redball


 * __Summary__**

The Red Ball is about a boy named Bolan trying to adjust to new surroundings and it also explores the poor relationship he has with his parents,in particular his father. Bolan and his family move to The Port of Spain (Trinidad) on account of his father's new job. He spends most of his time in Woodford Square where he likes to reminisce about Tunapuna (where he used to live). In the square there are a group of boys who play cricket and after a bit of name-calling and teasing they finally ask Bolan to play with them. Once Bolan demonstrates his amazing cricketing skills they refuse to play without him. To impress the boys Bolan steals money from the few savings his family has to buy a brand new red ball, but this only leads him into to trouble with his drunkard of a father.


 * __Setting__**

The story is set in The Port of Spain, Trinidad. Bolan spends most of his time in Woodford Square where there is greenery and a cricket field; this is the only place in which he feels people aren't "chasing him down". The family live in a "long line of barracks" (barracks are plain buildings in which many people are lodged). They only have one room between the three of them, where they eat, sleep and live their daily lives. When Bolan is not in the square or at home he attends a place called "Market School" which is placed just behind the market. While there he cannot hear a thing because of the "thousands of voices" from outside; this leads him to get in trouble with the teacher because of his "daydreaming" about Tunapuna.


 * __Characters__**

Bolan is the main character in this story. He is a social pariah who is just searching for love and you can tell this because he stole his parents' money to buy the boys' friendship. He often "held his mother in front of him as a sort of shield" which causes him to be portrayed in the story as a bit of a weakling.

Bolan's father is an aggressive drunkard. He is a man of low maintenance: he "let his hair grow on his head and face unless they were going to Tunapuna" where he would then tell everyone that "he was making three dollars a day". His main priority is money and how much they have saved.

Bolan's mother is like a defence system for Bolan; he would use her "to save himself from a rain of blows", and this would then lead to arguments between his parents. She is concerned about Bolan's father's lack of respect for his son. She obviously cares a great deal about Bolan because she instantly forgives him for stealing the money.


 * __Themes__**

The main themes throughout this story are: The effects of poverty and the strain it puts on family relationships. How some characters do not fit into a "good" or bad" camp. The story also shows us the desperate measures people will take in order to feel loved.


 * __Quotes__**

"As soon as we did had li'l we had to go and get a...child": The lack of money is so horrendous that the parents might be experiencing just a fleeting bit of regret about having Bolan.

"He came to the square because it seemed like the only place where people weren't chasing him down": Bolan feels lonely and he's longing for a bit of peace instead of getting beaten every day.

"The boy recognised his father ...and ran up Frederick Street". Bolan knew what he did was was extremely wrong so he flees from his father knowing what sever punishment awaits him.

"We love you like nothing else": These are the words Bolan dreams the statue was telling him but really it was his father telling him he love him because he does but because of poverty he's not able to show Bolan that he does.

"you want to come and play again tomorrow ?": the other kids ask Bolan if he wants to "play again tommorow" and he feels overjoyed and finally accepted.

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Exercises On "The Red Ball"