mexican American heritage for the duration of the poem; this personalizes the poverty and violence he endured throughout much of his childhood in an impoverished locality. In the poem, the speaker begins with "at ten I wanted fame" and enumerates the desires he obtains and strives to gain. He declares, "I wanted to prove I was tough" which signifies an important tonal shift with the continuation of the juvenile acts he allocates. Pertaining to the negative tone, allows readers to grasp the tough lifestyle he aspired to display to his peers;

Every kid growing up has a role model, mine happening to be Michael Jordan. In “Behind Grandma’s House” Gary Soto informs us about an event of a 10-year-old kid who wants two things, to be famous, and to be tough. These two characteristic probably come from something that the kid saw on television or on movies and now wants to go out and mimic the people in the movies. Soto’s use of imagery and descriptions in “Behind Grandma’s House” paints me a perfect picture of how the narrator attempts to portray a famous tough guy.

In the poem “Behind Grandma’s House,” written by Gary Soto, a young boy struggles to behave and suppress outbursts of bad behavior. “In the alley, kicking over trash cans,” (li. 6). The boy practically terrorizes the rest of his neighborhood. “And wanted to prove I was tough” (li. 5). The boy wants to prove he is tough to compensate for something he is lacking on the inside. Emotionally the boy lacks something, he tries to make up for this by creating an outward appearance of roughness. Terrorizing his neighborhood is public confirmation of his rough and tough act. The boy’s grandma has a solution to his bad behavior. “Her hair mussed, and said, ‘Let me help you,’/And punched me between the eyes” (li. 20-21). The boy’s grandma turns to hard

All I had on my mind was that my little brother was falsely accused of vandalism. When I woke up and went to school the following morning, I immediately got called to the office. There I found Branden, Bryson, and Jack. They are football players that cause a lot of trouble . As soon as I walked in, Jack said; “Jake did it and you know it.” Me, knowing this wasn’t true, raised my voice and replied, “You’re a liar and don’t be accusing my brother of something you didn’t know he did! You and your friends probably did it!” At that point, the principal and resource officer pulled the three boys into the office. Soon after, another officer walked in the door. “Emiley, come with me please.” he said. Once we walked into his office, he had the tapes pulled up from that Friday night. “Which one is Jake?” he asked. I replied, “Jake isn’t in it.” While watching the tapes, I saw a blonde haired girl, she reminded me of Anna. I asked the officer, “Who’s that girl?” and he replied “I can’t tell you, is there any reason your brother might’ve done this? Vandalism may be an act of revenge, a way of expressing a political opinion, or a means of intimidation.” At this point, I was so annoyed I got up and walked out. As I left, I walked past the football players as they snickered and laughed. While I was walking back to class, my phone vibrated. My mom texted me saying, Your dad and I are on our way to

It’s the next day, a chilly, yet humid Saturday. We only have that one piece of bread. Poppa didn’t eat yesterday. I can tell he’s acting a little differently. Fleetwood’s crabbier than yesterday, and that takes a lot to be worse than yesterday. I don’t even know what to do. It was later, at around 11:30, and Poppa and Fleetwood were in an argument, God knows what about. I was in the basement, because some dust got inside, and I was using cloth to cover up the holes. I heard my name get thrown around multiple times, so I went up the stairs to hear more. “You can’t let all of us suffer like this!,” Fleetwood shouted. “There is nothing I can do. It’s the matter that I can’t even walk around the house to check the chickens!” I feel bad, because this isn’t a good time to be living in this house. At the same time, both of them said the worst thing possible. “Send

What are you-all up too?” “Nothing much.” Simone and David walked in. “How’s Angelica?” ask David. “She’s sleeping.” said Marie. “I’m going to go and peep in.” said Simone. “She went to Angelicas room, walked in. Angelica was watching television. “Hey sleepy head, you’re woke.” “Hey Simone, Where’s David?” “He’s up front talking to Momma and Aunt Lori.” “How long you been here?” ask Angelica. “I just got here, Angelica, Momma told me that you’ve been having headaches, Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m fine, the pain pills Mom gives me, stops it.” “You know I love you right.” “I know, Simone, Is it true?” “Is what true?” “I seen the news this morning, Is Brittany dead?” “Uh-.” “Simone, please, tell me, Is she dead?” Simone sat down next to Angelica.

The simple bowl is deep cherry wood with a silver rimmed bottom that reflects my face upside down as a result of the polishing it has received over the years. The grain is worn, but still radiates the strength of the tree that it came from. As I run my finger over the inside of the cavernous salad bowl, it picks up some of the olive oil residue from the homemade Italian dressing that has seeped into every little grain of the bowl over years of use. Never subject to washings; we only wiped it out with a paper towel, to better flavor the crisp Boston bibb lettuce salads that it delivered at every family dinner. Just as the wood bowl, my grandmother was weathered and cracked by the trials of life. I could not be around her without leaving

“She’s going to be mad, I really hope you know what you’re doing girl.” said Lisa. “I do.” Lisa and the crew left. Angelica sat in the waiting room, praying that Nine is okay. Hours had passed, Angelica dosed off, while sleeping the Doctor and the police walked up to her and said, “Excuse me Ma'am, Are you related to the deceased?” “Deceased.” said Angelica. The police said, “Maam, Are you related to her?” “No I’m not, I’m just a friend.” “Well, Maam it was brought to our attention that the deceased was brought in by you and other females, Where are the rest of the females who brought her in?” ask the police. “They left.” answered Angelica. “Maam, Come with us, we need to ask you a couple of questions.” said the officer. “I can’t, I have to get home.” said Angelica. “Please, come with us now, if you refused to come with us and answer a couple of questions we’ll be forced to hold you for 24 hours.” Angelica got up and followed the police officer to the

But I feel like I have to have an answer to why Mrs. Price was so mean to me, but it’s too late! It’s time to go home, and the buses have arrived. When I was walking toward the bus Mrs. Price looked at me and said, “You look like you’re thinking why I was very mean to you today, especially on your birthday, am I right? ’’ “Yes Mrs. Price I said.” “Well Rachel I was mean and unfair to you today because, I wanted to see if you were mature to be a eleven year old, “said Mrs. Price. “Oh, um, I thought…never mind.” I said. But why would Sylvia Saldivar say the red sweater was mine if Mrs. Price wanted to see if I was mature to be a eleven year old, I thought to myself. Right now you probably might be thinking why Sylvia Saldivar told me that the sweater was yours, right,” said Mrs. Price. “Yes Mrs. Price,” I replied. “Well, Sylvia wasn’t in this plan at all, I found this red sweater in court room, and I knew it was Phyllis Lopez’s sweater but Phyllis Lopez didn’t even look when I said, “Whose is this” so then, at the same time Sylvia Saldivar said it was yours, so that’s when I started to test you,” said Mrs. Price. “Wow,” I said to myself. I started tearing up, like when mama cuts the onion, I didn’t ever think Mrs. Price would test me!

An hour after the moving van parked in the driveway of 406 Clybourne street in Clybourne Park the younger family waved at the van when it slowly moved away and they went inside when the van was out of view. The family worked together to put away their belongings and they stood hand and hand and they took a breath of fresh air. Beneatha went first to her room to put away her stuff then Ruth and Walter went next and Travis left to go hunt for his new room. They all left until Mama was left there alone looking out the big window. Mama gingerly stepped to the window and put her plant down smiling in thought. When the door bell rung she jumped and went to the door. At the door was a white woman and when the door opened and saw mama she flinched and said “Hello, I’m your neighbor it’s nice to meet you.” She said “I’m Susan it’s nice to meet you.” She said this slowly, deliberately like she’s talking to a foreign person and Susan put out her hand and mama did not reach for it her face was just a blank stare. Then after a while mama stammered “h-hello I’m Lena Younger its very nice to meet you.” And she reached out and shook Susan’s hand and Susan quickly took it away. Then she said “Well I just came to say,” Susan took mama’s shirt and pulled her face so close to mama’s that their noses were touching. “stay out of our way, we will stay out of your way if you stay out of ours.” She shoved mama into their brand new house and slammed the door so hard that

The familiar smell of soft cookies and homemade cooking are common thoughts when people think about their grandma's house. Great feasts and family gatherings play a part in everyone's grandmother's home. But when I really think about my grandma's house only one word comes to my mind: fun.

I will tell you a tale of a woman of great success. This is a woman that has inspired me to be something great one day and to never give up trying. Though she may be growing into her elderly years she has lived a very challenging, joyful, loving and successful life. She is a woman of great faith and character, she is my grandmother.

My grandmother’s house has a very special place in my heart. As the family has gotten older and we have all had our own children we do not visit as we should. I visited with my grandmother many times when I was little. Her house always seemed to have something about it that set it apart from all the rest. As you walk into the back door of her house you would notice a long, narrow kitchen that led into the main living and dining room of her house. The smell of food home cooked food was quite evident. Grandmother cooked every day and always cooked big meals on holidays for the family.