For my first day of middle school, it was critical that nothing be out of place. I planned my outfit sometime in July, and spent the week before school trying out hairstyles. At the bus stop, I stood straight and still so my skirt and jacket wouldn't get wrinkled, but tried to pose casually, in case the other kids were sizing me up.
I heard a strange bumping sound behind me. I turned to find a girl in a pink dress, a bright orange raincoat, and a pair of oversized bright-red galoshes thumping along the sidewalk. "Hi!" she said, broadly.
"Is it supposed to rain?" I asked worriedly, terrified that moisture would destroy the hairstyle I'd worked on since 5:30 that morning.
"No, but I just got this raincoat and these boots, and I couldn't resist wearing them! I'm Martha, by the way. My family moved in a few blocks over." The girl's voice was loud and exuberant, and all the other kids looked at her, looked at us.
"Ayesha," I said, keeping my voice low.
"Love your skirt!" she said. Even though Martha put me on edge, it felt nice that someone noticed.
It turned out that Martha was in the sixth grade, too, and we had the same homeroom, art class, and music class. Every time she saw me, she waved both arms and shouted "Hi, Ayesha!" and I shrank in my seat. I couldn't believe she was acting that way on the first day of middle school -- I didn't want to be mean, but I also didn't want people associating me with someone so eccentric and unwilling to conform to social norms. Even my friends mentioned her at lunchtime.
"Do any of you know the girl in the raincoat?" Melinda asked.
"She's a little odd," Nina said, as I avoided eye contact, waiting for the gossip to turn to my name, "but I talked to her this morning and she is super nice."
It was true: Martha was very amiable, and after a few mornings at the bus stop, we became friends despite my misgivings. I got bold enough to say, "What are you wearing?" when she showed up in opera gloves or yard-long strings of colorful beads.
"Don't you love it?" she'd say, twirling to show me.
Our favorite class was music. Martha's voice was like her -- loud and commanding, while mine was a bit meek, and delicate.
"You have a great voice," Martha said as we stepped out of class. "You should sing more!" Without warning, she started belting the chorus of her favorite pop song, her voice bouncing off the lockers, and other kids stared.
"Stop!" I said, laughing but mortified. "Everyone's looking at us!"
"That's because I'm singing really loudly!" she shouted. Her voice was strong, and many of the people who listened were smiling, but still, I hung back.
In art class, Martha wanted to paint a big white dropcloth that filled a whole wall. She even used big house-painting brushes, splattering color everywhere.
"I'm not getting near that thing until I bring in some old clothes," I said.
"Come on, it's water-soluble, see?" Martha said, giving the sleeve of her blouse a bright-blue cuff. "It'll come right out, although that looks pretty cool."
"Not me," I said, planting myself on a bench and watching Martha paint. She sang the whole time, like she always did, and as she reached for the top of the big cloth, it looked like she was dancing. It seemed like I spent a lot of my time sitting on the sidelines, watching Martha do bizarre things.
One afternoon, our music teacher announced auditions for the annual school musical. On the bus ride home, Martha drummed excitedly on the seats. "I wonder how many singing parts there are -- we'll have to try out for different ones."
I said nothing. I told myself I'd look ridiculous getting onstage, putting on a costume, and singing out loud in front of people.
"I don't think I'm trying out," I admitted as we stepped off the bus. It was raining, and I dashed under the awning of a nearby salon, trying to cover my hair.
"You're not?" Martha protested, following me. "But you have such a pretty voice. You shouldn't be shy."
"I'm not shy," I said, "I'm just . . . I can't just go out and do things, like you."
"Well, have you tried?" Martha asked. I wanted to tell her that it wasn't as simple as just trying -- that I'd always envied people like her, who could do all the things I'd dreamed of doing, who didn't spend all their time imagining how they must look in other people's eyes and assuming the worst. Instead I just looked at her, afraid of even how my confession would sound to someone who didn't understand.
"I know it can be scary sometimes, so let's start small," Martha said sensing my hesitation and stepping out from under the awning with her hand held up to the sky. "Come walk in the rain with me -- it's one of my favorite things."
"My hair . . ."
"It'll dry, and you can do it again tomorrow," she said as she held her hand toward me. "If you try this, I promise to never make you try anything fun ever again," she teased.
I took a breath, gave my hair one last glance in the reflection of the salon window, and took Martha's hand. She pulled me out into the rain, bursting into song again.
The water was cool on my skin, and it felt strange to let it fall on my head while everyone else ducked under umbrellas and doorways. At first I cringed, but once I was irreparably wet, I felt my shoulders relax. I joined in Martha's song, a song I realized I'd been holding in for a long time, and our voices blended with the tapping rain, sounding light and free.
"A Fearless Spirit" property of Pearson.
Student Directions:
How does the relationship between Martha and Ayesha change during the course of the passage "A Fearless Spirit"? Write an essay answering this question. Be sure to use details from the passage to support your response.
Part 1:
Start planning your essay by making a graphic organizer. Draw a box that represents the opening scene at the bus stop. In the box, make notes that describe how Ayesha and Martha interact with each other. Read the passage again, adding new boxes when the scene changes. For each scene, add information about Martha, Ayesha, and how they interact with each other. Use the notes on your graphic organizer to write the first draft of your essay.
Part 2:
Exchange your draft with a partner. Make suggestions about how your partner could improve his or her essay. Pay special attention to how well the essay describes the changes in the relationship between Ayesha and Martha.
Part 3:
When you get your own essay back, revise it and write your final draft, keeping in mind the suggestions made by your partner. Make sure that your essay compares or contrasts the relationship between the two girls at the start of the story and at the end and explains what incidents led to the change.
Scoring:
Your essay will be scored on the following:
Your description of how the relationship between Ayesha and Martha changes.
The organization of your ideas, including how you sequence events and use transitions.
The revisions you make based on the responses of your reading partner.
Martha's Characteristics: Martha is loud, exuberant, and unconventional, wearing a pink dress and bright raincoat. She exudes confidence and friendliness.
Ayesha's Characteristics: Ayesha is anxious, self-conscious, and concerned about appearances. She tries to stand still to avoid wrinkling her clothes.
Interaction: Martha greets Ayesha enthusiastically, complimenting her skirt. Ayesha is hesitant and speaks softly, feeling awkward about Martha's antics and the attention she draws.
Box 2: Homeroom and Lunchtime
Martha's Characteristics: Continues to be vibrant and outgoing, waving at Ayesha and making her presence known. She is viewed as "odd" by others.
Ayesha's Characteristics: Ayesha begins to feel pressure from her friends regarding Martha's behavior. She avoids eye contact and worries about the association with Martha.
Interaction: Martha remains friendly and persistent in her kindness, while Ayesha's discomfort grows. Ayesha receives validation from Martha but is torn by her peers' opinions.
Box 3: Music Class
Martha's Characteristics: Martha's talent shines in music; she's confident and encourages Ayesha to embrace her voice.
Ayesha's Characteristics: Ayesha admires Martha but feels inferior. She is too self-conscious to join in singing loudly, preferring to let Martha dominate.
Interaction: Ayesha laughs, feeling embarrassed by Martha's enthusiasm. Martha's loud singing contrasts with Ayesha's quiet nature, illustrating their difference in comfort levels.
Box 4: Art Class
Martha's Characteristics: Remains bold and creative, willing to get messy with paint and expressing herself freely.
Ayesha's Characteristics: Ayesha remains cautious, preferring to stay on the sidelines rather than participate in messy activities.
Interaction: Martha tries to convince Ayesha to join her, while Ayesha watches from a distance, feeling more like an observer rather than a participant.
Box 5: Muscial Auditions
Martha's Characteristics: Encouraging and persistent; believes in Ayesha's potential and urges her to try out for the musical.
Ayesha's Characteristics: Fears judgment, reluctant to step outside her comfort zone. She feels inferior and hesitant about attempting to sing.
Interaction: Martha challenges Ayesha to overcome her fears, asking her to try a small step toward confidence, highlighting a shift in their dynamic.
Box 6: Rain Scene
Martha's Characteristics: Unrestrained and joyful, she has a carefree attitude toward life and embraces spontaneity.
Ayesha's Characteristics: Confronts her fears, allowing herself to let go of her worries as she joins Martha in the rain.
Interaction: Ayesha takes Martha's hand, symbolizing her willingness to accept her friendship and step out of her comfort zone. They sing together, showcasing a new bond of mutual support and acceptance.
Draft Essay
The relationship between Martha and Ayesha undergoes a significant transformation throughout the passage "A Fearless Spirit." Initially, Ayesha is depicted as anxious and self-conscious, particularly during their first meeting at the bus stop. Martha’s loud and vibrant personality makes Ayesha uncomfortable, leading her to quietly introduce herself and feel out of place. Martha’s exuberance draws attention from other kids, which further exacerbates Ayesha’s fear of being associated with someone who stands out for being different. A pivotal moment occurs during lunchtime when Ayesha’s friends label Martha as "odd," and Ayesha chooses not to defend her new friend, showcasing her internal struggle between loyalty and the desire for social acceptance.
As their friendship develops in music and art classes, Ayesha continues to grapple with her insecurities. Martha’s confidence shines as she encourages Ayesha to embrace her own voice. Their interactions reveal a contrast between Martha’s boldness and Ayesha’s timidity, highlighting Ayesha’s reluctance to join Martha in singing loudly in music class and participating in creative activities in art class. Despite this disparity, Martha remains patient and supportive, trying to draw Ayesha out of her shell.
The turning point in their relationship occurs when Martha introduces the idea of trying out for the annual school musical. Ayesha's nervousness peaks, and she expresses her fear of looking ridiculous on stage, leading to a moment of introspection. Martha, sensing Ayesha’s hesitation, proposes a small challenge: to walk in the rain together. This moment symbolizes a shift; Ayesha, who once feared judgment, begins to confront her anxieties. By taking Martha's hand and stepping outside, she embraces an opportunity for growth and connection.
The climax of their evolving relationship is captured in the rain scene, where Ayesha finally allows herself to relax and join Martha in singing. They harmonize together, and this act of spontaneity signifies Ayesha’s newfound freedom from her inhibitions. By the end of the story, Ayesha not only accepts Martha's eccentricity but also finds joy in expressing herself alongside her friend. Thus, the passage illustrates how Ayesha’s relationship with Martha evolves from initial discomfort to mutual support, ultimately fostering Ayesha's emerging confidence in her own identity.
Feedback from Partner
Improve transitions between boxes in the graphic organizer.
Expand on how specific incidents led to Ayesha’s change in perspective about herself.
Clarify Ayesha's thoughts and feelings during her transformation at the end.
Revised Final Draft
(After incorporating feedback, focus on enhancing transitions and explicitly detailing Ayesha's mindset throughout her journey. Ensure clarity in discussing how specific incidents - like the rain scene and encouragement from Martha - catalyzed Ayesha's transformation.)
