Beth hadn't been home in almost four years. And now that she was home, she wished the circumstances were different. Her grandfather had recently passed away. She'd come home for the funeral.
Her parents seemed distracted and melancholy. They were also looking a lot older than the last time she'd seen them. The house wasn't in the best shape, either. All of the plumbing fixtures leaked, the carpets were threadbare in places, and the backyard garden was full of weeds.
Paula, Beth's sister, had also flown in for the funeral and had suggested they spend the weekend fixing up the house. They started with the garden, where they found a neglected compost heap that smelled of death and decomposition. "Well, you know what they say," Paula said, "yesterday's trash in the compost is tomorrow's thriving garden."
Disgusted, Beth made a face. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, c'mon," Paula said. "Don't you know how the compost heap works? The organic materials decompose, and then they make the soil rich for new plant growth."
"I guess it's all part of life, huh?" Beth said.
"Yep. Which reminds me of a little something I wanted to tell you . . . " Paula turned to Beth with a strange grin on her face. "Matthew and I are expecting."
"Expecting what?" Beth said. She was still thinking about the horrible smell in the compost heap.
"What do you think? A baby, of course."
Beth was speechless. The news, much like the news of her grandfather's passing, had caught her totally off guard. "I can't believe it," she said. "Have you told Mom and Dad?"
"Not yet," Paula said. "But I'm thinking now might be a good time to tell them. You know, it might help them cope with Grandpa's death. Like you said, it's all part of life. I think it's important to remember that without death, there would be no life."
Beth thought about the truth of this. Then she shoveled some of the stinky compost into the garden and started planting.
Which of these is a theme in the passage?
A.
Women are often more resilient than men.
B.
Time is more important than worldly goods.
C.
A tragedy often brings people together.
D.
Those who appear to be strong are often weak.
1 answer
C. A tragedy often brings people together.
In the passage, the death of Beth's grandfather serves as a catalyst for her and her sister Paula to come together, reflect on life, and ultimately find a way to bond over the situation, as seen when Paula shares her news of expecting a baby. This illustrates how tragic events can lead to connections and new beginnings.
