Khaze Pigos

Crow Lake, Mary Lawson

Discussion Director
Meeting #4: Chapters 17-19

Responsibility

On chapter 17, Luke took the hard task of being the bread winner of the family and earning
money through jobs. He (Luke) has a job as a school janitor and even has other jobs such as helping
residents with field work on weekends. Matt and Katie on the other hand was still has school to deal
with and taking care of Bo after school. Every member of the family has their own set of
responsibilities. Lily Stanovich also took the role of being responsible of the family for a while. She
(Mrs. Stanovich) and actually took care of Bo pretty well by making her (Bo) busy. Bo and Mrs.
Stanovich took turns of taking care of chores in the house and by bedtime, Bo could read any book
she wants as long as she stays in her room for one more hour. Katie were grateful to her (Mrs.
Stanovich) for her efforts on the family. Aunt Annie, which is the first person who took
responsibility for Luke, Matt, Bo, and Katie, is unfortunately still is not feeling well.

Fights/Arguments
On chapter 18, it mostly focuses on the Pye brothers (Calvin and Laurie Pye). To be exact,
it focuses on the morbid argument between Calvin and Laurie Pye. Laurie is a very problematic
man. He (Laurie) had run away from home a couple of times when he was small and but had always
come back of his own accord. He (Laurie) is mentioned as pathetic and weak. He (Laurie) have not
even learned anything about farming in fifteen years because he did not try or listen.
“The bullock’s blood was draining out of him while all this was going on. He (Laurie) was
down on his side on the ground, heaving and thrashing while the life soaked out of him into the
soil.” “Laurie said “I must have got it from you.” He (Calvin) said, “What did you say?” Laurie
said, “I said I must have got it from you. Dumbness. Stoopidness.” (215-216)
This quote is the one that started the argument between the two brothers. Calvin got so mad
that he went out of the farm, got a belt and maybe attempted to beat Laurie with it. When Calvin
was close, Laurie said, “You’re not hitting me ever again, you bastard. I’m going. But I hope you
die. I hope you die like that bullock. I hope somebody stabs you through the throat.” (217)
Now this quote is pretty morbid to say especially to your family. Wishing them to be dead
and stabbed in the neck.
Matt and Luke also had a few arguments of their own. “Matt said. There was a pause, and
then he said, “You (Luke) could still go, you know” “Go where?” Luke said. “Teachers college. I
bet they’d still take you.” Matt said, “All I’m saying is, if you’ve changed your mind it’s probably
not too late. I bet they’d still take you. I could stay with the girls.” Then Luke said, “Listen
carefully, okay? I’m staying with the girls. And I don’t want to talk about it anymore, ever. If we
both live to be a million years old, I don’t want to mention the subject ever again.” (227)
I know that Matt only wants the best for his brother Luke but Luke was being stubborn for
wanting to take care of his family so much that he forgets what he wants in life.

Upbringing/Values
The upbringing and values echoes through Katie’s mind as she remembers what Mom and
Dad said to her about Mrs. Stanovich. Katie’s father said that even the Lord’s toes would shake if
he heard Mrs. Stanovich talk and her Mom said that she has a heart of gold.
“She (Mrs. Stanovich) looked defiantly at Matt and Luke. She was not blessed with beauty,
Lily Stanovich, with her small, weak-looking eyes and large, fleshy face, but still, she had presence.
And I think now that there was something close to nobility in her defiance. Raw courage. I’m sure
she must have known what we thought of her, what everybody thought. I remember my father
saying the he bet the Lord’s toes curled with embarrassment every time Mrs. Stanovich opened her
mouth, and my mother saying staunchly that she had a heart of pure gold and that was all that
mattered.” (211)

Community
The community of Crow Lake was very generous to the family. Providing support such as
Aunt Annie, Mr. Christopherson, and now Mrs. Stanovich. Some people of the small town even
gave labor work for Matt and Luke for extra income.
“There were still financial worries, of course. The duties of a janitor took up only a couple
of hours a day.” “Spring was well under way by then and there was plenty of farm work to be had,
but Luke didn’t take it because he still couldn’t bring himself to leave Bo with neighbors. Mr.
Tadworth offered a job that was right up Luke’s street. He had two acres, thickly wooded, that he
wanted cleared; he wanted the trees felled and the roots dug out, the logs dragged back to the house
by tractor, cut into lengths, split, and sold as fire-wood in town.”
This time, Mr. Tadworth offered some job for look under spring by clearing his two acres
of field. As said on the previous comments, Mrs. Stanovich has been a help to the family as well.
There are negative sides of the community as well such as the story and the argument
between Calvin and Laurie Pye which Lauri even hoped his brother to be dead.