Expository Paper

Harlon's mother and George Walker, Harlon's baseball coach and neighbor, teach Harlon everything he knows in life. George Walker was trying to bring some measure of stability back into Harlan's life through baseball. His mother shows Harlon how to be strong and depend on himself. She managed to teach Harlon these lifelong lessons with multiple sclerosis.

George Walker is Harlan's baseball coach and neighbor. George was viewed by Harlon as a father figure and toward the end, he didn't see him as so much of a father figure, but he learned from George how he would like to be when he becomes a father; not like his own father. George showed Harlon how to be helpful when someone is in need by fixing a window broken by his violent father late one night (36). George Walker also showed him how to be a father by taking Harlon to the Minnesota Twins game. This shows Harlon how a normal son father relationship would go(85-87). Harlon tries to be George's son by helping him set up for baseball practice. To the end of the book, Harlon saw George differently because he seemed to not like how much Harlon was trying if was not perfect. This is where his mother shows Harlon different things he needs to learn. His mother showed him how to be strong like the time when he held the lock so her ex-husband could not come in the house.(34-35) She showed how to become self dependent as she takes no help from the social worker. These were all good lessons to expand Harlon's understanding of life and what is really important.

Even though he didn't have a father, George Walker and Harlon's mother made up for this absence by teaching him everything a father should teach a son. Everyone has those instances that moved them ever so slightly from childhood to adulthood. For Harlan, certainly there are difficulties, but he learns just as much from them as he does from each good figure in his live. His relationships with people around him help Harlon develop into a quality human being despite very hard childhood circumstances.