6. –  “I wished i were seven feet tall. I’d hop up there and attack ol’ Samson while the crowd went wild. I’d whip him good, send him flying, and become the biggest hero in Black Oak. But, for now, I could only boo him” (pg 237).

Luke is so small, yet wishes he were big and bad so he could fight Sampson. He fantasizes about being a hero, like most little boys, and the quote is comical.

– “Once again I had asked an innocent question, and because of it, I was banished from the conversation” (pg 109).

Luke was always curious and nosy. He wanted to know everything and often asked too many questions. He doesnt understand that he doesn’t need to know everything and is very naive, which is why this quote was chosen.

– “I was tired of secrets, tired of seeing things I was not supposed to see. And so I just cried” (pg 211).

Luke has been overwhelmed by having to keep so many secrets in such a short period of time. This causes him to cry and its incredible that a boy of his age can handle all that he has. This quote portrays the effect that the secrets he knows have on Luke.

– “I had never seen a woman’s breasts before, and I doubted if any seven-year-old boy in Craighead County had. Maybe some kid had stumbled upon his mother, but I was certain no boy my age had never had this view” (pg 155).

Luke is being exposed to things a seven year-old shouldnt be exposed to. I chose this quote in order to portray that Luke is maturing faster than a boy should have to, and this is all because of his circumstances.

– “‘Repent, ye workers of iniquity! Repent!’ It was Reverend Akers, standing tall with his Bible in one hand while a long, crooked finger pointed out from the fist of others” (pg 235).

I chose this because I think Reverend Akers is a foolish man. He believes himself to be so godly, but all he ever does is complain about the bad in the world and never discusses the good. Here, he is yelling at men to repent for watching women dance as if it will actually work.

– “‘Don’t come out right now!’ I said with as much panic as i could fake.
‘Oh my God!’ she gasped. She wouldve fainted again, but she was already sitting down.
‘Be quiet! I said. ‘Otherwise, he’ll know you’re in there. He’s big and he bites.”

This section is used as comic relief in the story. Luke doesnt like Jimmy Dale’s wife so he plays a joke on her. Its a funny part of the story and I enjoyed it.

– “Ricky had taught me a few cuss words. I usually practiced them in the woods by the river, then prayed for forgiveness as soon as I was done” (pg 243).

Luke wants to grow up and be like Ricky, but ‘ want o be ‘bad.’ He looks up to Ricky and will act like him, but feels bad after he does something inappropriate that Ricky would have done. I can picture Luke cussing in the woods and the praying for forgiveness and its a funny image.

-“Trot said, with as much volume as he could muster, ‘Stop it, Hank!’ … They were startled, and their little joke came to an abrupt end” (pg 75).

Although Trot is little and tends to keep to himself, here we see him stand up for Luke as he is being picked on. It’s a heartwarming section of the story, knowing that Trot had Luke’s back. It was also shocking and unexpected.

–  “They attacked the unpainted house with a vengeance. The six non-painters offered endless advice and opinions to those with brushes. Evidently some of their suggestions were hilarious because at times the painters laughed so hard they couldn’t work” (pg 395).

Although its flooded and they have lost crops on the Chandler farm, here we see the workers still manage to be happy. They willingly help Luke paint the house and they seem to enjoy themselves, laughing and chatting the whole time. It’s a nice picture, and provides relief from all the other stress in the book.

– “When I pulled my eyes away from the window, i looked at my mother. Her head was resting on the back of her seat. Her eyes were closed, and a grin was slowly forming at the corners of her mouth” (pg 466).

This moment is sort of sentimental. Luke’s mother has always dreamed of leaving the farm and going to live up north. She has finally reached this dream and is very satisfied with it. Its a happy day for her, and I like that she has achieved her dream.