Adam
Almontaser
10/22/14
Ashes
Blog Final
“When
there is no struggle, there is no strength” - Oprah Winfrey. In the
short story Ashes by Beth Pfefferer, we see a lot of struggles and
issues with Ashes. There is a clear theme that relationships can be
complicated between parents and their kids. Sometimes our
relationships can influence our life choices and give us decisions
that will lead us to our future. Ashes has to deal with her fathers
manipulation, there are promises not kept and her decisions on
choosing to listen to her father or standby her mother.
One
of the issues Ashes has to deal with is her fathers verbal
manipulation, he always says she is “One in a Million” to make
her feel comfortable when she is with her dad. Her father used
compliments to make Ashes do stuff she would have never done. She was
“ordered” by her father to take money, $200 from her mom’s keep
safe to give it to his dad from his divorced wife. “The skies
turned grey as she looked out the window when she stole her moms’
keep safe money.” The skies turning grey is a sign of guilt. Ashes
knew she did something wrong, she just thought she was helping her
dad, but he knew she wasn’t. Ashes was out eating with her dad when
he said his famous line, “ Your one in a million.” Her father
thinks that his plan of manipulation is working but Ashes has
suspicions. “Am I really?” I asked, not needing the reassurance.
I knew I wasn’t a one in a million girl, no matter how often Dad
told me I was.” Ashes didn’t need the reassurance because she is
told that so many times. She know her dad isn’t truthful when he
says “One in a million.” Ashes knows her dads methods and tactics
to use her.
Ashes
also has to deal with as a young adult is accepting that her dad
promises won’t be kept. Ashes’ dad promised her a necklace of
stars, she never got it. “Dad used to promise me the stars for a
necklace, but like most of his promises, that one never quite
happened.” From this there is a clear statement, her dad has
impossible promises, or in other words, unrealistic. “Mom said
‘He’s an irresponsible bum. That was her way of wording it.”
This quote also supports the fact that the dad is untruthful, and
irresponsible, bums are exactly that. Irresponsible people can’t
keep promises, her dad is one of them.
Lastly,
another issue that Ashes has to deal with, is her decision making
between her mother and her father. “No, I just thought maybe you
could borrow the money, just for a day or two, until I straighten out
all my finances. Your mother would never know the difference.” This
the part where Ashes has to listen to her father, or standby her
mother. This is a crucial moment in the book, she can destroy her
relationship with her dad, who she sees twice a week, or her mom
where she sees her on a normal day to day basis. “Dad touched me on
my shoulder, gloved hand on winter coat. ‘You’re one in a
million,’ he said to me. ‘The best daughter a man could dream
of.” This quote is giving Ashes the “reassurance” she needs to
give her dad the money. Although the short story didn’t end there,
it left off with Ashes staring at the keep safe money listening to
her dads car rumble in the distance. “Your one in a million it
cried.”
In
conclusion, struggles and teen issues relate to the book as a whole
because Ashes is faced with many challenges, and tough decisions.
Beth Pfefferer is clear and successful on bringing her message across
throughout the short story because Ashes struggles and challenges are
visible, they are relateable. From the ending of the short story,
many predictions can be formed. She will take the money and make her
dad joyful, or leave the money and make him disappointed. The quote
“When there is no struggle, there is no strength” - Oprah Winfrey
really ties into this book because this proves that Ashes is strong
because there is lots of struggle in this short story.
