Garbage Man

"The Garbage Man, " by Sharon Curtain is a short story that has a recurring theme of mystery. The main character in the story is a boy who is intrigued by the local "garbage man," a man that slums around town in dirty clothes  while covering his face. The boy is captivated in the mystery of what the man looks like and what is his purpose. He brainstorms on the possibilities of where this man came from, "I suspected him of being a millionaire, with thousands of dollars hidden in that old firetrap of a house." Curtain reveals the curiosity of a child and how judgmental some people can be. At the end of the story the boy finally sees the man's face and realizes he is just like everyone else. There is no mystery, it is just an old man's face. This theme shows the reader not to judge and to be open to the way some people live, we are all equal no matter how your face looks or what you wear.

The Chase

"The Chase" by Annie Dillard is an essay in which Dillard describes her personal childhood recollections, and how the decisions she made shaped the person she became. Dillard describes how she felt being the only girl in an all boy group. She explains that in the winter there were no sports going on, therefore to entertain themselves they would throw snowballs at passing cars. Dillard throws a snowball at a car and for the first time the car had stopped, the door opened, and a man got out and started chasing her. In the beginning of the story Dillard shares with the reader how it feels to be the only girl in the group, "Your fate , and your team's score, depended on your concentration and courage. Nothing girls did could compare with it."This statement shows the true feelings of Annie Dillard she distinguishes herself from the girls. My personal experience is the same, I grew up with boys and was by no means a girly girl. Dillard creates a connection with the readers who have similar experiences and opens herself up showing a deeper side of her childhood, which creates an honest bond which makes the reader interested in what she says. Also, the climax of the man chasing her adds to the suspense and interest that the reader is hooked on.

What is Literacy?

Literacy is the ability to understand, write, and logically determine what one is read. In today's society we are taught at a young age in school how to comprehend the basic elements of literacy such as comprehending what one is told, and understanding the thinking process. In third world countries the adult literacy rate goes from 0-49% . Literacy opens doors to education empowering minds in ways which allow people to understand the power in which this society today has given us. An example of this would be our natural born rights as citizens of the United States. We as United States citizens are fortunate enough to be taught at a young age to understand the aspects of our world.