104519705 Novel Form 5 Step by Wicked Step

Keluar Belakang

NOVEL

Keluar Menu Belakang Depan

STEP BY WICKED STEP

a. The Main Story

b. Richard Clayton Harwick – My Story

c. Claudia’s Story – Green Pyjamas

d. Colin’s Story – The Bluebird of Happiness

e. Ralph’s Story – A Tale of Three Stepmothers

f. Pixie’s Story – The Pains in My Life

g. Robbo’s Story – Dumpa’s the Problem


STEP BY WICKED STEP

a. The Main Story

• Synopsis

• The Plot

• Setting

• Point of View

• Subject Matter

• Theme

• Mood

• Tone

• Repetiton

• Onomatopoeia

• Preominition

• Characters

• Quality of Characters

• Analysis

• Lesson and Moral Value


STEP BY WICKED STEP

b. Richard Clayton Harwick – My Story

• Synopsis

• The Plot

• Setting

• Point of View

• Subject Matter

• Theme

• Mood

• Tone

• Chart

• Characters




STEP BY WICKED STEP

c. Claudia’s Story – Green Pyjamas

• Synopsis

• The Plot

• Setting

• Point of View

• Subject Matter

• Theme

• Mood

• Tone

• Chart

• Characters




STEP BY WICKED STEP

d. Colin’s Story – The Bluebird of Happiness

• Synopsis

• The Plot

• Setting

• Point of View

• Subject Matter

• Theme

• Mood

• Tone

• Chart

• Characters




STEP BY WICKED STEP

e. Ralph’s Story – A Tale of Three Stepmothers

• Synopsis

• The Plot

• Setting

• Point of View

• Subject Matter

• Theme

• Mood

• Tone

• Chart

• Characters


• Analysis



STEP BY WICKED STEP

f. Pixie’s Story – The Pains in My Life

• Synopsis

• The Plot

• Setting

• Point of View

• Subject Matter

• Theme

• Mood

• Tone

• Characters

• Chart




STEP BY WICKED STEP

g. Robbo’s Story – Dumpa’s the Problem

• Synopsis

• The Plot

• Setting

• Point of View

• Subject Matter

• Theme

• Mood

• Tone

• Chart

• Characters



1 : Step By Wicked Step

Novel

Synopsis


Five children are put together in a minibus not

inadvertently but preplanned by the teacher. The simple

reason is that their names were in a particular column on

which there were two addresses.

The children discover an album in one of the secret

room and after reading the album all of them were able

to relate to the story in the album. They decide to tell

their stories.

Keluar Belakang Depan

All five of them relate their stories from which one

understands their character and their problems. They

discover a few lesson in life and learn that one cannot

run away from problems. That they have to fix their

problems one way or another.

To Colin their advise is the same, he has to fix the

problem and not run away from the problem.


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The Plot

Exposition

Five children who seemingly have something in

common are inadvertently placed together in Harwick

Hall. They discover an album which contains the story

of a boy of their age. The boy, Richard, makes a

mistake of leaving his home which causes more

problems than before he left. He loses his whole

family.


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Rising Action

Consequently the children narrate their experiences.

Each of them have a unique story but all are from

families where the parents are divorced. The problems

each face is however different and in the end some of

their problems are solved.

Climax

Everyone except for Colin is able to solve their

problem.

Colin however plans to run away just like Richard.


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Falling Action

The other children, Ralph, Claudia Robbo and Pixie

however believe that running away is not the solution.

Resolution

Colin needs to fix the problem himself there and then.


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Setting

The inside of a minibus.

Old Harwick Hall.


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Point of View

Third person point of view.


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Subject matter

The whole novel seems to center around the five

children and a character of an album. Who are all

in one way or another from troubled families.


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Theme

When a break up in the family is inevitable, you do

not fight it, you accept the inevitable and try to fit

in.


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Sorrow and Optimistic.

Mood


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Tone

Witty and thought provoking.


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Repetition

Horrible x4 (pg5)


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Onomatopoeia

“strick” (pg2)


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Preominition

These five have something in common.

(pg12)


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Characters (The Main Characters)

Claudia

Claudia is sensible and a very emotional person. Thus

when her father and mother broke up she was affected,

as any child would be. The love for both her parents

made it difficult for her to accept anyone coming into the

family. She saw them as an adversary to the family. She

refused to accept her stepmother. Eventually her

emotions overwhelmed her and she accepted Stella. That

changed her life forever. For the better.


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Colin

A sad boy who yearns for his stepfather, (sorry Colin, I

mean your dad!). Loves him so much that to him he is

Dad. The sadness is over powering and creates

emotional problems for him. He is unable to confront his

mother since he loves his mother too (who doesn’t love

their mum!). Clearly the separation causes a deep

emotional problem in Colin. He becomes very quiet and

day dreams (ie. an introvert).


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Ralph

The youngest in his family. A jovial person and takes life

quite simple. He is so experienced, in the complicated

lifestyle that he has been experiencing form childhood

that he seems to be able to get over any problem quite

easily. The complicated life had made him more

responsible, sensible and quick in his actions and wit.


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Pixie (Priscilla/Cilla)

Priscilla is young and immature. She goes to her father’s

house on the alternative week. She finds it difficult living

there as she herself is immature and uncompromising.

She wants to be noticed but does not notice the others in

the house. She seems to find fault with others while her

faults are brushed away.


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Robbo

Robbo seems to be a matured, intelligent, friendly and

non-confrontational. He loves his parents, his sister,

his step-brother and his step-dad. He is able to live in

any condition and does not have any problem in the

divorce.


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Quality of Characters

Mr Plumley

Characteristics Supporting information

Concerned

“You settle down. I’ll go

and see if I can find what

the housekeeper has left us

for supper.” (pg5)

Timid “Anyone want to come with

me.” (pg5)


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Richard Clayton Harwick –

My Story Read and Weep


Novel


Synopsis

Richard’s father died in Harwick Hall. He was liked by

everyone. Richard’s mum later married Reverand

Coldstone, a disciplinarian. Charlotte liked him and Mr

Coldstone liked her. Richard however regarded him

coldly because he believed that the Reverand had taken

over the whole family. Thus when the Reverand decided

that he should be sent to school as a boy should be,

Richard regarded school negatively. Consequently

Richard ran away from home and traveled away on a ship

to faraway lands.


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He did return home but saw Harwick Hall from a distance

and did not enter, nor meet his family. One day, he saw an

advertisement requesting him to return. He discovers

that his family members have all passed away. He reads a

letter left by his sister and discovers that his mother and

sister loved him so much. That his absence only created

more problems for them. Disappointed of the turn of

events he had caused, he wondered he should leave or

live in Harwick Hall. However he chose the former.


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The Plot

Exposition

Richard’s father Mr Harwick, passes away. His mother

marries Mr Coldstone, who is kind to his sister,

Charlotte. Richard hates his step-father and believes

his step-father hates him too.


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Rising Action

His step-father begins controlling Richard including

sending him to school. Richard looks at the negative

aspect of the school and regards the schooling very

negatively. Eventually he decides to run away from

the country.

Climax

Broken hearted, his mother dies, after spending a

fortune looking for her son. Mr. Coldstone passes

away too. Charlotte who is unable to finance the

search for her brother marries Charles who agrees to

finance the search.


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Falling Action

Richard returns to Harwick Hall as a rich man. And

discovers the heart breaking situation he had created.

Regrets too late.

Resolution

Without his family, Richard feels the emptiness again

and decides to leave again.


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Setting

Old Harwick Hall

Mordanger School Foreign ports

The port


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Point of view

First hand point of view


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Subject Matter

Children do not have the ability to judge the

intricacies of life or decide the situation or

circumstance accurately. Whatever happens may

have a variety of reason for it to happen which a child

may not be able to grasp. A child’s perception of

things is certainly narrow. It takes a lot of experience

and knowledge to understand things around us. This

may be true to matured persons too.


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Theme

Upon knowing that a situation or circumstance is

against you, you should then be patient and discover

how to manage the problem. When you run away from

the problem, it will become bigger and bigger and

difficult to handle.


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Mood

Sorrow.


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Tone

Sad.


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MR HARWICK LILY HARWICK

LUCY (Housemaid)

GEORGE DIGBY (Gardener)

RICHARD (DICKIE)

CLAYTON HARWICK

CHARLOTTE HARWICK

CHARLES DEVERE

Se

rva

nts

are

Children are

marries

Married

next

Married to MR COLDSTONE

The Chart for Richard Clayton Harwick - Read and Weep

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1. Richard (Dickie) Clayton Harwick

Is a very young boy who erroneously believes that the

whole world is against him after his father died. His

immature mind considers every thing done by others

which he does not like as an action against him, a typical

childish thought. Richard regrets for his follies.


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2. Mr Coldstone

He comes into the Harwick’s life to perhaps help out the

family which was clueless after the death of Mr Harwick.

Was he after their money or was he genuinely concerned,

is the unanswered question? However after his death we

discover in the story that it was Richard who inherits the

wealth. (Perhaps in the eye of a child, someone to replace

their father is unforgivingly unacceptable.)


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3. Lilith (Lily) Harwick/Coldstone

After her husband’s death she seems to lose control of the

family, not due to the dominant Mr Coldstone but perhaps

due to illnesses. Richards disappearance aggravated her

mental health further!


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4. Charlote Harwick/Devere

She loves her brother dearly. Since he is the only sibling

she has it is no wonder she loves him so much. The fact

that she merely married Charles so that he can fund the

search for her brother clearly shows how much she loves

him in spite of him forsaking her.


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Characters (The Minor Characters)

1. Lucy

A sincere servant to the family..

2. George Digby

Another servant of the family, a gardener, had a soft spot

for Richard.


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Childish “Is my father dying? (pg15)

Emotional

“How many nights my pillow would

become flood...cloudless afternoons I

have to water with my private showers..”

(pg17)

Sensible

“Show me the child who reaches for the

hand of father or mother and says

farewell and I will show you a storm of

weeping under a face of stone”

Richard (Dickie) Clayton Harwick


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Immature

“Will it be tonight?

“Now you would think he really does own

my mother. And everything of hers is his as

well.”

“It seems that I am his. And so is Charlotte.”

(pg19)

“And what did my mother say?...” (pg19)

“I have learned nothing except how to

freeze, and how to starve, and how to be

bullied and beaten.” (pg20)

“I’ll be no son of his! Not ever!” (pg21)

“...a boy as young as I...” (pg22)


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Obedient “Yes Father.” (pg18)

Selfish

“But what of me?(twice)...But why did

my father forget to mention me? Does

my happiness not matter? Do I count for

less? Am I supposed to nod and be a

brave lad for ever, while everything

changes around me and everything I

loved is different?” (pg18)


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Mean

“Now, Mrs Harwick, you cannot see the

holes in the chapel path for tears. Please

take my arm. I’ll see you safely home.”

(pg19)

“...ask him why he so hates me” (pg21)

“You have forgotten our father!” (pg21)

“And if it should be true?” (pg22)

Love “...dried her tears, and begged her

pardon.” (pg22)

Regret “If I’d had my stepfather’s globe more

firmly in my mind back then...” (pg25)


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Mean

“He gripped my arm tighter.” (pg16)

“...he has done his best to beat fear out

of me.”

Anger

“There was a flash of anger...” (pg17)

“...as money steadily slipped away...”

(pg27)

Mr Coldstone


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Disciplinarian

“Are these your best manners? (pg17)

“I shall take time to mend your manners

soon”

“That boy runs wild. He must in any

case be sent to school.” (pg19)

Kind “He has been kind enough to me” (pg21)


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Motherly

“...brushing the unruly hair back from

his forehead...” (pg17)

“spent a fortune seeking you...” (pg27)

Devoted wife “I will not have your father go troubled

to his grave.”

Lilith (Lily) Harwick/Coldstone


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Concerned “No tears, my dearest. Your poor father

has seen enough of tears.”

Sensible

“...everything he does is for your own

good, so you will grow up strong and

manly...” (pg21)


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Innocent “Papa has hugged and kissed me and

now he is asking to see you.” (pg16)

Concerned “Why must you hate him so?” (pg21)

Compromised “...she’s picked her way between the two

of us like...” (pg21)

Sensible “Why should I treat Mr Coldstone as if

he were a murderer...” (pg22)

Charlote Harwick/Devere


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Philosophical

“Just because life has dealt us one hard

blow, there is no reason for us to be

unhappy for ever.” (pg22)

“...If you had found the courage to stay,

and show patience, and take your part in

our troubles, not heap on more by

vanishing.” (pg27)


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Love

“...you are still dearest to me though you

have been so cruel...”

“...I married Charles Devere...he has

promised to keep up the search...”

(pg28)


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Lucy




Worried/

Concerned

“...her thoughts were far from this little

tower room.” (pg15)

Supersitious “Don’t even speak of it.”

Sorrowful “...hurried away, weeping.”


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Concerned “...crushing me to his breast...” (pg15)

George Digby


Popular “Everyone loved him” (pg15)

Proud “There’s my strong lad...No tears...”

(pg18)

Richard’s Father


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Lessons and moral values

1. Running away is not the solution.

The courage to stay and fight the battle of life is the

sensible thing to do than to run away from the battle like a

coward. We should stay and confront the problems which

come our way, running away from the problem would not

make the problem to go away. In fact the problem may

only grow bigger.


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2. Patience and preserverence.

Whatever the problem, we must have the patience to

surmount it. What we may not be able to solve in one go

or in one day we may be able to solve little by little or

during a longer period.


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3. Problems shared is problems solved.

When a problem comes our way, we may not be able to

solve it ourself but if we were to get a few person to help

us we may be able to solve the problem which we saw as

too big for us to solve.


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4. If unable to help, at least do not cause more

problems.

There are occasions where we are unable to help others

but then it is during this trying times that we should not

cause more problems for them.


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Claudia’s Story:

Green Pyjamas


Novel


Synopsis

Claudia’s mum and dad were having differences of

opinion. The basic reason being financial problems.

This created tensions between them everyday. The

father usually goes to his mother’s house when there

is a fight. However, this time the signs showed that it

was permanent.

The breaking apart of the family became obvious when

her father moved in with Stella. Unable to withstand the

split, Claudia went against Stella with every method

she could. She had to ensure that her mother too did

not feel that she was more close to her father and

Stella too.


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One day, on a spur of a moment, Claudia resists her

animosity and befriends Stella.

It was a start to an acceptance of the breaking up of the

family.


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The Plot

Exposition

Claudia’s mum and dad quarrel nearly everyday.

Rising Action

They split up.

Climax

Her father moves in with Stella.


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Falling Action

Nobody wants to accept Stella. Claudia breaks the ice.

Resolution

Claudia accepted the break up and accepted Stella

too.


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Setting

1. Claudia’s home where she lived with her mum.

2. Her Granny’s house where her father lived

whenever he fought withher mum.

3. Stella’s home.


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Point of view

First hand point of

view.


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Subject matter

Differences of opinion between parents

results in broken family. If a compromise

is not reached sooner, matters will only

get worse. Lastly, unless the breaking up

is accepted by all, unhappiness will

only continue.


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Theme

Accept the inevitable, opposing the

inevitable only creates tension

and unhappiness.


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Mood

Sombre mood.


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Tone

Sad.


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DAD MUM

STELLA

Claudia’s

GRANNY

CLAUDIA SHREELA

GEORGE MARY BARNEY

Married to

Best

friend

Child

ren

are

girlfriend

Frie

nd

are

The Chart for Claudia’s Story – Green Pjymas

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Claudia’s dad

Due to bad business, he was having a financial problem.

Claudia’s mum did not want to understand the problem

and was nagging him which resulted in the quarrels. He

left home as he was the party who was not contributing

and was the weaker one in the relationship. His action of

befriending with Stella soured the relationship with

Claudia’s mum. However, he did try his best to keep

Claudia in his life and the new relationship.


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Claudia’s mum

Her expectation was that her husband should contribute

to the family welfare, however bad the situation. The

problem was that after venting her frustrations, she is

unable to relent and give in. Pride stopped her from

taking him back. She regretted. When Stella came into

her husband’s life, her outburst, indicates that she wants

him but pride was stopping her.


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Stella

Entering into a relationship with a person who has just

come out of a broken relationship is a nightmare.

Stella found it the hardway. She had to prove herself and

with stand the volatile relationship. She made it.

Grannny

Typical mother to her son. Protects the daughter in law

rather than the son as her love for her son need not be

proven.


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Shreela

A good friend.

Barney,Mary,George and Linda

wanted to be “politically” right.


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Naughty “It wasn’t their fault if he didn’t know the

rules.” (pg5)

Observant “...only Claudia had noticed...” (pg10)

Emotional

“...blowing her nose on a tissue.”

“...Openly wiped away her tears.” (pg23)

“Claudia’s tissue is soaking.” (pg24)

Impulsive “I made a decision in the time it took to

blink.” (pg29)

Claudia CHAPTER 1


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Compromising “...I’d try not to sound so keen...” (pg33)

Simple minded “...I just want things back the way they

used to be...” (pg34)

Sad

“...had a separate Christmas, and it was

horrid...

...Boxing day...I felt terrible...” (pg35)

Rude “Goodbye, I said, which was extremely

rude...” (pg36)

CHAPTER 3


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Hate “And I hated him for it.” (pg37)

Faithful

“Don’t call her that” (pg37)

“And all the time, I would be thinking of

Mum.” (pg40)

Kind “I felt sorry for her.” (pg46)

CHAPTER 3


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Nasty

“Fine, I’d say coldly,...But I don’t get to see her

so much...now that I have to come here.” (pg39)

“She’s alright. She’s going on a holiday soon,

with her mother and father.” (pg39)

“If I wanted butter, I’d ask Dad to pass it....”(pg40)

“I pretended that I hadn’t noticed her...” (pg42)

“I shrugged, as if I couldn’t care at all...” (pg43)

“...I never wore the green pyjamas that she’d

given me.” (pg43)

CHAPTER 3


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Sensible

“...it wasn’t helping mum...what had gone

wrong was nothing to do with...

(them)...treating Stella as if she was invisible

was never going to solve it.” (pg46)

Bold

“I came from behind the fern (pg46)...Stella...

These are the pyjamas you bought me. Aren’t

they beautiful?...They’re brilliant...Thank

you.” (Pg47)

CHAPTER 3


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Quitter “...he was gone....” (pg31)

Unrelenting

“...and more arguments...” (pg32)

“Have it both ways...” (pg38)

“...hardly speaking to one another...”

(pg39)

Dishonest “Either he’d fib to ...” (pg37)

Untrustworthy “If he couldn’t be trusted...” (pg37)

Claudia’s dad


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Faithful “Don’t talk about Daddy like that, please!”

(pg31)

Nags

“I’m fed up with the way he spends all his

time...” (pg31)

“...spent more time there...” (pg38)

Claudia’s mum


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Unrelenting

“...and more arguments...” (pg32)

“Just tell me when...” (pg39)

“...hardly speaking to one another...”

(pg39)

Angry “Mum spat it down the phone...”


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Friendly “...smiling and friendly...” (pg35)

nervous “Wish me luck.” (pg44)

compromise “...she knew I was faking but she didn’t

push it.” (Pg44)

Stella


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Angry “...have a row with Dad...” (pg37)

Philosophical

“I shouldn’t fret, everything will come out

in the wash, and I can’t even remember

what I was worrying about last year.”

(pg47)

Granny


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Sensible “...we’re best friends again.” (pg41)


Rude

“No one was talking to Stella” (pg45)

“...they talked to Dad, or to the air...no

one spoke about the lovely food...they

wouldn’t couldn’t make friends with

Stella...they were ignoring her...” (Pg46)

Shreela

Barney, Mary, George, Linda


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Lessons and moral values

Prevention is better than cure.

Claudia’s parents should be more compromising and one

of them should have given in during the quarrels.

Arguments and quarrels are quite normal in any

relationship, however one should quickly decide to give

in before matters gets worse.


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Patching up is hard to do.

Breaking up seems to be easy, the patching up is the

difficult part. Quarrels and difference in opinion is normal

in relationship but patching up must be fast and decisive.

Someone must give in even though one has to give an

artificial victory to the other.

Claudia’s parent’s were moving towards a breakup. The

classic financial problem with the small quarrels

escalating to a major break up is foreseeable. They

should have patched up sooner before the situation

became permanent.


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Colin’s Story:

The Bluebird of Happiness


Novel


Summary

Colin was only the stepson of Jack. Colin never knew

his biological father. Colin’s mum left him as she

realised that he was more of a rough character. Jack

however was the epitome of niceness. A perfect

father, however Colin’s mum could not withstand his

lack of seriousness in getting a job. So she left him.

Not informing Jack where she and Colin were going.


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However, Colin loved Jack and regarded him as his

Dad. Colin admired him, and missed him so much

that he began to “look” for him in his memories,

listened and sang the songs they sang together,

remember the things “Dad liked” and began to “see”

him everywhere in his imagination.


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Lastly, after noticing his mother’s stand about his

Dad, Colin decides to run away from home to look for

his Dad. By his action he wants to teach his mother a

lesson on the “waiting he had to endure for his Dad”.

Would he or wouldn’t he meet his “Dad”?

Will he leave home as Richard did?

Ralph, Charlotte Claudia and Pixie do not agree with

Colin’s action to “run away”.


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The Plot

Exposition

Colin’s mother left his biological father when he was a

few weeks old. When Colin was 8 months old she

hitched up with Jack. Colin regarded him as his Dad.

Rising Action

Jack who was not having a proper job took care of

him as his mum was too busy with work. Colin was

very close to Jack.


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Falling Action

Colin missed Jack so much that he got into trouble

with the teachers. He was hopeless in school. His

mother was not bothered about his happiness. So he

was saving money to look for his Dad and leave his

mom one day.

Climax

One day, Colin’s mum packed and left Jack. The

reason being that Jack did not have a proper job or a

proper income.


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Resolution

Colin’s story does not have an ending, but there is a

foreshadowing...

“It’s about following the bluebird round the world, but

finding happiness where you began.”


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Setting

Colin’s home where he lived with his mom and Jack.

Colin’s present home.


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Point of view

First hand point of view.


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Subject matter

Children are the most affected when families

break up.


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Theme

Running away from the cause of a problem is never

the solution. Nor is running away to make another

understand the pain or as a “lesson” to the other as it

only creates more problems, especially when it is

among family members.


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Mood

Sad


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Tone

Sombre


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MUM DAD

COLIN

Married to

Ma

rried

ne

xt

Has s

on

JACK (stepdad)

The Chart for Colin’s Story – The Bluebird of Happiness

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A sad boy who yearns for his stepfather, (sorry Colin,

I mean your dad!). Loves him so much, that to him, he

is “Dad”. The sadness is over powering and creates

emotional problems for him. He is unable to confront

his mother since he loves his mother too (who doesn’t

love their mum!). Obviously the separation causes a

deep emotional problem in Colin.

Colin


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She is emotionally affected too. She has a defense

system for problems with men, she leaves them. Thus

when she found Colin’s “Dad” inadequate, she left him.

However, to Colin she had to hide certain things which

she felt he is too young to handle.

Colin’s mum


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Kind honest man. Loves Colin like his own son.

Does everything for him. His weakness is he is jobless.

Jack


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Colin


Observant “Look...In the wall. It’s a door. There’s a

door hidden in the wall.” (pg7)

Day-dreamer

“...who had been quiet the whole

journey.” (pg1)

“...whose habit of drifting through the

hours of each school day as if his

thoughts were hundreds of mile away...”

(pg13)

CHAPTER 1


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Novel




Interested

“...had come a sharp intake of

breathe...” (pg23)

“Colin’s been listening for once...”

(pg24)

“Go on. And just be sure you don’t miss

out a single word.” (pg25)

“...he was determined to hear the end...”

CHAPTER 1


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Naive “You only saw his good side.” (pg53)

Unhappy

“It wasn’t nice for me” (pg52)

“His black eyes glittered...” (pg54)

“Pale silver tears spilled from his

eyes...” (pg57)

CHAPTER 4


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Thoughtful

“And if I stuck up for him...so I shut up”

(pg54)

“...staring out into the night as though

pretending that he hadn’t heard.” (pg55)

Intelligent “And I knew.” (pg54)

Understanding “Listen, he said. She didn’t mean it...she

thought it was better that way” (pg55)

CHAPTER 4


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Defensive “I never finished with him. It wasn’t like

that...” (pg56)

Loyal

“I’m sure she didn’t mean to tell lies,”

(pg58)

“You see, the thing about my mum...”

Creative

“I pretended.” (pg56)

“And I’d pretend that he was there with

me.” (pg56)

CHAPTER 4


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Emotional

problems

“...I started getting into trouble at

school from being half asleep...” (pg57)

“...this man came around and talked to

Mum...

...I was a bit upset...”

“I was still hopeless in school.” (pg59)

“I still get in trouble with teachers.”

CHAPTER 4


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Love

“I haven’t got used to it...I took it off the

shelf, and carried it round the shop for

ages.” (pg60)

“Enough to go back and find him”

(pg61)

“As soon as I’m tall enough, I’m off”

“Their favourite song” (pg62)

CHAPTER 4


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Colin’s mum


Hard working “My mum worked in a shop” (pg51)

Mean “My mum and I did the flit.”



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Cunning

“She just waited for the one day a month

when Dad used to go and spend the day

with his sister...” (pg52)

“...and Mum said, Ssh! to him, and gave

me a funny little sideways look.”

“Mum hadn’t left him any clues.” (pg54)

“...what she said wasn’t the truth...”

“...Mum didn’t even tell him about Dad...”

“...she just pretended he meant the other

one...”



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Too busy “...found a job in a canteen...always too

busy...” (pg52)

Impulsive “...She didn’t mean it...she thought it

was better that way” (pg55)

Complicated “And one day you’ll understand it’s for

the best.” (pg55)



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Jack


Friendly “...you can talk to him...” (pg53)

Thoughtful/

nice/

fatherly/

Lovable

“...remembers what you say...heard

them from me in the first place” (pg53)

Mysterious “You didn’t know the half of it.” (pg53)



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Irresponsible “...never having a proper job” (pg53/54)

Talented “He knows the words of practically

every song...” (pg50)



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Love (Colin)

“The child who is loved has many

names.” (pg51)

“...it was Dad who walked me to school

and back...”

“...And took me to park”

Light hearted “...he used to tease me.”



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Lesson and Moral Value

1. We should meet problems headlong and not run

away from them. How long can we run away from

problems in life?

Colin’s mum ran away from the first husband, to avoid

the problems associated with him. She ran away from

Jack too. Her character is as if she runs away from

problems.


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The problems for her never reduced in fact it

increased. She was too tired with work, Colin was not

taken care of. In fact Colin’s character had

deteriorated. Perhaps if she had compromised on Jack,

he may have handled Colin well, Colin could have

become a better person, she could have persuaded

him to work.


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Colin on the other hand seems to have acquired the

same trait from his mum. He wants to run away too. He

loves his mum too much, and is unable to persuade his

mum to agree to his reasoning. Adults sometimes think

that they know everything. He wants to run away rather

than talk to his mum and come to a compromise.

He is not able to foresee that his going away may

cause more problems than solve the present problems.

Just like Richard.


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Ralph’s Story:

A Tale of Three

Stepmothers


Novel


Synopsis

Ralph’s Dad and his mum were divorced. Ralph the

youngest had two brothers George and Edward. His

mum married Howard. His Dad married Annabelle to

whom he was crazily in love.

His first stepmother was possessive. She wanted

Ralph’s Dad for herself. She was a health enthusiast and

wanted the children to adhere to it too. She was also

against mistreatment of animals and an extreme

spiritual believer. Her enthusiasm to share her idealistic

believes did not go well with her step-children. She

eventually ran away with a “descendent of King Arthur”.


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Janet, was their second stepmother. She was a strict

disciplinarian and was akin to a ruler. She had rules for

every aspect of behaviour or actions. The rules were

strictly adhered to. The children hated it, as their life

was managed as per the clock. Liberty was at the

lowest. However the adults loved it because everything

was done orderly and perfectly. However, Janet left

because she noticed that Ralph’s dad and Mum were

taking advantage of her.

Lastly, Ralph’s father met Flora, the 3rd stepmother who

was as young as Ralph. She was irresponsible,

spendthrift, modern and outgoing. Ralph liked her a lot

and got along well with her. She got pregnant and Ralph

has decided to take care of the soon to be born child.


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Novel


The Plot

Exposition

Both of Ralph’s parents married again after their

divorce. Ralph’s mum got married once and Ralph

stay’s over in her home for half the week. However his

dad remarries several times and lives in with his

present girlfriend who may become Ralph’s

stepmother.


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Rising Action

His first stepmother Annabelle was a dominant

character, spiritual and regarded herself always right.

She left when she discovered a “better” person.

His second stepmother was Janet, “a ruler”. She

created rules for everything.

She left because she found out that his father and

mum were taking advantage of her.

Flora was his father’s current companion and she was

pregnant.


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Climax

Ralph likes Flora and they do get along well as she

was of his age. In fact he intends to take care of the

baby, his half-sister when she is born.

Resolution

He was hoping that his dad will marry Flora. Hopefully

she becomes stepmother three and the final one.

Falling Action

He wants to take responsibility because he believes

that Flora will not be able to take care of his half

sister. He is even reading baby books.


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Novel


Setting

Ralph’s Mum’s

House

Ralph’s Dad’s

House


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Point of view

First hand point of view


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Subject matter

The consequences of a break-up in a marriage

is so complicated and affects all aspects of life

including simple daily matters. The most

affected are the children.


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Novel


Theme

The adult’s break-ups although sounds ominous

may result in healthy extended families whereby

the children of the “broken-marriages” find

themselves having a more bigger family which

makes the children more tolerant, ability to cope

with complex problems and learn life’s lesson’s

early in life.


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Mood

Jovial.


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Tone

Non-serious pleasant

manner.


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Angus & Patricia

HOWARD MUM DAD

RALPH FELICIA VICTOR

ALICIA

EDWARD GEORGE

ANNABEL (stepmother one)

JANET (stepmother two)

FLORA (stepmother three)

BABY GIRL TO

BE BORN

TOM

JOE

DOUG

ANN

Now

Married

to Married to

Have

ch

ildre

n

Daughter is

Alr

ea

dy h

ave

ch

ild

ren

Have

ch

ildre

n

Have

ch

ildre

n

The Chart for Ralph’s Story – A Tale of Three Stepmothers

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Novel


Ralph’s Schedule

After

school

goes to

Sleeps

at

Mum’s

drives

him to

Howard

drives

him to

Has orchestra on

Week 1

Monday DAD’S

PLACE DAD’S

Tuesday MUM’S MUM’S

Wednesday MUM’S MUM’S

Thursday DAD’S

PLACE DAD’S MORNING

Friday MUM’S MUM’S

Saturday dad’s? DAD’S

Sunday dad’s?


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Ralph’s Schedule

After

school

goes to

Sleeps

at

Mum’s

drives

him to

Howard

drives

him to

Has orchestra on

Week 2

Monday DAD’S

PLACE DAD’S



Thursday DAD’S



Saturday MUM’S MUM’S DAD’S

Sunday MUM’S MUM’S


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Ralph’s Schedule

After

school

goes to

Sleeps

at

Mum’s

drives

him to

Howard

drives

him to

Has orchestra on

Week 3

Monday DAD’S

PLACE DAD’S



Thursday DAD’S




Sunday dad’s?


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Novel


Ralph’s Schedule

After

school

goes to

Sleeps

at

Mum’s

drives

him to

Howard

drives

him to

Has orchestra on

Week 4

Monday DAD’S

PLACE DAD’S



Thursday DAD’S




Sunday dad’s?


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1. Ralph

The youngest in his family. A jovial person and takes life

quite simple. He is so experienced in the complicated

lifestyle that he has been experiencing form childhood

that he seems to be able to get over any problems quite

easily. The complicated life had made him more mentally

alert, responsible and sensible.


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2. Ralph’s Dad

Looking for love in so many places. He is more

concerned with his life and quite selfish. Never has much

time for the children and uses his spouse for his selfish

needs.


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3. Ralph’s mum

A dominating character, is still able to handle her

children with first husband’s children while having a

second family.


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4. Annabel

A modern lady, interested in social idealism. A nature

lover. Animal lover. Dominating character. Possessive.

Nags.


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5. Janet

The perfectionist. Disciplinarian. Lives by the rules.


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6. Flora

Too young a lady for Ralph’s Dad. Dominating character.

Irresponsible.


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7. Howard

Sensible.


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Ralph


Quick-witted

“Quick...Pixie and Claudia - upstairs! Try and look

fast asleep. Robbo and Colin - into bed, quickly.”

(pg10)

From “If Miss O Dell thinks we’re asleep.....”

(pg10) to

“...how many chances do you get to peep into

someone else’s life.” (pg11)

“Of course, ...none of my stepmothers have ever

been wicked.” (pg24)

“I bet what we have in common is that we all wrote

down a second home address,” (pg24)

CHAPTER 1


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A genius “You’d have to be a genius to work it

out”. (pg64)

Cheerful “...told them cheerfully”

“Right,’ he said. “Coming up,” (pg65)

Confident “Easy,” Ralph said.”

Surprised/

Astonished “For heaven’s sake!” (pg65)

CHAPTER 5


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Irritable “...she got on their nerves.” (pg66)

Independent “...getting myself a cheese sandwich.”

(pg78)

Responsible

“...sneak away and ring Dad.” (pg78)

“All the responsibility will fall on me.”

(pg80)

“...reading baby books.” (pg80)

CHAPTER 5


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Claudia


Understanding “...patted his hand” (pg65)



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Ralph’s Dad


Love

“He carried on as usual...” (pg67)

“Annable muscled in on everything...”

“...he was in love. Totally, idiotically,

soppily in love.”

“Dippy in love...” (pg68)

“...risk the fuss of explaining how George

and Edward felt.”

“Everything Annabel did was fine with

him. She didn’t like jazz, so he stopped

listening to it.



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Mean “...taking advantage of her...” “neither

pulled their weight...” (pg74)

Angry

“...squawked at me...” (pg 78)

“...he went spare...” (pg 79)

“...was climbing the walls...” (pg79)

Love “...bewitched look spread over his

face,...” (pg79)



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Ralph’s mum


Dominant “...if your Dad makes a fuss, tell him

from me...” (pg69)

Appreciative

“It’s so nice to have a bit of order in our

lives for once,” (pg73)

“And credits where it’s due...just fixed

up with Janet” (pg73)

Satisfied “What a joy,”



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Mean “...taking advantage of her...” “neither

pulled their weight...” (pg74)

Unfair “So unfair”.

“My mum’s a bit like that,” (pg75)



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Annabel


Possessive

“Never left any of us alone with Dad.”

(pg66)

“She came on every trip...like shopping

or getting petrol...every meal...every

telly programme...when Dad drove us

back to Mum’s...”

Nags “She nagged and nagged...” (pg67)



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Dominant “Annable muscled in on everything...”

Health

conscious

“...was always on a diet.” (pg67)

“...dispproved coffee...”

“...drink dandelion tea...”

“...fussed with yeast, and kneaded...”

(pg69)



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spiritual

“...believed that everyone had an aura

round their head...” (pg68)

“...claimed she could...”

Animal lover

“...how cruel we were, poor little

Brandy, hardly room to breathe...”

(pg69)



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Fickle “...went mad. Totally unhinged...” (pg70)

Idiosyncratic

“...said that Brandy was an evil

beast...sheer spite...

I saw the creature for what it was the

moment he came in the

house...malevolent aura...”



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Janet


Disciplinarian

/Organised/

Sensible

“In the main office. Running

everything.” (pg71)

“She was more keen on rules than

anyone I’ve ever known. Janet had rules

for about everything...telly...how

long...to bed...to get up...food...to take

out of the fridge...how to chew...what

you had to do with your elbows...how to

hold your knife and fork...etc” (pg72)



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Flora


sexy/ bold/

modern “...with hardly any clothes on.” (pg76)

Spendthrift “...they went shopping for food...”(pg76)

Immature

“I’m far too young to be his mother...”

(pg77)

“I’m not your mother.” (pg79)

Outgoing “So off we went” (pg78)



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Dominating

“Another time, maybe you’ll think

twice...without checking about my

plans.” (pg79)

Irresponsible

“She’s done all sort of terrible things to

me...” (pg79)

“...she sent me miles to buy a bottle of

mint sauce...”(pg80)

“She’ll never look after it properly...”

(pg80)

“...found floating belly-upwards in its

bowl” (pg80)



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Disorganised “She’s completely disorganised.”

(pg79)



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Howard


Sensible “...she’d got no more than she

deserved...” (pg75)



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Edward/George


Irritable “...She got on their nerves.” (pg66)

Hate “...just hated it.”

Responsible/

Love “...brushed the crumbs off me,...” (pg69)

Appreciate “...because they had tons of time alone

with Dad...” (pg72)



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ANALYSIS

Although divorce is looked upon as a family breaker,

it seems to have its good side too. Children seem to

have an all round emotional life. It may make the

child, if carefully, guided into a very formidable

human being.

Technical Analysis

Compare

“I have two brothers, two half brothers, one half

sister...” (pg63)


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ANALYSIS

With

“Let me guess.” Robbo said. “They’re your

stepsisters and brother.”

“Half sisters and brother.” “Ralph corrected

him...” (pg65)

Submitted

Pg63 should read...

One half brother, two half sisters.

Prove: Two half sisters: Alicia and Felicia.

One half brother: Victor.


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1. No one likes divorces. No one wants to become

stepmothers or stepfathers. No one wants half-brothers

or sisters. Everyone wants an ideal family of: a father, a

mother, brothers and sisters. When parents divorce,

which is happening more often in this modern world,

one of the issue is the high number of individuals in the

extended family.


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For societies which do not experience the joint-family

culture, it is a new experience and difficult to get used

to. In joint-family culture the cooperation and

experiences of managing a high number of individuals

creates person of extraordinary calibre. Similarly,

divorces create extended families, and the individuals if

guided well would become well rounded individuals.


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Pixie’s Story:

The Pains in My Life


Novel


Synopsis

Pixie’s story, is about the problems she has to go

through, when her mum and her father divorced. The

story is about, how she had to share her father in her

own house with her step mother and step

sisters.

The trouble is, it is not the step family which is difficult

but Pixie. She does not want to like them nor does she

want to mix with them.

During a confrontation, she discovers with her

stepmother, each other and understand her family and

her father.


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The Plot

Exposition

Pixie visits her dad every alternative week. Her

stepmother has two daughter’s from her previous

marriage. The two step-sisters, Hetty and Sophie,

have a fight resulting in Hetty moving into Pixie’s

room.


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Climax

Hetty inform’s her mother about Pixie’s plans. Lucy

confronts Pixie who divulges all.

Rising Action

Pixie’s doesn’t like her step-sisters at all. She hates

Hetty as she is too smart and popular, in fact Hetty is

a nice person. However Pixie wants Hetty out of her

room. She tries every trick she could. She succeeds

but in a different manner than the way she planned.


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Resolution

The mother and children understand each other and

their father and live happily.

Falling Action

The mother compromises with Pixie. They understand

the father’s stand.


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Setting

Lucy’s and Pixie’s Dad’s house.


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Point of view



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Subject Matter

Extended families emanating from broken families is

sometimes inevitable. The difficulty in the families

assimilating into a cohesive family is most trying. As

long as one does not put out one’s hand to accept the

family relationship or friendship there will never be

cohesiveness.


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Novel


Theme

When parents break up, the family shatters, no one and

no one will feel it most than those family members,

particularly the teenagers. Being a teenager is already

most trying, but when families break up at that period of

time, the difficult feeling is multi-fold.


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Mood

Pugilistic mood.


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Tone

A serious tone but

witty.


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1. Pixie (Priscilla/Cilla)

Priscilla is young and immature. She goes to her father’s

house on the alternative week. She finds it difficult living

there as she herself is immature and uncompromising.

She wants to be noticed but does not notice the others in

the house. She seems to find fault with others while her

faults are brushed away.


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The Chart for Pixie’s Story – The Pains in My Life

MUM DAD

PIXIE

LUCY

HETTY & SOPHIE’S FATHER (UNMENTIONED IN NOVEL)

HETTY

SOPHIE

Was married to

Ha

s d

au

gh

ter

Ma

rried

ne

xt

Ma

rried

to

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2. Pixie’s Dad

Avoids all controversial issues. Wants the family to be

happy but treats all the family issues as not his problem.

Has to bend backwards towards Lucy’s family.


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3. Pixie’s Mum

Very possessive of Pixie and her things. Does not like

Pixie leaving any of her things at her dad’s place.


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4. Lucy

Pixie’s stepmother. Takes care of the whole family

without complaining. Wants to make the family

successful. She tries very hard.

5. Hetty

Very intelligent and kind. Very matured.

6. Sophie

Hetty’s sister.

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Novel



Pixie (Priscilla/Cilla)


Afraid “...Pixie preferred safety in numbers...”

(pg5)

Witty “They probably still will be...” (pg6)

Keen “Give it to me.” (pg14)

CHAPTER 1


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Boastful “I’m brilliant at reading.” (pg14)

Brilliant “I had to put two home addresses on

my permission form.” (pg24)

CHAPTER 1


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Frustrated “...don’t want to bother to seeing my

father any more,...” (pg83)

Dislike “And I can’t stand Hetty Payne” (pg85)

“I’m not too keen on Sophie...” (pg85)

CHAPTER 6


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mean

“...crawling round his new family as if

everything about them mattered more?”

(pg86)

“First, I tried a haunting...” (pg87)

“...scratching and scribbling noise...”

“...flung the window wide open...” “...it

was like the Arctic...”

“...murder happened here!”... (pg88)

CHAPTER 6


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mean

“...about poor Henrietta Forbes...””...her

ghost was seen up and down the

street...”

“I waited until she was deep in her

homework...brought it over to her desk..

(and asked her to explain)...” (pg89)

“...the semi silent treatment...” (pg89)

CHAPTER 6


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mean

“Hetty the perfect! Hetty the pain!”

(pg94)

“She is a pain...A total pain” (pg95)

“I don’t like the people in it” (pg95)

“I don’t care...They’re not mine...”

(pg96)

“as me wanting you to get run over by

accident...”(pg98)

CHAPTER 6


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CHAPTER 6


Irritate

“They drive me up the wall” (pg83)

“...Hetty drives me mad...” (pg85)

“Lunch time Priscilla”

Selfish

“This isn’t fair...She’s Sophie’s sister,

not mine.”

“Do you think it would kill him to try and

stick up for me..” (pg86)

“...think about me...” (pg86)


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CHAPTER 6


Pitiful

“Being packed up every other week

and forced to sit and be polite to

someone else’s boring family.” (pg96)

Confrontational “Sophie and I had a fight” (pg86)

Immature

“Sophie took the top-bunk without

even asking me or tossing a coin.”

(pg86)

“Hetty teases me about my name...”

(pg100)


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CHAPTER 6


Understanding

“...but we never made a noise...Dad and

Lucy came in...saw what a terrible

mistake they’d made and how much

they were fooling themselves and how

stupid they were to think we would ever

feel anything about one another ...”

(pg86)


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CHAPTER 6


Jealous

“...Except mine...” (pg86)

“I want to snatch it from her and rip it...”

(pg87)

“I want to push her face in it”

“...point to all the little mistakes in my

maths..”

Creative “First, I tried a haunting...” (pg87)


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CHAPTER 6


Shrewd

“I hoped she’d suddenly get so fed up

with me that she’d decide even her

sister was better company and ...storm

back to her Sophie...” (pg90)

Bold

“...you and Dad at least got to choose

one another....” (pg91)

“...you two who made things turn out

this way, not me....” (pg92)


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CHAPTER 6


Ungrateful “...you never even bother to thank me

for any of it.” (pg93)

Loyal “Don’t do that please!” ...Make snide

remarks of my mother” (pg94/95)

Unfair You have just called my daughter a

Perfect Pain!” (pg95)


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CHAPTER 6


Pretending

“...you sincerely and honestly believed

that without me and Sophie and Hetty,

everything in your life would be hunky-

dory” (pg97/98)

Compromising “I’m only here because I don’t want to

hurt my father’s feeling...” (pg98)


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Compromising “Lucy thinks Hetty might find that

unsettling,” (pg85)

Pixie’s Dad


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spineless

“...crawling round his new family as if

everything about them mattered more?”

(pg86)

“...he’d just decided to stay safely out of

things...” (pg92)

“...staying out of things, and not facing

up to what was bothering anyone, and

only creeping in when he thought the

trouble was over...” (pg99)


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Unfair

“So long as I pretend that everything’s

fine ...He’s all smiles...But if I say

anything its very different.” (pg97)

Selfish

“...he just got on with his own selfish,

quiet life, pretending he didn’t notice

things or leaving them for Lucy...”

(pg99)

Coward “...just to tease him, one of us might

mutter: Well Lucy thinks...” (pg103)


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Responsible

“...I knew she was taking this seriously.

It mattered to her.” (pg90)

“I cook your meals...change your

sheets...clean your room...wash your

clothes...” (pg93)

Fair

“Hetty says you’re not talking to her.”

(pg91)

“...you don’t even get to choose your

own parents...” (pg91)

Lucy


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Tactful

“...I still tried to get along with you...”

“...he tries to get along with them...”

(pg92)

“Be as nasty as you like. But I know

which I’d choose: a child who knows

how to behave, or one who doesn’t.”

(pg94)

“You insist you are not family...but you

certainly have no idea how to behave as

a guest...” (pg94)

“Priscilla’s a beautiful name.” (pg100)


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disappointed “...she was really irritated,...” “...Leave it

all to the Wicked Stepmother...” (pg93)

Sarcasm

/regret

“...if I’d had the faintest idea what I was

getting into, I wouldn’t have done it in a

million years.” (pg93)

“Because it’s not a life anyone in her

right mind would choose.” (pg93)


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Embarrassed “She went bright red” (pg94)

“Lucy went scarlet.” (pg96)

Unappreciated

“But do i get any support from her?”

“Whatever I do I simply cannot win!”

(pg97)

Fighter “I have to keep trying” (pg98)


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Confrontational

“...Sophie and Hetty had a terrible quarrel...”

“...a real stand-up fight...” (pg83)

“Hetty’s using my calculator, and she won’t

give it back...” (pg84)

“Sophie keeps switching channels while I’m

watching...”

“Hetty wore my blue wooly...”

“Sophie’s sitting on the stairs, and she won’t

let me past her.”

“All of a sudden there was this giant bust-

up...”

“Sophie and I had a fight” (pg86)

Hetty


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Intelligent “...gift for maths...” (pg86)

...can explain things till...” (pg89)

well-mannered “...natural good manners...”

talented “...way with animals...”

popular “...everyone’s darling...”

Sensible “...went straight to her mother and told

her what was going on...”


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Confrontational

“...Sophie and Hetty had a terrible quarrel...”

“...a real stand-up fight...” (pg83)

“Hetty’s using my calculator, and she won’t

give it back...” (pg84)

“Sophie keeps switching channels while I’m

watching...”

“Hetty wore my blue wooly...”

“Sophie’s sitting on the stairs, and she won’t

let me past her.”

“All of a sudden there was this giant bust-

up...”

Sophie


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1. Life is mean. We can’t be mean too. An eye for an eye

would only make the whole world blind. Meanness

creates only enemies and confrontations. Kindness

should be recognised and appreciated. It should not be

replied with meanness.


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Robbo’s Story:

Dumpa’s the Problem


Novel


Synopsis

Robbo had no problems living with his mum, Hope,

step-father Roy and their son Dumpa. Cassie, Robbo’s

sister, however, hated Roy and did everything

possible to show her dislike. She tried to break mum’s

and Roy’s relationship but she agreed that Dumpa’s

the problem.

She was the reason for them having fights and

causing Roy to leave the house for a week. Dumpa

was unable to tolerate Roy’s absence. That is how the

family discovered how much Dumpa loved Roy.

Robbo understood that Dumpa’s the problem in their

plans.


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Hope usually protects Cassie in confrontation’s with

Roy. In one, of the outburst by Roy, Robbo discovers

that Roy is also having problems leaving them

because he loves Dumpa too much. For Roy too,

Dumpa’s the problem.

Hope discovers that she may lose Dumpa if she

protects Cassie too much. Robbo discovers that,

Dumpa’s the problem for his mum too.

And to solve all the problems, Hope allows Cassie, to

stay with her father. Dumpa is not a problem anymore.

However, was Dumpa the problem or the binding force

in the family? Was Cassie the problem then?


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The Plot

Exposition

Robbo and his sister Cassie live with their biological

mum, Hope. Their mum marries Roy and they have a

son called Dumpa.

Rising Action

Cassie does not like Roy and tries very hard to break

Roy’s relationship with her mum so that she can join

back with her biological Dad. She tries very hard. But

fails. However Roy and Hope do have a confrontation

because of Cassie.


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Climax

Dumpa’s the problem. Roy loves Dumpa so much that

he returns after leaving after a fight with Hope. Hope

gives up patching up Cassie with Roy for if she takes

side, she may lose Dumpa. The problem is every one

loved Dumpa.


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Resolution

Dumpa is not the problem. Cassie, Robbo and even

their father agreed that Dumpa can stay with them

anytime, to which Hope too agreed.

Falling Action

After discovering that Cassie cannot tolerate Roy at

all, Hope agrees to allow Cassie to live with her Dad.


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Setting

Hope’s house.

Robbo’s Dad’s house.


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Point of view



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Subject Matter

Non acceptance of the divorce, non-acceptance of

the new relationship in the family, non acceptance

of the new circumstance the broken family is in

is perhaps felt most by the children. In those

circumstances sometimes there will be a binding

force which may be holding the whole broken

family together but the binding force may only be a

thin line.


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Theme

However, great the love of the adults among them, when

they have children, the children’s love for the parents

and the love of the parents of the children play a mighty

role in the new family relationship. There is a great

possibility that even the new extended family

relationship may be broken due to the parent’s love for

the child and a great possibility that the love for the

child may only be the binding force holding up the

family relationship.


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Mood

Touching, sad and moving.


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Tone

Serious.


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The Chart for Robbo’s Story – Dumpa’s the problem

DAD ROY

DUMPA

MUM

ROBBO CALLIE

Was married to Married next

Have children

Have

so

n

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1. Robbo

Robbo seems to be a matured, intelligent, friendly and

non-confrontational. He loves his parents, his sister, his

step-brother and his step-dad. He is able to live in any

condition and does not have problem in the divorce.


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2. Callie

Callie is unable to stand her step-father. This is mainly

due to the fact that she does not want her parents

separated. In fact she tries very hard to patch them back.

She loves her father very much. In the end she makes a

compromise and decides to live with her Dad.


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3. Robbo’s mum

She tries very hard to be fair to her husband and her

children. And eventually gives up maintaining peace

between her husband and Callie. She compromises

and allows Callie to stay with her Dad.


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4. Roy

Roy is fair to his step-children. However he is unable

to be on the good side of Callie as she never gives

him any chance. He loves his biological son, Dumpa

so much.


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5. Dumpa

Only 3 years old and very intelligent. Loves his

father so much. And everybody loves him.

6. Robbo’s Dad

Never gets along with his wife. Was happy to

accept Callie into his house.


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Robbo


brave

“...and went on a prowl up two or three

stairs...” (pg6)

“...had cast the spell of his own courage

on them...” (pg8)

CHAPTER 1


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Matured “I don’t think he’s too bad...” (pg106)

“I don’t mind terribly...”

Love

“Dumpa’s the problem you see.” “the

sweetest child in the whole world.”

(pg101)

Thrilled “I almost fell like cheering.” (pg108)

Impulsive “Like being a real family again.” (pg109)

CHAPTER 7


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Skeptical “But I wasn’t nearly so sure...” (pg111)

Sensible

“..there was still a big difference

between the two of them trying to get

along like reasonable people and...

wanting to get back together...” (pg111)

“Lots of people argue. It probably

doesn’t mean what you think.” (pg112)

CHAPTER 7


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Intuitive

“...suddenly realised Mum had had

enough of being the umpire between

Callie and Roy” (pg120)

CHAPTER 7


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Strategist

“Force it open, boys! I’ll tell you why he won’t

come back inside,” I said. Because he’s fed up

as we are. he feels unwelcome in this house. In

fact he’d really like to leave, but Dumpa’s the

problem.” (pg121)

“Keep up that pressure. Push them hard!”

(pg122)

“Don’t lose it now, Callie, I was willing her. Go

on for goal” (pg123)

“I think she probably said she want to go and

live with Dad.” (pg123)

CHAPTER 7


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Callie


Immature “The Beard’s moved in and taken

everything, and it’s not fair.” (pg106)

Dislike

“Callie really hates him.”

“Callie hates it (to lord over us)...”

“I can’t stand him.” (3 times) (pg122)


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Mean

“Sometimes she stands behind a door

and does this imitation of him under her

breath.”

“...she’d put rat poison in his food...”

(pg107)

“...took great pleasure in tormenting

Roy...” (pg108)

“...whose eyes lit up at every little

niggle...” (pg111)


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Mean

“He’s fixed up some overtime for the

evening she wanted to go out.” (pg111)

“You can’t tell me what to do! You’re not

my father!” (pg113)

“And we’ve all had enough of you.....

(to).....and even Mum’s sick of you!”

(pg113)


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Mean

“The Beard’s a pig! An interfering pig! I

hope he stays out all day and freezes to

death!” (pg117)

“He’s totally mad” (pg120)

Love “And if it weren’t for Dumpa.”pg107

“Dumpa’s the problem of course.”pg112


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Grateful

“At least he and his dada get to live in

the same house...” (pg108)

“we could look after Dumpa here...”

(pg125)

Intelligent

“Callie had been right all week” (pg108)

From “Callie still thought that it was....

to...take us in that café’ for a drink.”

(pg109)


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Hopeful “People do get back together. You never

know. It might happen.” (pg109)

Cunning/

Crafty/

Inventive/

Creative

“The something else turned out to be a

load of barefaced lies.” (pg110)

Optimistic “Well, Dumpa will simply have to learn

to cope.” (pg112)

Stubborn “Roy is as stubborn as Callie...” (pg115)


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Protective “Mum only let him tick us off if we were

doing something really stupid...”(pg106)

Intuitive “He’s definitely his dada’s son.”

Defensive “You’re in a real family.” (pg110)

“Everyone has arguments.” (pg121)

Hope, Robbo’s mum


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Confrontational

“They’re hopeless when they

meet.”pg110

“It seemed they couldn’t come to terms

at all.” (pg114)

Sensible

“Let go of Callie at once, please.” “But she

wants you to let go of her, and I want you to

let go of her” (pg113)

“Callie’s so proud and if you push it, all that

will happen is she’ll start to hate you.”

(pg114)

“Do you really dislike him that much? Do you

really?” (pg124)


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Motherly

“Come inside, Dumpa.” (pg115)

“Dumpa! You’re freezing out there.

Come in with us.”

“Roy, Send Dumpa in, please! (pg116)

“Roy, Can you please persuade Dumpa

to come back inside” (pg116)

“It’s very cold. I’d like him back

inside,please.” (pg116)

“Come with me, Dumpa.” (pg116)

“I’m going out to fetch him now,”

(pg120)


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Desperate “Robbo, ...Please try and get him to

come in for me.” (pg117)

Dejected

“Because he’s dada’s son” (pg120)

“Mum sank on the edge of a chair as if

I’d punched the stuffing out of her.”

(pg121)

“And I’m stuck in the middle.” (pg121)


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Sensible

“Go round” (pg112)

“That’s my car you’re about to scratch.”

(pg113)

Mean

“...I’ve just about had enough of you!”

(pg113)

“Are you taking her side?”

Hurt “Because she’s not my daughter? Is

that it?

Roy “the Beard”


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Responsible

“...I’m good enough to get up half an

hour earlier than i need every morning

to drive her to school, and good enough

to work overtime to pay for repairs...trail

round the supermarket for her favourite

food...” (pg113/114)

confrontational “It seemed they couldn’t come to terms

at all.” (pg114)


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Stubborn

“Roy is as stubborn as Callie...” (pg115)

“I think it’s obvious he wants to stay

with me.” (pg116)

sarcasm

“Why? Aren’t two children out of three

enough for you?” (pg116)

“Come in to what though?” (pg118)

sulking “I don’t see why not. You obviously

have! She can too.”


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Love “I’m still here, aren’t I? Isn’t that

enough?” (pg118)

Compromise “All right,...Take Dumpa in with you.”

(pg119)

Tactful

“I’m sending Robbo in to fetch you an

ice lolly. And when its finished, you go

back inside. Is that a deal?” (pg119)

Defensive “Everyone has arguments.” (pg121)


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Dumpa




Love

“...stared up at Roy...” (pg107)

“He’s been following Roy around ever

since like a little baby duckling.”

“...he struggles till they let him go and

rushes down the stairs into Roy’s

arms.”

“He’s definitely his dada’s son.”


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Excited “...went tumbling down the stairs...”

(pg108)

Cunning

“The three of us ...watched for nearly

an hour as Dumpa outsmarted us”

(pg119)


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Hard working “...work for years and years to pay for

a nice house...” (pg106)

Defensive “Don’t snap at the boy, Hope...”

(pg110)

Confrontational “They’re hopeless when they meet.”

(pg110)

Robbo’s Dad


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1. One cannot expect everything to fall into place like one

wants to in any situation. This applies to divorces too.

Just because one finds the first marriage is unable to

continue, that does not mean the second marriage will

fall into place neatly.

2. The most difficult issue in any divorce is the children’s

issue. When adults are unable to solve their differences

even though they are married can children be forced to

accept the differences which is naturally present in the

new family members?


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3. After a divorce, what can parents do if their own

children fight against them and the new relationship? A

precarious situation which is difficult and unsolvable

unless there is ample compromise.


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Analysis

From time immemorial stepmother’s have been

portrayed as witches, the devil’s mistresses,

murderers, child kidnappers, child slayers and what

not. Every aspect of media has helped in this frenzy, a

frenzy to impress on people that stepmothers are bad.

The odd circumstance is that stepfathers have not

been given the same treatment. Perhaps the media

dominated by males is the cause! The truth is, the die

is cast, until and unless the die is broken this trend

will continue whatever the actual truth is.


Novel


Analysis

Richard believed, so be it erroneously, that his

stepfather was evil. The irony is that Mr Coldstone is a

reverand. In spite of that, Richard believes in his

perception and sadly makes a wrong decision. If, his

perception had been more sensible, the whole sad

affair may not have happened. His one wrong

perception made him make another wrong decision and the rest was merely a domino effect of disasfer.


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Analysis

Claudia, did not want to accept the breakup of her

parents. She just accepted the fact that her parents

merely were not together and that she had to stay with

her mum and go off to her father’s occasionally.

Claudia in her whole life only knew her father and her

mum as her parents. A belief so strong and unshakeable.

In fact it is even ridiculous to even mention that fact. But

when Stella came into her father’s life, it was an alien

circumstance which she did not accept. She showed her

rejection by not cooperating with Stella. Stella to her

perception had taken the place which rightly belonged to

her mother.


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Analysis

Arguably, Claudia perceived that Stella was there to

take the position of mother to her. So she resisted it.

After discovering that Stella was vulnerable and was

unable to come near that “position” she discovered the

misconception every one had. She broke the mould

then by accepting Stella publicly.


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Analysis

Colin was a pitiful soul. Colin perceived his stepfather as

his father. Who wouldn’t? His stepfather was there for

Colin anytime and brought him up with all the love a child

needs. Although Colin’s perception was erroneous his

was a healthy perception. However, his mother made

judgments on her spouses. She seems to perceive that

they are not worthwhile. The first husband is perceived as

a rough person, the second as not earning. So, she

decides to ride life on her own. She could have accepted

the spouses as companions but she did not. If she had

done that Colin would not have become the introvert that he had become, living in the memory of his stepdad.


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Analysis

She had created an erroneous perception in her son’s

mind that his father will one day come or that he will be

able to meet him one day. That erroneous perception had

grown in the child’s mind, grown so big that the boy lived

and thought only of his father. Anything else was

secondary. His future was lost in the thoughts he had

nurtured.


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Analysis

Ralph is a success story. He was responsible, disciplined

and seems to take life lightly. Perhaps he should thank

his three stepmothers. He seems to be intelligent, full of

common sense and lastly full of love for his yet to be

born sister. The issue seems to be, his father, who seems

to perceive that love is to be discovered in others. He

seems to be looking for love in so many places. He had

to go through four wives, even then one is unsure if he

will stick to Flora or that Flora will stick to him, for that

matter. The reason is Ralph’s father seems to be

spineless. All the ex-wifes perceive him to be a pushover

and that he was taking advantage of them.


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Analysis

Pixie’s perception of the Payne’s was that they were “a

pain”. Lucy and her two daughters was “them”. She

perceives “them” as an adversary rather than family. She

even hopes that Lucy will meet an accident and die so

that her father and mother can be together again. She

lives in that house against her will. The irony is that Pixie

is able to comfortably enjoy the benefits coming her way

from “them”. Her perception was they were not her family

and that they were not invited nor welcome there.


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Analysis

Robbo was not the problem. Dumpa was not the problem.

His mother was not the problem. The beard was not the

problem. Yes, his sister Callie was the problem. She

wanted her parents back together. What she failed to

understand was it was not in her hands, and that her

parents had decided to go separate ways. They were

friendly but they just could not be married to each other.


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Analysis

She believed erroneously that she could patch them up.

She believed that “the beard” was the stumbling block in

her plans. To her even Dumpa was not the problem. Her

perception was, she could patch up her parents if “the

beard” and her mum broke up. Dumpa was not the

problem. Was her perception erroneous?

I wish I can say, “You tell me!”


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Unanswered questions to ponder.

How does one manage the old family and the new family

fairly so that both do not regard themselves left out?

Is it possible for divorced families or extended families,

the former families and the present families to be

managed by the parents without any problems in the

relationships, so that none feel left out?

Can the parents justify their actions when they attend to

one child while the other feels left out?


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Even if the parents are fair, would the children regard it

so?

What if the grandparents treat their biological

grandchildren better than their non-biological

grandchildren? Is this fair?

Would the children feel it is fair?

Do you think these are subjective questions which is

applicable to the families in question?


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1. But what of me?

But why did my father forget to mention me.

Does my happiness not matter?

Do I count for less?

Am I supposed to nod and smile and be a brave lad

forever? (pg18)

Children who are neglected create social problems.

Parents need to spend quality time with their children.

In fact teachers who neglect school children may also

cause problems for the students.



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The children on the other hand should regard this

concern by parents and teachers positively and do not

regard the concern negatively, busybody etc. Children are

capable to be scarred for life due to the psychological

effect of neglect by the parents.


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2. One should not vent his frustration on a person who is

not a party to the event. When the father died, Dickie

vented his frustration on Mr Coldstone. When her

parents divorced, and were separated Claudia vented

her frustration on Stella. When Pixie’s parents divorced,

Pixie vented her frustration on Lucy. When Robbo’s

parents divorced, Callie his sister vented her frustration

on the Beard.


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The person who was the cause or the guilty party was

not vindicated. The children did not dare. An innocent

person was vindicated. This is unfair. The problem is the

children do not understand this. Parents should educate

the children and not support the children on this issue.

In fact in most cases, the new relations fail as the child,

the apple of the eye of the parents will take precedence

over the new comer. (pg22)


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3. If one were to think carefully, step by step, one will be

able to find the solution to any problem. This sounds

like a maths problem. If we work it out step by step, and

not missing any wicked step, we will eventually find the

answer. And score we will. Be it Additional Maths or

Modern Maths. If, you miss any of the steps, you will

lose a mark, and you will call the teacher who marked

the answer sheet, a wicked person. In real life, if we

were to have a problem, and if were to think carefully

step by step (don’t include any wicked steps) we will

find the solutions for any problem we face. We need to

take some time to think and we will have the solution.

(pg24)


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4. One day, a very long time in the future you will realise

what your parents did for you was right. Not necessarily

in the long future. Dickie found soon enough, regarding

the Geography lesson his stepfather gave him. There

are so many things parents who are much more

experienced than a child may say or ask the child to do.

The child may find it difficult to follow as the child does

not have the maturity to look so far in the future nor the

ability to look at a plethora of circumstances around an

issue which the parents have gone through. One day,

perhaps it will be too late, but they will realise.


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Ask any adult, is there anything his or her parents had

said and he or she had not followed and regretted now.

The answer will be a resounding Yes! At the same time

ask them what are the things their parents have told

them to do and they did it although they did not like it

then. Now what do they think about what the parents

had told them then, is it right. The answer will be Yes.

(pg25)


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5. Better if you had found the courage to stay and show

patience.

Sometimes the best way to solve the problem is to wait

patiently and let “the storm” pass by. The courage to

withstand the might of “the storm” is crucial. After

which one can gather oneself and assess the damage to

solve the problem. Problems are just like a storm, they

come and they go. We should have the courage and the

patience to withstand it.


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“And take your part in our troubles.”

Where problems befall a family, if all the family members

do their part, take some minor part in solving the

problem, the problem becomes manageable. However

small the part played, the problem becomes smaller for

the others.

“Not heap on more by vanishing.”

“...the damage I have done by piling one wrong on

another till all I loved was broken from the strain...”


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Running away from problems is never the solution, the

problem will never go away, it will gather more

associated problems. In the end we will have more

problems, some caused because we did not solve the

first problem, other problems comes because we are not

there! to solve them. The one which was there in the

beginning will still be there staring at us. (pg27)


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6. “it isn’t very nice just having to keep waiting and

hoping...” (pg29)

It is never nice to be waiting even for a minute, more so

if it is years. The worst part is when we are made to wait

without being informed why we are made to wait. If we

are made to wait and we are told how long we will have

to wait, it will be tolerable to wait. If we are made to wait,

and we are not told how long we have to wait, we would

be hoping and hoping that the wait will end. It isn’t nice

to be made to wait. Don’t you think so!


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7. “...no one should make decisions that will change the

lives of everyone round them without thinking about it

for a very long time”

One decision. That one decision can and will affect so

many person. So many decisions were made by so

many characters in the novel. It affected so many people

in so many ways. Some were affected in a pleasant way

some were not. Claudia made a decision in less than a

blink!


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However, one should note that there are occasions

where split second decisions are necessary for the

normal working of society. Example when driving, when

in times of impending disaster etc. Other exceptions is

when it involves professionals and specialists who need

to make split second decisions. One sometimes cannot

take too long to decide certain things.

Arguably, it is agreed that there are a time when a

decision should not be made hastily when it will effect

too many people.


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Arguably if there are several people involved in the split

second decision and they do agree, they should be

allowed to make split second decisions which will

change the lives of everyone around them. (pg29)


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8. “I just want things back the way they used to be”

9. You can’t make things right by wishing.

Everyone wants things back the way they used to be as

long as it was pleasant. Change is part of life.

Everything changes. This is wishful thinking. We cannot

live in the past. We have to live today for today.

(Pg34/pg98)


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10. You can’t have it both ways.

Sometimes members of the broken families try to get

benefits from both sides of the family but do not

contribute to either family. It could be the father, or the

mother or even the children.

You can’t have the pudding and eat it too. (pg97)


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11. I have to keep trying.

Never give up. When the going gets tough the tough

gets going. Even in a game of football if the losing team

even thinks of giving up they might as well stop the

game and give a walkover. That does not happen they

continue playing and sometimes the losing team does

win! Life is like that. Try, try and try. (pg98)


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12. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.

To regard a childish name calling seriously and to create

such a big problem with the name calling which is

clearly a no-issue, is certainly making a mountain out of

a molehill, a worthless issue. But there are some issues

which needs to be blown out of proportion if we want

people’s attention on it. A good example would be

environmental issues.


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Although some environmental issues are physically

small, unless one blows it out of proportion, and make it

a big issue, scrupulous people might enlarge the

damage for the pecuniary advantage. e.g the destroying

of forests which begins on a small scale when timber is

stolen from the jungle. (pg100)


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13. Parents should be together for the sake of the children.

Divorce does not solve all the problems. it creates more.

In certain cases divorce is inevitable however the

divorcees should take into consideration the children.

For the love of the children the parties can be together

and pursue life on that understanding till the children

reach the age of adulthood.

...Dumpa is not the problem, he is the binding force.

(pg106)


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14. Everyone is not made the same. Adults or children. Just

because adults can cope it does not mean children can.

Just because some children can it does not mean others

can or vice versa.

Not even fingers of the same hand are similar in size or

shape, how can we expect a complicated human being

to be of the same character.


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It is not right to expect from someone anything just

because another is able to the same thing. Parents who

divorce, and subsequently get married expect the

children to have a cordial relationship with the new

family members. It is not as easy as that. This should be

foreseen. The difficulty is real. The adults and the

children should be prepared for any eventualities.


However it should be noted that children are fast

learners, once children are put in a difficult situation

they can learn lessons in life. Robbo is the example.


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15. Expectation works both ways. If we expect someone to

do or behave in a certain way. We should expect them to

impose some things on to us too.

Roy had to care for Callie. Callie should reciprocate. It

was not so in the novel. In real life, “there is no free

ride”. (pg113)


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16. Teenagers or children are to be treated with kids glove,

if we push them too hard, they will start to fight back or

hate you.

Although children have a fertile mind, theirs is an

immature mind.

If the parents or adults impose too high a pressure on

them, they may absorb the pressure and do what is

wanted but then they may retaliate, if they do so the

chances of patching up with the child may be difficult or

it may psychologically affect them. In both cases there

is a possibility that the child may hate the adult. Force

may not be the answer. (pg114)


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17. Sometimes we want to protect someone close to us

from another, by protecting them we may be closing that

person from the outside world.

Callie’s mum was the umpire between Roy and Callie.

She wanted to protect her daughter as a mother. The

protection created a shell for Callie where she began to

attack Roy whereas Roy was not able to discipline her.

Callie’s character will be psychologically affected by the

“shell” created by her mother for her. (pg120)


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18. Sometimes you have to take a risk to finish the game.

An often said caption by captains of sports games.

Every game has a risk. The highest risk is towards the

end of the “game”. The last few minutes may decide

who wins the “game”. In Robbo’s game-plan, his mother

could have gone berserk and stubbornly disagreed. It

was a risk. Robbo took it. In real life too, life is a risk. We

study in the last minute just because we get news that a

question may come out. Knowing quite well that the last

minute studying “may” put us off tempo. (pg123)


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19. New season. Fresh teams. Brand new game.

When the team is not cohesive. It is time we plan for the

new season.

When the family members are not cooperating, create an

occasion where cooperation is necessary, a birthday if

possible or an outing etc.


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When the members of the family is the same for too long,

there may be inflexibility, perhaps we need a new input,

(an uncle, a grandfather etc) a fresh member to make it

into a fresh team or perhaps change some of the roles

to create a fresh team.

A Brand new game, perhaps by shifting house, change

the business, move to a new country etc. (pg125)



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20. Your sister isn’t running away. She’s simply trying

something different to make things work. Callie is not

running away from the issue. She had simply gone to

the her father’s as her presence will not make things

better for Roy. It is not a “running away” and not

accepting the responsibilities in the family, it is only a

reprieve. (pg126)


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21. Unhappiness works like one of those huge snowballs

you see on the parks. The more you roll it round and

round, the more there is of it. And your tiny bit that

started it stays in the middle cold and hard, where you

can’t get at it anymore. And where it lasts the longest.

Sad thoughts should not be kept in the mind and

pondered repeatedly. It should not be pondered and

expanded to include all the expected negative

conclusions it may cause. The more one thinks about it,

the more it affects us.


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22. He didn’t try hard enough and he didn’t try long enough.

Whatever one does one should not do it superficially,

one should do it with full vigour and concentration, if we

do not do it hard enough, the result may not be up to

expectation. Sometimes it may need a longer period of

time to come to fruition. We should have the sustenance

to withstand the onslaught of time. (pg128)


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23. Somebody has to make the effort.

...the ones who mess everything up in the first place aren’t

quite so good at fixing thing again after.

People who cause some calamity or mess everything up

probably messed it up because they were incapable or

were not in the right frame of mind, if so, the chances

are they are not the right person to correct the situation.

Arguably, the experience in being involved in the

particular situation would have made the person more

experienced to handle it as he or she knows the

intricacies of the situation better than a third party who

does not know anything about the situation. (pg128)


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24. Perhaps he thought he was the only one.

Whenever we face some problems, we think only we can

get into such a problem. We always think that the

problem is peculiar to us. The truth is everyone faces

problems of a similar kind every minute of the day.

There is no such thing as problems only looks for one

single person, you. (pg129)


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104519705 Novel Form 5 Step by Wicked Step

Documents

colins story

ralphs story

main story synopsis

robbos story dumpas

problem synopsis

life synopsis

stepmothers synopsis

plot exposition