Compelling

1. “I Stand Here Ironing” is a story about a mother and her girl named Emily who has a rough childhood but becomes “Somebody” after her school’s amateur show.

2. Level One: What is Emily’s big break?
Level Two: What is the source of Emily’s problems?
Level Three: Why does the mother deal with her children the way she does?

3. This is my favorite story so far. Granted, it’s only the third one so that could change, but I found it to be very captivating. I feel like the overlying theme is about overcoming hardship. Emily has a very difficult childhood and finally overcomes her multitude of struggles to become "Someone." The story flows well and I like how it moves from Emily's birth through her transformation into a young woman who is very much alive and well. The mother feels very guilty about how she treated Emily when she was young and feels partly responsible for everything Emily goes through. The story compels the audience to realize the impact we have on others with our words and actions. The mother didn't really realize how she was treating Emily until it was too late. It wasn't all her fault- but not being around and putting her child into the care of others allowed things to happen that she didn't know about.