The narrator’s life view is shaped by his knowledge of his father’s work accident that happened during his time in the womb. This creates a very special bond with his father, so that when he is given no choice but to leave his country with his mother, it is a very serious blow. He begins with a reflection on how a stumble doesn’t have to be a fall.
Pre-Reading Activity:
- Some people say that what happened to this writer’s father was a miracle. What do you think is a miracle? Do you believe in miracles? If so, how and why do they happen?
- When we say goodbye to someone, we do not often think that it will be the last time we will see that person. Do you think we should think about this each time we say goodbye to people we love? Why or why not?
Post-Reading Activity:
- This story opens with a short poem. One of the lines is: “With will and effort, everything is easier”. What do you think this means? Do you agree that if you want something to improve and you make an effort to change things, life becomes easier? Can you think of any examples that show this?
- There are times in life when someone tried, made efforts and things did not get easier or improve. Can you think of any examples when this has happened to you or to someone you know?
Teacher Created Activities