beobserversinlife_1000字

　　Jinglu Sun

　　Covington

　　Language Arts 4th

　　02-13-08　Be Observers in Life.

　　In the tragedy Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper, a car crush and suicide was presented. Four high school teenagers went for a drink and ride after a basketball game. They ended up being in a car crush, all survived except Robert, captain of Hazelwood basketball team, was burned to death. Andy, Robert’s best friend, was driving at the time of Robert’s death. He could not forgive himself and couldn’t get over the guilt ever since. After a series of struggles and emotions, he committed suicide at the end of this novel. This tragedy could have been prevented if people around Andy were careful enough to observe the slight difference in Andy’s reactions.

　　Andy showed a variety of actions after the car crush, just like anyone would. The most obvious change is they way he talked. He kept on repeating he should have been dead. “I don’t understand why Robbie had to die and why I didn’t die.” “I wanted to die right after the accident,” was his words to the coach. Although he continued to crack jokes in class, it was a mask he put on to make him stronger, or seem to be stronger. He only showed his true emotions to Keisha, his girlfriend. “Do you think Robbie is cold?” was the one thing he said to Keisha on a showy day. He started to bring depression into their relationship, which was broken in results. Keisha was not to be blamed for the incident, but she definitely could have been a better observer. As Andy’s closest friend, she has more access to Andy’s thoughts than any other person.

　　Andy’s relations with his parents were rough, even before the accident. He and his mom sort of ‘keep out of each other’s way.’ He ‘stopped asking his father questions at the age at twelve,’ Since ‘I ask him a question, and I get a lecture.’ So Andy and his family are in a frozen status. No one can be completely honest and open their heart to each other. The only reasonable one is Monty, his six-year old brother, who drew tears on a tiger, representing Andy and his pain. Andy can not set his heavy depression on Monty, since Andy feels the burden too heavy for himself to bear, let alone a six year old.

　　Going to the psychologist wasn’t much help either. They talked about Andy’s parents, Andy’s school life and relations with his friends. The psychologist seemed to have known a lot about Andy, he could have gotten everything under control. When Andy finally opened his heart to this man, he disappeared into the thin air. Another heavy lost. Andy’s death had direct relations with this lost. The psychologist was there to help people with mental problems as his career and he ought to have known better.

　　Andy’s death was not an accident. It was the result of carelessness. If people noticed, ONLY if they paid more attention to their surroundings, the story will have a different ending. So people, open up your wide eyes, be an observer, pay attention to the slightest details and changes. And tragedies of this sort will never occur again!