Patrick Gregorek's Fourth Reader Response

Dear Caityln and Neil,
             Thank the Lord! Things finally started to head Frankie's way! I recognize that despite the joys that these last chapters of the book had to bring, there were still disappointments and upsetting events. But I think it's important to look past the tragedy and appreciate the glory. I'll admit, I didn't look at the book from this perspective at first. In fact, as Chapter 12 began, I already began to think to myself "Oh Great, another series of depressing experiences," especially when Malachy arrives home from England claiming he is a new man. Yet, Angela "asks him if he brought any money. He tells her times are hard, jobs are scarce, and she says, is it coddin' me you are?" (Mccourt 270). I mean really Malachy?! You just spent months in England with a job that everyone else would die to have and you drank all your money? But luckily, hope crept its way into Frankie's life.
              There was a victory in defeat in this section of the book; when Frankie is trying to earn his uncle Laman Griffin's bicycle so that he can go on the trip to Killaloe with his class from school. Frankie had to empty Laman's chamber pot for weeks, and in return, Laman would lend Frankie his bike. Remember, Laman goes to the bathroom in this chamber pot! Bleck! Can you imagine having to carry a pot of someone's excretions outside to empty it every day for weeks? I'm sorry if I just put a disgusting image in your head, but I believe it is important to recognize how hard life is on Frankie. Now here was the heartbreaking aspect of this event in the book: When Laman comes home drunk one day, acting savagely, it just so happens to be the one day of those multiple weeks that Frankie forgot to empty the chamber pot. When Laman makes the discovery, and Frankie aks if he can borrow his bike, Laman replies "Well, you can bloody well forget the bicycle. You didn't live up to the bargain" (Mccourt 294). As Frankie innocently attempts to remind Laman that he emptied his chamber pot all of the other days, it only results in further frustration of Laman, and he ends up beating Frankie. At this point, I was ready to scream out loud, "WHY CAN FRANKIE NEVER GET WHAT HE WANTS". Yet, in my opinion, Frankie's life changed right at this exact point in the book. What about you guys? Do you agree that Frank was repayed in these chapters for all his suffering? If so, do you agree that this was the turning point? Or did you have a different point in the reading when his life took a turn for the best?
             Well that was the defeat part of this incident. But here is the victory portion. Frankie runs away from home, and goes to live with his Uncle Pat Sheehan (who has room for one more person to live with him, being that his mother passed away recently). And boy, do things start to brighten up in Frankie's life. He  is able to relax for the first time in his life. It's no struggle for his Uncle Pat to provide him with food, and Frankie even says "I get up early like dad and go on long walks into the country" (Mccourt 298). Since when had Frankie been able to go for a worry-free walk into the country? Not having to worry about school, or not eating that night? Frank also put a very delightful image into my head when he claims "When I start my job at the post office I'll buy him [Micheal] shoes so I will. I'll give him an egg and take him to the Lyric Cinema for the film and the sweets and then we''ll go to Naughton's and eat fish and chips" (Mccourt 298). I felt almost as excited as Micheal reading this. I wanted to jump up and down and fantasize about all the great things Frankie was going to do with all his wages! And speaking of which, thank God! Frankie got a job! Not a very shabby one either. Riding his bicycle around the beautiful country, only having to deliver letters and what not. Not to mention that he rarely does not get tipped. And he also writes letters for Mrs. Finucane to people who owe her money. Look at all of the money Frankie is making! Is it really going to happen? Will he make it to America? I give credit to Frankie for running away from home. I believe he had every right to, and it was for the best. Usually, I find it pretty sad when children run away from home, but this was an exception. What about you? Do you agree with his decision on running away from home? Do you think things were going to clear up soon between him and his uncle and that he was better off staying home?
            This section of the book contained my absolute, over-the-top, unquestionably favorite moment in the entirety of the book. Frankie arrives home after being turned away yet again from a priest after asking to go to confession. The priest kicks Frankie out of his doorstep, and even tells poor Frankie "ring this bell again and I'll break your hand" (Mccourt 341). For Pete's sake, what are priest here on Earth for if their not willing to hear a confession. When Frankie arrives home, he gets into a short, but emotional quarrel with his mom, swearing at her as she yells at him for drinking the previous night on his sixteenth birthday. Furious after the short feud, he goes on a walk in the pouring rain, and decides to walk into a Franciscan church that contains a statue of St. Francis. Frankie, thinking aloud, tells St. Francis he is useless, never helping Frankie, so Frankie wonders why he even bothers. As Frankie weeps in his pew, a priest sits next to him and comforts him. He says to Frankie "My child, sit here with me. Tell me what troubles you, only if you want to.  I am Father Gregory" (Mccourt 343). I almost cried tears of joy reading this. For practically the first time in Frankie's life, he has been loved and understood. Father Gregory is perhaps the first person in Frankie's life to show empathy towards Frankie. As loving as Angela and Malachy Sr. and all of Frankie's brothers can be towards him, never has anybody understood his pain. Not just starvation, but yearning to go to America, trapped in Ireland, struggling to enjoy his life, never being able to afford sweets, and going to the movies, or anything else he's ever wanted. For the first time, this priest ask Frankie what troubles him. And I would never think the person to do so would be a priest! Throughout the entire book, priests have been the ones you can never count on! They turn Frankie away, or terrify him if he has committed a sin. Thus, I found this event in the book even more triumphant than Frankie making it to America. Overall, I really appreciated the book. I am incredibly thankful for the life I have as an American looking at Frank Mccourt's life as an Irish child.  What was your favorite glory of the book (by glory, I mean joyful event, not as much as a comical event)? Why so? Overall, what was your opinion on the book?
          Sincerely,
               Patrick Gregorek