Log 4

In the past two weeks, I read Chapter 3, “By the Lakes.” The Waver family went on a one-week vacation by the lake. On the surface, it was a chance for the family to reunite and relax. However, as the story progressed, the tension between family members remained, like a ticking time bomb.

In this chapter, the Waver family encountered a 60-year-old lady who shared her support for the mother running for the top job and her views on racial discrimination. When Jason heard this, he argued with the lady. I admire Jason for being brave enough to express his thoughts because I am not very good at speaking my mind or sharing my inner thoughts. Though, being too straightforward could cause the loss of harmony, and even Jason’s mother’s political career could be affected.

Later in the story, Sam and Jason shared a room during the trip. One night, they talked about the rumors and bullying they faced because of Jason’s gender identity and how they understood their own identities, but the atmosphere between them was awkward. As I read, I felt like they were about to have an argument. To my surprise, both brothers tried to understand each other and explain their thoughts, so the conversation didn’t turn into conflict. However, I still felt nervous and uneasy while reading this part. It reminded me of the times when I discussed sensitive topics with my family and didn’t know whether I should really express my opinion or not. I worried that if an argument started, it might get out of control, so I am often on the fence to avoid conflict.

During the two brothers’ conversation, Sam said he didn’t hate girls but also not  want to become one. He said: “Girls dress stupid, wear perfume, are always dancing, rolling their eyes at everyone, being mean, and talking about Justin Bieber.” This kind of stereotypical comment made me as irritated as Jason, but I can understand that girls might seem this way to a 13-year-old boy. When I was younger, I was a bit like Sam, thinking the girls around myself were like dolls, dressing up nicely and chatting with their friends. Also, I couldn’t understand why they did this. As I grew up and started caring more about my appearance, I began to understand why girls put so much effort into their looks.