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. 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 basketball team made it into the 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 ever 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. (4 points)
The structure of the story is centered around Patrick's internal conflict of hiding his true identity as being from Emoryville, the rival town of Northview where he works. The opening introduces Patrick's routine of commuting to Northview and his close relationship with his uncle and Andrew. The conflict arises when Andrew expresses his disdain for people from Emoryville, causing Patrick to feel pressured to hide his true identity. This conflict builds tension throughout the story until Patrick finally reveals his secret in the end. The structure of the story effectively captures the inner turmoil Patrick experiences and highlights the themes of loyalty, friendship, and acceptance. The structure helps to emphasize the importance of honesty and authenticity in relationships and the challenges of navigating conflicting loyalties. Ultimately, the structure contributes to the meaning of the story by highlighting the complexities of human relationships and the importance of being true to oneself.
