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

Answer 1

The structure of the story is centered around Patrick's journey to his uncle's bookstore in Northview every Saturday, where he interacts with his co-worker Andrew. The story builds towards the moment when Andrew unknowingly insults Patrick's hometown of Emoryville, causing Patrick to feel conflicted about revealing where he is from. This structure helps to highlight the theme of preconceived notions and prejudices based on where someone is from, as Andrew's dislike for Emoryville is rooted in the rivalry between their schools. By revealing Patrick's hesitation to disclose his hometown, the structure of the story emphasizes the impact of assumptions and stereotypes in shaping interpersonal relationships. Additionally, the structure allows for a moment of introspection and character development for Patrick as he navigates his friendship with Andrew.