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    Literary FictionWomen's Fiction

    Wait

    by Burnham, Gabriella
    “Wait” by Gabriella Burnham is a coming-of-age novel set on Nantucket Island, focusing on two Brazilian American sisters, Elise and Sophie. After their undocumented mother is deported, the sisters navigate complex family dynamics, identity, and self-sufficiency amidst socioeconomic challenges. The narrative explores themes of immigration, belonging, and resilience in a nuanced portrayal of contemporary American life.
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    Wait

    Part III: The Main House Chapter 10

    by Burnham, Gabriella

    The chap­ter opens on a scorch­ing morn­ing, with the main house restored to its usu­al state by the house­keep­ers. Helen, reclined beneath a fringed umbrel­la, applies sun­screen while sum­mon­ing Elise and She­ba for a con­ver­sa­tion. Helen con­fronts them about the shock of find­ing a stranger in her bed, imply­ing Elise’s pres­ence was unex­pect­ed and unwel­come. Though Elise pleads her case, Helen insists the guest house arrange­ment is tem­po­rary, empha­siz­ing that She­ba, her daugh­ter, takes prece­dence. The ten­sion under­scores a com­pli­cat­ed dynam­ic where Elise and Sophie are mar­gin­al­ized despite their con­nec­tion to She­ba, high­light­ing themes of loy­al­ty and dis­place­ment with­in the house­hold.

    Elise and Sophie respond to the ulti­ma­tum by retreat­ing to the guest house, unpack­ing with a sense of imper­ma­nence. Elise notices Sheba’s social media post, reveal­ing a casu­al detach­ment from the unfold­ing dra­ma. Over the next two weeks, they avoid the main house, seek­ing solace else­where and attempt­ing to remain unno­ticed. This avoid­ance reflects their pre­car­i­ous sit­u­a­tion and emo­tion­al dis­tance from Helen and She­ba. The nar­ra­tive cap­tures their qui­et strug­gle, under­scor­ing the uncer­tain­ty of their future and the emo­tion­al toll of being side­lined in a space they once inhab­it­ed more ful­ly.

    A week before their planned move, with no alter­na­tive hous­ing secured, Elise vis­its the high school foot­ball field to clear her mind. The qui­et, open space pro­vides a momen­tary escape from her trou­bles. There, she encoun­ters Asia, a for­mer high school soc­cer play­er who rem­i­nisces about the lack of sup­port for girls’ sports and cur­rent rec league par­tic­i­pa­tion. Their con­ver­sa­tion shifts to recent social devel­op­ments, includ­ing a sur­pris­ing roman­tic entan­gle­ment involv­ing Rahul, a mutu­al acquain­tance, which reveals under­ly­ing ten­sions and unspo­ken feel­ings with­in their social cir­cle. This inter­ac­tion adds depth to Elise’s per­son­al chal­lenges and social envi­ron­ment.

    The chap­ter clos­es with Elise reflect­ing on her com­pli­cat­ed rela­tion­ships and the shift­ing alliances around her. Asia’s casu­al yet point­ed remarks about Rahul’s choic­es high­light Elise’s con­flict­ed emo­tions and the social under­cur­rents influ­enc­ing her life. The locked score­board and worn sur­round­ings sym­bol­ize stag­na­tion and unre­solved issues. Over­all, the chap­ter explores themes of belong­ing, loy­al­ty, and the strug­gle to find sta­bil­i­ty amid social and famil­ial upheaval. It sets the stage for forth­com­ing changes while deep­en­ing the reader’s under­stand­ing of the char­ac­ters’ inner worlds and inter­per­son­al dynam­ics.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Helen’s attitude toward Elise and Sheba reflect her priorities and relationships within the household?

      Answer:
      Helen’s attitude toward Elise and Sheba reveals a clear prioritization of her daughter Sheba over others, including Elise and Sophie. While she allows Elise and Sophie to stay in the guest house temporarily, Helen makes it clear that this is not a permanent arrangement and that if guests arrive, Elise and Sophie will have to leave. Her tone is firm and somewhat admonishing, emphasizing that finding a stranger in one’s bed is shocking, yet she spares them her full wrath, indicating a controlled but authoritative stance. Helen’s statement “As much as she drives me crazy… Sheba is my daughter” underscores that family ties override other considerations, which leads to Elise feeling marginalized and cast aside. This dynamic highlights themes of loyalty, familial obligation, and the power imbalance in the household.

      2. What does the interaction between Elise and Helen reveal about themes of belonging and exclusion in the chapter?

      Answer:
      The interaction between Elise and Helen centers on the tension between belonging and exclusion. Helen’s initial shock at finding a stranger in her bed symbolizes a boundary violation, which she uses to justify limiting Elise and Sophie’s stay in the guest house. Elise’s response, “Am I a stranger?” and her silent counting of days until eviction reflect her uncertain and precarious place in the household. Despite her loyalty to Sheba and her attempts to maintain peace, Elise is clearly excluded from fully belonging to the main house. Helen’s prioritization of her daughter and the temporary nature of the arrangement reinforce Elise’s status as an outsider, highlighting the fragile and conditional nature of her acceptance within this social space.

      3. Analyze how the setting and atmosphere contribute to the mood and themes in this chapter.

      Answer:
      The setting and atmosphere in this chapter significantly contribute to the mood of tension, discomfort, and transition. The intense heat, with temperatures nearing a hundred degrees by mid-morning, creates a sense of physical discomfort that mirrors the emotional unease between the characters. Helen’s placement under a yellow-fringed umbrella in the middle of the lawn, seemingly arbitrary and detached, symbolizes her aloofness and control. The presence of grackles tearing at the lawn and the imagery of the wind turbine’s hypnotic whoosh at the football field evoke a natural world that is indifferent to the characters’ struggles. The quiet, unpopulated football field contrasts with the social tensions in the house, emphasizing isolation and reflection. These elements underscore themes of exclusion, power dynamics, and the search for belonging.

      4. How does Elise’s interaction with Asia at the football field serve as a turning point or offer insight into Elise’s character?

      Answer:
      Elise’s encounter with Asia at the football field provides a moment of respite and connection outside the fraught household environment. Asia’s playful and candid conversation about high school soccer and the recent party offers Elise a chance to engage in normalcy and camaraderie. Elise’s physical exertion—running laps and lying on the bleachers—symbolizes her attempt to process stress and regain control over her emotions. The dialogue about Rahul’s behavior, and Asia’s blunt assessment of him, reflects Elise’s complicated social dynamics and unresolved feelings. This interaction reveals Elise’s longing for acceptance and understanding, as well as her tendency to internalize conflict. It marks a subtle shift from isolation toward seeking support and perspective.

      5. What role does social media play in the chapter, and how does it affect the characters’ relationships and perceptions?

      Answer:
      Social media functions as a modern conduit for communication and social positioning within the chapter. Sheba’s posting of a lobster dinner photo symbolizes a curated image of leisure and normalcy, which Elise acknowledges with a double-tap—a gesture of silent support or acknowledgment. This contrasts with the underlying tensions and unspoken conflicts in the household. Social media also surfaces in the conversation between Elise and Asia, as they discuss the party and Rahul’s romantic choices, reflecting how social media can amplify gossip, misunderstandings, and social judgments. The digital presence underscores the characters’ attempts to navigate identity and relationships in a public and performative space, complicating their interactions and emotional responses.

    Quotes

    • 1. “I don’t need to explain the shock one feels in finding a stranger in one’s bed, Helen says to the two of them, clenching her teeth, as if to convey that she could yell if she wanted to, that she was doing them a favor by sparing them her wrath.”

      This quote captures the tense confrontation between Helen and the guests, highlighting themes of intrusion, territoriality, and restrained anger. It sets the tone for the uneasy dynamics that unfold regarding hospitality and boundaries in the chapter.

      2. “As much as she drives me crazy, Helen says, as if she knows what Elise is thinking, Sheba is my daughter.”

      This statement reveals the underlying family loyalty that shapes Helen’s decisions and the power dynamics at play. It underscores the prioritization of family ties over fairness or friendship, a key emotional tension in the narrative.

      3. “For the following two weeks, they try to spend as little time as possible at the house… Sometimes Elise even shuts off her headlights as she inches up the driveway, trying to get by unnoticed.”

      This passage poignantly illustrates Elise and Sophie’s growing alienation and discomfort in their living situation. It reflects their desire to remain invisible and avoid conflict, emphasizing themes of exclusion and displacement.

      4. “That was a fun party the other night, Asia says. I can’t believe Rahul and your friend hooked up. I was sort of shocked, because he was all over you, and he’s been in love with you for like ever.”

      This quote introduces interpersonal drama and unspoken feelings, adding complexity to social relationships within the story. It also subtly touches on themes of jealousy, loyalty, and the unpredictability of youth.

    Quotes

    1. “I don’t need to explain the shock one feels in finding a stranger in one’s bed, Helen says to the two of them, clenching her teeth, as if to convey that she could yell if she wanted to, that she was doing them a favor by sparing them her wrath.”

    This quote captures the tense confrontation between Helen and the guests, highlighting themes of intrusion, territoriality, and restrained anger. It sets the tone for the uneasy dynamics that unfold regarding hospitality and boundaries in the chapter.

    2. “As much as she drives me crazy, Helen says, as if she knows what Elise is thinking, Sheba is my daughter.”

    This statement reveals the underlying family loyalty that shapes Helen’s decisions and the power dynamics at play. It underscores the prioritization of family ties over fairness or friendship, a key emotional tension in the narrative.

    3. “For the following two weeks, they try to spend as little time as possible at the house… Sometimes Elise even shuts off her headlights as she inches up the driveway, trying to get by unnoticed.”

    This passage poignantly illustrates Elise and Sophie’s growing alienation and discomfort in their living situation. It reflects their desire to remain invisible and avoid conflict, emphasizing themes of exclusion and displacement.

    4. “That was a fun party the other night, Asia says. I can’t believe Rahul and your friend hooked up. I was sort of shocked, because he was all over you, and he’s been in love with you for like ever.”

    This quote introduces interpersonal drama and unspoken feelings, adding complexity to social relationships within the story. It also subtly touches on themes of jealousy, loyalty, and the unpredictability of youth.

    FAQs

    1. How does Helen’s attitude toward Elise and Sheba reflect her priorities and relationships within the household?

    Answer:
    Helen’s attitude toward Elise and Sheba reveals a clear prioritization of her daughter Sheba over others, including Elise and Sophie. While she allows Elise and Sophie to stay in the guest house temporarily, Helen makes it clear that this is not a permanent arrangement and that if guests arrive, Elise and Sophie will have to leave. Her tone is firm and somewhat admonishing, emphasizing that finding a stranger in one’s bed is shocking, yet she spares them her full wrath, indicating a controlled but authoritative stance. Helen’s statement “As much as she drives me crazy… Sheba is my daughter” underscores that family ties override other considerations, which leads to Elise feeling marginalized and cast aside. This dynamic highlights themes of loyalty, familial obligation, and the power imbalance in the household.

    2. What does the interaction between Elise and Helen reveal about themes of belonging and exclusion in the chapter?

    Answer:
    The interaction between Elise and Helen centers on the tension between belonging and exclusion. Helen’s initial shock at finding a stranger in her bed symbolizes a boundary violation, which she uses to justify limiting Elise and Sophie’s stay in the guest house. Elise’s response, “Am I a stranger?” and her silent counting of days until eviction reflect her uncertain and precarious place in the household. Despite her loyalty to Sheba and her attempts to maintain peace, Elise is clearly excluded from fully belonging to the main house. Helen’s prioritization of her daughter and the temporary nature of the arrangement reinforce Elise’s status as an outsider, highlighting the fragile and conditional nature of her acceptance within this social space.

    3. Analyze how the setting and atmosphere contribute to the mood and themes in this chapter.

    Answer:
    The setting and atmosphere in this chapter significantly contribute to the mood of tension, discomfort, and transition. The intense heat, with temperatures nearing a hundred degrees by mid-morning, creates a sense of physical discomfort that mirrors the emotional unease between the characters. Helen’s placement under a yellow-fringed umbrella in the middle of the lawn, seemingly arbitrary and detached, symbolizes her aloofness and control. The presence of grackles tearing at the lawn and the imagery of the wind turbine’s hypnotic whoosh at the football field evoke a natural world that is indifferent to the characters’ struggles. The quiet, unpopulated football field contrasts with the social tensions in the house, emphasizing isolation and reflection. These elements underscore themes of exclusion, power dynamics, and the search for belonging.

    4. How does Elise’s interaction with Asia at the football field serve as a turning point or offer insight into Elise’s character?

    Answer:
    Elise’s encounter with Asia at the football field provides a moment of respite and connection outside the fraught household environment. Asia’s playful and candid conversation about high school soccer and the recent party offers Elise a chance to engage in normalcy and camaraderie. Elise’s physical exertion—running laps and lying on the bleachers—symbolizes her attempt to process stress and regain control over her emotions. The dialogue about Rahul’s behavior, and Asia’s blunt assessment of him, reflects Elise’s complicated social dynamics and unresolved feelings. This interaction reveals Elise’s longing for acceptance and understanding, as well as her tendency to internalize conflict. It marks a subtle shift from isolation toward seeking support and perspective.

    5. What role does social media play in the chapter, and how does it affect the characters’ relationships and perceptions?

    Answer:
    Social media functions as a modern conduit for communication and social positioning within the chapter. Sheba’s posting of a lobster dinner photo symbolizes a curated image of leisure and normalcy, which Elise acknowledges with a double-tap—a gesture of silent support or acknowledgment. This contrasts with the underlying tensions and unspoken conflicts in the household. Social media also surfaces in the conversation between Elise and Asia, as they discuss the party and Rahul’s romantic choices, reflecting how social media can amplify gossip, misunderstandings, and social judgments. The digital presence underscores the characters’ attempts to navigate identity and relationships in a public and performative space, complicating their interactions and emotional responses.

    Note