Rowan Groom                                                                                                       808

 Many teenagers in the world face challenges with morality. In Susan Beth Pfeffer’s short story “Ashes,” the reader is introduced to a family facing complications of divorce and morality.  “Ashes” is a short story about a young adult who is faced with challenges and discovering what her morals are and how far she will go for the people she loves.  Ashes’  experiences  with  her  family help the reader consider how and why they make decisions  that  shape their   lives.

            Ashes’ father’s manipulation makes Ashes consider making choices that she wouldn’t have made. Her father makes her feel special and like he really cares for her. In the text he says, “You could be a model…you’re too smart for that kind of work anyway. Be a photographer instead, or a dress designer. You have that flair, Ashes. Style, you do something like that, you’re sure to make your mark on the world.” Her father wants to make Ashes feel special so that she feels loved and will do more of what he asks her to. Her father was trying to manipulate her into making decisions that she wouldn’t have made on her own. Ashes father knows that she is vulnerable and takes advantage of her.  “‘You’re the special one, Ashes. You’re the one in-a-million girl’… But no matter how often he told me, I still loved hearing him say it.” Ashes’ dad’s technique of making Ashes feel special is beginning to work. Ashes is skeptical of her father but still has the naïve part of her that wants to think that her father isn’t flawed. “Last week he’d told me to be an astronaut. The week before that, a CEO of a Fortune 500 corporation. And the week before that, he had been stunned by my spirituality.” Ashes has trouble believing that her father really thinks what he is saying is true. If Ashes didn’t crave her father’s approval as much, perhaps she wouldn’t have thought to steal her mother's money. Ashes’ father’s manipulation affects the decisions that Ashes makes in the story. People in our own lives affect the decisions we make, just like Ashes father did to her.

            Ashes’ lack of trust also affects her decisions in the story. In the story Ashes begins to accept her father’s broken promises and has trouble trusting him because he has let her down so many times before. Ashes has a lack of trust for her father, so she doesn’t believe that her dad will pay back the money that he wants her to take from her mother. “When I was little, Dad used to promise me the stars for a necklace, but like most of his promises, that one never quite happened.” Ashes’ father promises her things that he cannot give her. Even though Ashes knows that these things are impossible, she is hurt by his broken promises. Another promise was that Ashes’ father said they would try the rice pudding for dessert, which never happened either. Although rice pudding isn’t a big promise it shows that her father doesn’t keep his word. If her dad was more trustworthy, perhaps Ashes would have been more willing to take the money from her mother. Another example of her father’s untrustworthiness is, “But you know how those guys are. They get itchy when you owe them money. And it's not always comfortable to be where they can scratch you.” Her father is irresponsible and Ashes knows this. She is uncomfortable stealing the money because she knows her father’s track record and it's not good. Ashes’ father is flawed and it is hard for her to accept that, but I think that in this story Ashes starts to grow up and realize that her dad isn’t perfect.

            Ashes knows as well that her mom is stable and is someone who has always been there for her while her father is unstable and unreliable. Her mom works hard for everything she has and Ashes would feel very guilty for stealing from her.  “Mom was the most practical person I know, always putting aside for a rainy day.” Ashes’ mother has always been there for her so she would feel very guilty if she took advantage of her mom’s carefulness. Ashes has a lot of loyalty toward her mom, but she also craves her dad's approval. “ She’s not a dreamer, Ashes. She’s the most levelheaded woman I know. As straight as a yardstick.” Ashes’ mom is like a rock for her, and if Ashes steals the money she will be betraying her mom, who sacrifices everything for her. “With Mom, there are a lot of rainy days and she takes a grim sort of pleasure in being ready for them… her pocketbook overflows with tissues and tampons for anyone who might need them.” Ashes’ Mom is reliable while her father is unreliable and untrustworthy. Ashes is torn between two parents, and the different things her parents provide her with affect the decisions that she makes. While her father gives her dreams, Ashes’ mom provides for her and loves her unconditionally.

            In conclusion, Ashes’ mom provides her with stability and reliability, while her father gives her dreams. I predict that Ashes makes the right decision and does not take the money from her mom.  I believe that Ashes realizes that her father is manipulating her and comes to the hard truth that her dad isn’t a good father. Many teenagers struggle with believing the same things that their parents believe, and as they grow up, learn to think for themselves. The experiences that she has with both parents affect the decisions she makes in her life, both big and small.