When a Boy Becomes a Man

Question

A. Gautam

TYRONE, a high school student
TERRENCE, Tyrone’s father
ANDREW, Tyrone’s best friend
LOLA, Tyrone’s maternal aunt

Scene 1

[Curtain opens to the Terrence’s room.]

TERRENCE: [Holds Tyrone’s baby clothes. Quickly puts them back in the dresser when he hears footsteps] Son?

TYRONE: [Enters. Excited] Daddy, we’ll hear back any day now. What if I get a full ride but from Boston? Only partial from Texas?

TERRENCE: Do you have to play football? You’re too smart to get constant concussions.

TYRONE: Football pays. I don’t want you to work your bones to dust. [Looks at Terrence’s uniform on the wall hook. Walks to Terrence, holds his callused hands.] I am a big boy now, daddy.

TERRENCE: [Turns away to face the audience and speaks softly] I have forgotten to live without him. [Facing his son] How will I fill the time when you are far from me? I am too young to retire.

TYRONE: [Stands up] Are you too old to dance with me?

TERRENCE: Who are you calling old? [Plays an upbeat song on his phone and starts dancing.] I could go on forever. [Feels breathless and takes a seat.]

TYRONE: [Checks his phone] Hold on, daddy. I will be right back. [Enters stage right to the closet] Already? You’re staying in town then. I’m glad you’ll be around to check in on daddy. Hold on, Aunt Lola is calling. Congrats, Andrew. I’ll see ya soon. Hey auntie! Still waiting. Andrew got his acceptance letters. Mine must be on the way. I know. I know mom would want me to be happy. I know you will check in on daddy. [Curtain closes.]

Scene 2

[Curtain opens to the front of the house. Tyrone paces back and forth.]

TYRONE: [In a singsong voice] How can I leave my old man? Every boy’s dream is to leave and make it on his own, but I don’t know if I can. How can I leave my old man? Mama left for heaven when I was two. Daddy did what he had to do. He raised me the best he could. He thinks I turned out good. The dream is almost in my hands. I think my old man understands. Still I hesitate to even go in. How do I begin?

TERENCE: [A muffled voice from backstage] Son?

TYRONE: Coming. [Goes in. Curtain closes.]

Scene 3

TERRENCE: [In a singsong voice] The letter! The letter! The letter is here. Will it end everything? Can I even bear? The letter is here. My boy has big dreams. I only hear screams. I scream with fear. The letter is here. [Opens the envelope. Reads the letter and puts it back in the envelope.] Oh, I hear him now. I must bear it somehow. Son?

TYRONE: [A muffled voice from backstage] Coming. [Curtain closes.]

Caring Lara
A. Gautam

Lara was at Peter’s house because she never broke a promise. She wanted to be with her father who was home with a fever, but she had promised the Levins that she would watch Peter and his sister Leah. She needed the money for all the scholarship applications she was sending out. As Mrs. Levin prepared to leave, Peter clung to her and his dangling feet knocked over a potted plant. Lara cleaned up the dirt and put the decimated plant with other dying houseplants in the garden before she walked in.

“The meds are at the bottom of the cabinet. You had one dose right before I left, so you need another one at 4,” Lara instructed her father on the phone. “I will call you in a bit to check on you. Keep the phone near you, please.”

Now, Lara was in the living room which Peter and Leah had turned into a fort. Lara relished the playfulness of the twins and enjoyed their inventive games. They were well-behaved and full of affection. For two hours, the living room was a battle zone, and Peter and Leah defended their fort kingdom from Lara the warrior. The kids’ endless energy meant they left a trail of destruction everywhere they passed and only helped Lara clean for the last half hour. But the kids’ kisses and hugs made up for their lack of help.

“The soup is in the Tupperware with the red lid—in the fridge. Heat it up for two minutes, Dad. The crackers are on the dining table,” Lara instructed her father again.

Peter and Leah had turned the black tablecloth into the sky and the popcorn kernels into stars as they enjoyed the snack. Lara had turned away for one minute to talk on the phone when the twins cleared the dining table and moved everything on it to the floor. Again, Lara barely put everything back on the dining table when the twins raced to the playroom. The playroom was an area of perpetual disaster. The books and toys were forever out of place, and Mrs. Levin had given up on tidying it. Lara let the twins burn all their energy until nap time.

“Dad, it’s time for your meds. Can you take your temperature? The thermometer is right next to the meds. Yes. Only 100. Good. Fever has gone down. I’ll be home in an hour. Please nap if you can. Love you,” Lara instructed her father.

She spent the half hour of quiet time cleaning up as fast as she could. Her hands moved through the house like lightning. When she heard Peter and Leah call her name, her legs felt like lead. She had been on her feet all day. Right then, Mrs. Levin walked in the door, and a sigh of relief escaped Lara’s mouth.
Question
Paragraph 2 of “Caring Lara” begins with Lara explaining the medicine to her father. Scene 1 of “When a Boy Becomes a Man” begins with Terrence putting away Tyrone’s baby clothes. How do these paragraphs contribute to an understanding of the characters of Lara and Terrence?
Responses
A The paragraphs reveal that both characters resent having extra responsibilities. The paragraphs reveal that both characters resent having extra responsibilities.
B The paragraphs emphasize the way the younger character takes care of the older one. The paragraphs emphasize the way the younger character takes care of the older one.
C The paragraphs describe the inner struggles of the character while away from home. The paragraphs describe the inner struggles of the character while away from home.
D The paragraphs reveal that both characters deeply care for their family.

Answer 1

The best response to how the paragraphs contribute to an understanding of the characters of Lara and Terrence is:

D The paragraphs reveal that both characters deeply care for their family.

In "Caring Lara," Lara is focused on ensuring her father takes his medication and feels better, indicating her sense of responsibility and care for her father's well-being. In "When a Boy Becomes a Man," Terrence's actions of putting away Tyrone’s baby clothes suggest a deep emotional attachment to his son and reflect his maternal instinct to nurture and protect him as he transitions into adulthood. Both characters demonstrate their love and commitment to their family members through their actions and dialogues.