Patrick lived in Emoryville, but every Saturday morning he rode two city buses to his uncle’s bookstore in Northview where he worked. He didn’t mind the commute because he loved his job. He loved spending time with his uncle, but he also loved going to work because he had become friends with Andrew, one of his co-workers. The boys would talk about everything from baseball scores to movies to favorite pizza toppings.

Question

So this Saturday, when Patrick got to work, he and Andrew got to talking as they always did.

“Hey, Pat,” Andrew said casually.

“Hey,” said Patrick. “Did you have a good week?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Great week. My basketball team made it into the semifinals. The game is tonight. We’re playing Emoryville, our nemesis.”

Before Patrick could say another word, Andrew continued. “I don’t like Emoryville. I don’t think I could ever be friends with someone from that town. Our schools are such rivals.”

Patrick was speechless.

“Where are you from, Pat? I can’t believe I’ve never asked you that before!”

Patrick fumbled over his words. “Not too far from here,” he said before he quickly changed the subject to the new shipment of graphic novels.

Write a paragraph explaining the structure of the story and how the structure contributes to the meaning of the story.

Bot · Accepted Answer

The story "Patrick's Commute" follows a linear chronological structure from the beginning of Patrick's Saturday morning commute to his uncle's bookstore to his conversation with Andrew about the upcoming basketball game. The abrupt shift in tone and tension in the conversation highlights the theme of prejudice and rivalry between towns. The structure also emphasizes Patrick's discomfort with revealing his hometown and how he chooses to divert the conversation to a different topic. This reveals the underlying tension and division between towns and how even seemingly small matters, like high school sports rivalries, can affect people's relationships and perceptions of others. Overall, the structure of the story reinforces the theme of prejudice and the importance of recognizing and overcoming personal biases.