Expressions

Alyssa Czerwinski

2/21/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

Expressions

Authors Note: Essay used to explain how the people in Jenna’s life in the book Rules of the Road help her express her emotions.

It is crazy how many people are in our life. Sometimes these people are important and some are less significant. In the book Rules of the Road By Joan Bauer Different characters symbolize different emotions for Jenna which is a key detail for this story.

First of all Harry Bender is a person who Jenna meets around half way through the book. He is someone she wished her dad was like. Harry gives Jenna hope. He does it in a way that he doesn’t even realize. Since Harry told her his story about him quitting drinking which is what Jenna wanted from her dad her whole life.

Another character that can help Jenna express her feelings is Madeline Gladstone. When I read this book I could tell whenever Jenna was with Mrs.Gladstone she felt strong. She felt this way because even though all the struggles Madeline has, she looks through the rain to see the sunlight. When Jenna is around someone who can overcome  a horrid son who doesn’t  care about her and a hip that causes her not to be able to walk  Jenna can realize that she can get though the difficulties of her dad.

The symbol of Jenna’s anger is revolved around her dad.  Her dad is introduced at the beginning of this story and I could tell that he was not going to be a positive character. He walked into the shoe store she worked at drunk! That was the first time she has seen him in 2 years and 7 months, but that was common for her father Jenna explained on page 8.

People can walk in and out for your life in the matter of seconds.  Some will stay and some will go, you never know. But I know Mrs.Gladstone Harry Bender, and Jenna’s father are the ones that will stay forever to help Jenna express her feelings.

The Worst Possible Outcome

Alyssa Czerwinski

2/16/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

The Worst Possible Outcome

 The votes came in, and I had a ton of hope. The votes had just been double checked and the owner of the company is… Elden! Most of the crowd gasped, some just smiled and clapped. I couldn’t move; I was frozen with my mouth wide open thinking how could that inspiring speech not mean anything to the audience?

I began to speak; my voice sounded crackly because I was trying to hold back the tears, “I can’t believe any of you! How could you choose Elden? Didn’t you hear me say that he tried to take my job because he felt threatened!?” I could see in Mrs.Gladstones eyes that she couldn’t breathe, almost as if she was choking… Oh god, she is choking! But not on anything her heart stop and she was gasping for breath. I couldn’t watch as a stockholder tried to revive her. It was too, late she was gone. She died from the pressure of being perfect. I wish I didn’t get her hopes up just to push her down again.

Well this is an awkward ride home. I have to drive myself home with Mrs.Gladstone car but not her. I will never stand up for myself ever again no matter who it is for. Right when I got home I saw my mom and Faith they were so happy to see me but they could see in my eyes disperse and even more stress than I had before the trip. I turned my head because of a roaring noise coming up the street only to see my dad for the last time; I guess you could also say the last time anyone has seen me too. My dad hit me with his car so hard that I was dead from the instant he hit. I saw him get out of his car and ask, “Hey Jenna Girl you’re not looking to good. Are you sick?”

Rules of the Road

Authors Note: One paragraph essay explaining why a certain quote in the book Rules of the Road. This Quote is from the end of the story ergo its gives a detail that could be considered a “spoiler.”

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” I shouted. “This is my father. He’s been drunk driving.” These two sentences mean a lot to Jenna in the book, Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer. This is important because Jenna knows how hard it is “sell out” a person you love. She knew she had to though. That was the only way to get her dad on a better track for life.  

Mrs.Gladstone

Authors Note: This is a speech about the book Rules of the Road and Mrs.Gladstone.

One of the main characters is Mrs.Gladstone. She is a 73-year-old woman who runs over 150 shoe stores. Mrs.Gladstone has many attitudes towards different people. To Jenna she is impressed that a 16-year-old who is practically in love with her job. This is opposite to her son where she is upset and angry due to the fact that he is forcing things upon her. She values her stores and riches. Mrs.Gladstone is cranky and mean because of her bad hips and her son. Mrs.Gladstone is very important to this book without her there wouldn’t be a road trip ergo no book.