If These Wings Could Fly
Chapter Twenty-Seven
by McCauley, KyrieThe chapter opens with the protagonist venting frustration from a challenging literature exam by retreating to the newsroom, her familiar refuge. There, she encounters Sofia, who intuitively senses her mood and offers support. Their playful banter reveals a close friendship grounded in shared interests and lighthearted teasing. The protagonist’s focus quickly shifts to a practical task: contacting an ornithologist for an interview, signaling her dedication to her journalism work despite the day’s earlier academic stress.
Sofia’s interruption with a flyer about the upcoming winter formal introduces a contrasting social element. The dance, themed around the eighties and scheduled on New Year’s Eve, represents a typical high school event with its own cultural pressures. Sofia is convinced the protagonist will be asked by Liam to attend, encouraging her to embrace the opportunity. This moment underscores the tension between the protagonist’s journalistic ambitions and the allure of youthful social experiences.
As they prepare for the interview, the protagonist negotiates Sofia’s company, highlighting their supportive dynamic. Sofia’s gentle insistence that the protagonist accept Liam’s potential invitation reflects a nurturing friendship that balances ambition with personal growth. The protagonist’s reluctant agreement hints at her internal conflict—she is torn between responsibility and the desire to indulge in the carefree aspects of being seventeen.
The chapter closes with the protagonist’s introspection upon noticing a flyer for a township essay contest, which demands pride in their community. This challenge feels insurmountable to her, as she struggles with feelings of disconnection and doubt. The juxtaposition of her professional drive, social pressures, and personal insecurities paints a nuanced portrait of a young person navigating the complexities of identity, ambition, and belonging.
FAQs
1. What emotions and challenges is the narrator experiencing at the beginning of the chapter, and how do these feelings influence her actions?
Answer:
At the start of the chapter, the narrator is feeling frustrated and overwhelmed due to a long day and a literature exam. This frustration leads her to seek refuge in the newsroom, a place she associates with focus and productivity. Her emotional state is evident when she reacts sharply to Sofia’s questions and interruptions, emphasizing her desire to work and concentrate. The narrator’s frustration also motivates her to take proactive steps, such as reaching out to an ornithologist for an interview, which shows her commitment to her journalistic work despite her emotional exhaustion.2. How does the interaction between the narrator and Sofia reveal their relationship dynamics and individual personalities?
Answer:
The interaction between the narrator and Sofia reveals a close, playful, and supportive friendship. Sofia’s ability to read the narrator’s mood with a glance and her teasing comments about “googly eyes and crushes” show their comfort and familiarity with each other. Sofia’s persistence in encouraging the narrator to attend the winter formal and say yes to Liam’s potential invitation highlights her role as a motivator and emotional supporter. Meanwhile, the narrator’s willingness to sit on Sofia’s lap and mimic a pout demonstrates a lighter, affectionate side beneath her frustration. Their banter balances seriousness with humor, illustrating their complementary personalities.3. What significance does the winter formal and Liam’s potential invitation hold for the narrator, and how does this reflect her internal conflict?
Answer:
The winter formal represents a typical teenage milestone and social opportunity, but for the narrator, it also embodies an internal conflict between responsibility and youthful desires. Initially, she is reluctant to attend, partly due to the event’s timing on New Year’s Eve and her skepticism about safety measures. However, Sofia’s insistence and the possibility of Liam asking her to the dance spark a secret hope in the narrator to embrace a moment of being “selfish and seventeen.” This tension between maturity and the desire to indulge in adolescent experiences highlights the narrator’s struggle to balance her serious ambitions with normal teenage emotions and social expectations.4. Analyze the narrator’s feelings about the township essay contest and the phrase “Auburn Proud.” What does this reveal about her character and sense of identity?
Answer:
The narrator’s reaction to the township essay contest flyer and the phrase “Auburn Proud” reveals a sense of alienation and internal conflict regarding her community identity. While the flyer demands pride and participation, the narrator admits she is “not” proud, suggesting feelings of disconnection or dissatisfaction with her environment. This emotional response indicates that she struggles with belonging or embracing the values promoted by her township. It also reflects a deeper layer of vulnerability and self-doubt, contrasting with her outward efforts to pursue journalism and personal growth. This tension adds complexity to her character and underscores themes of identity and community in the chapter.5. How might the narrator’s plan to interview an ornithologist serve as a metaphor or symbol within the chapter’s broader themes?
Answer:
The narrator’s intention to interview an ornithologist—a bird expert—can be seen as a metaphor for her own desire to understand freedom, perspective, and perhaps escape. Birds often symbolize flight, freedom, and the ability to rise above challenges. By reaching out to an expert on birds, the narrator might be seeking insights that parallel her own aspirations to break free from frustrations and limitations, such as those imposed by school pressures or social expectations. This plan also ties into the chapter’s theme of growth and exploration, as she balances practical work with personal development, suggesting that she is looking for guidance to navigate her own “flight” toward self-discovery.
Quotes
1. “AFTER SCHOOL, I TAKE OUT MY frustration with literature in the place where I think best: the newsroom.”
This opening line sets the tone for the chapter, revealing the protagonist’s emotional state and coping mechanism. It highlights the contrast between academic pressure and the practical, dynamic environment of the newsroom where she seeks relief.
2. “I’m hoping to set up an interview with the ornithologist this afternoon. Will you come along? We can practice our interview skills together.”
This quote underscores the protagonist’s ambition and desire to develop her journalistic skills, serving as a pivotal moment where she actively pursues her goals despite distractions or frustrations.
3. “If Liam does ask, just say yes. And this time, she doesn’t say it in a pushy way. She says it like she’s offering me the last donut in the box. Like, here, take this, you clearly need it.”
This passage captures the nuanced friendship dynamic and introduces a tender moment of encouragement that reflects the protagonist’s internal conflict between responsibility and youthful desires.
4. “Part of me is glad Sofia pushed the issue. It’s the part of me that now secretly hopes Liam does ask me, so I can be selfish and seventeen and say yes.”
Here, the protagonist confronts her own yearning to embrace her youth and personal happiness, revealing an important internal tension between maturity and self-indulgence, which is central to the chapter’s emotional core.
5. “Auburn Proud, it demands. But I’m not.”
This closing reflection poignantly expresses the protagonist’s feelings of alienation and self-doubt. It symbolizes a broader theme of identity and belonging that resonates throughout the chapter and possibly the wider narrative.