Jeannette-
Why do you put up with it? The constant fleeing? The sense that someone is always watching you? Having to leave everything you have known behind in search of the unknown? It's embarrassing that a girl as strong and determined as you has to put up with this lifestyle. Your father acts like he loves you, but that's only when he's sober. When he's drunk, his true feelings come out and the sad truth is that he's a raging alcoholic that would be better off on his own. How do you put up with something like this: "Dad turned into an angry-eyed stranger who threw around furniture and threatened to beat up Mom or anyone else who got in his way" (23). He doesn't love you. He obviously doesn't love his family.
Run, Jeannette. Run. You deserve so much better. Sure, there are the happy times: "...they let us go out and play in the warm, driving water. We splashed and sang and danced" (22), but do these really outweigh all the abuse you are put through? You parents have no regard for you own health or well-being. They let you cook hot dogs as a 3-year-old! That is not a grant of freedom. That is just being irresponsible. Not to mention, after you were admitted into the hospital for severe burns, your dad took you out of the hospital even though your treatments weren't finished! You still had a giant scab on the side of your body!
I know. I get it. Family is family and you love them no matter what, but hear me out on this. These people are a threat to your safety. You Dad has no issue with driving drunk with kids in the backseat. You Mom lets you shoot a magnum at bottles when you are 4 years old. Also, have you ever thought about the malnurishment? According to you, you go without food for days at a time, only to eat nothing but fruit for several weeks. Please. For your own good, leave.
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3 comments:
This letter was extremely well written. I thought it was quite clever the way you incorporated the quotes into the letter. I was very convinced that this jeannette person has a terrible childhood and should indeed run away.
P.S. You should be a psychologist or something.
Wow Tom, very convincing letter. But are you sure that Jeanette's father's true feelings for her come out when he is drunk? From what I understand, people often say things they don't mean when they're drunk. But I definitely agree that she needs to get out of her incredibly dysfunctional home.
-Maddie
Wow, that is pretty ironic. It's interesting how we both end up writing letters to our main characters telling them to leave their family (and town in my case) because they are better than that.
Anyway, I have to agree with what Maddie said about Jeanette's father's feelings. But I do understand that sometimes when someone's mind and ability to control themselves is out of their control, like when they're drunk, their subconscious takes over. Or maybe he's just unhappy and happens to take it out on his family (which isn't good either but doesn't mean he doesn't love her). A lot of time we take our anger or depression out on those we love. Also, you mentioned previously about how their family is poor so maybe Jeanette's parents don't really have much of a choice for what to do. They need to survive. Of course, neglecting their children isn't good either, but it could be an explanation(not a justification)
The last thing I have to say is, I'm not telling Homer to leave his family. It was actually his mom's wish for Homer to build a rocket and get out of Coalwood so he's not really ditching them. As a matter of fact, he's complying with part of his family and most of the town. Besides, didn't you tell your main character to and I quote "Run, Jeanette. Run"? There were way too many similarities between our letters, it's almost scary...
P.S. sorry for the long post.
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