"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 baseball team made it to 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 every 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.

Answer 1

The story is structured in a way that sets up a conflict between Patrick and Andrew, as Andrew expresses his strong disdain for people from Emoryville, where Patrick actually lives. This sets up a tension between the two characters and creates a sense of irony for the reader, as Patrick is unable to reveal his true identity and is forced to hide where he comes from in order to maintain his friendship with Andrew. This structure contributes to the overall theme of the story, which explores the complexities of relationships and the idea that friendships can be affected by outside influences such as rivalry or prejudice. By keeping Patrick's true identity a secret and highlighting the rivalry between the two towns, the structure of the story effectively conveys the challenges and complications that can arise in friendships.