CATCH US IF YOU CAN

1.

Using details of the novel you have studied. - Write about the moral value that has impressed you the most - How will this moral value help you in your life. The one moral value that has impressed me the most is the sense of duty. In the story, there are many people exhibiting this sense of duty whether it is within the family or without. The sense of duty is made very clear in the lives of the main characters, Rory and Granda and also society. Rory is grateful towards his grandfather for caring and nurturing him from young. He remembers being carried shoulder-high during baseball games and fun-filled Christmas times. Now that his grandfather id old and ill, it is now his duty to pay back by looking after his needs and keeping him happy. The most important thing is that he does it all with a happy heart, as if he is glad for the opportunity. Granda does his duty as a grandfather with love and tries to continue doing it even when he is old and frail. At times, he tries to prepare meals for Rory although one ends in a mishap and at nights tucks him in. Society too plays its part by helping the two because they are in need. People do it out of compassion even it may put them at risk. This is what I think is important for me to learn. Carrying out ones duty within the family is simple once you know what to do but it is the attitude that is not grudgingly, as if I am forced to. Only in this way can I make my parents proud of me and keep them truly happy. I have also learnt that society too has its duty to perform. Seeing a person in need, society must respond with a helping hand. Strangers help Rory and Granda on their free will, out of compassion even though they know it is risky. I have learnt that my duty as a human being is not restricted to my family but must be extended to society. I must be sincere in what I do to help and not do it selfishly to gain some benefit. By being ever ready to show compassion and offer assistance, I will then become a useful member of society.

2. Using the details of the novel you have studied, - Describe one event that is unexpected. - How does this event change the life of one main character.

The one event I would choose that is unexpected is the accidental fire in the flat where Rory and his grandfather live. Granda, Rorys grandfather, is an old man who not only suffers from ill-health but also a failing memory. Earlier on, we do see two episodes of him accidentally starting a fire because e forgot to put off his pipe after smoking. But these, to me, seemed to be just funny incidents put there for humour. However, on the third occasion, it becomes a serious affair when Granda, while trying to make a meal for his grandson, left a chip pan on the lighted stove and forgot about it. This started a fire in the flat, ruining the walls and furniture. I never expected the fire to have such dire consequences. Grandas life changed forever after this. The Fire Brigade came to put out the fire and the State came to know about how Rory and his grandfather live. Learning that a young teenage boy was looking after an ailing old man, the State steps in and makes a decision to separate them and put them in different homes. This decision has severe repercussions on Grandas and Rorys life. Granda is first sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation. On recovery, he is sent to Rachnadar, a home for the aged and his grandson. Rory, is separated from him and sent to a childrens home in Castle Street. Rachnadar is one place Granda hated because he felt that this is where people who have no family or no one to care for them to go to. Here, his freedom is denied and his spirit slowly begins to die. Rory makes the decision, therefore to run away with Granda. While on the run, Granda has to resort to his inner strength to climb a hill or walk in the darkness and the rain. He makes decisions too like hotwiring a car or defending his grandson against the bully. Thus we can see an assertive Granda who is just not accepting situations that happens to him. In short, the event of the fire in the flat has started a chain of actions and reactions which makes Granda once again start adapting to new situations and fighting to keep his grandson with him once again.

3. Using the details of the novel you have studied, - Describe one character for whom you have the greatest sympathy - Explain why you have sympathy for him or her

The main character I would choose is Rory. Rory is a young teenager who is given the heavy job of looking after his grandfather who is ill. It is not easy to look after a person who is old, sick and has lapses of memory. Rorys time is divided between going to school, running home to get lunch ready for his grandfather, reminding him to take pills and so on. In school, Rory gets reprimand from his teacher because he does not complete his homework on time as his grandfather has misplaced his books. Rory then has to resort to lying to his teacher because he does not want to reveal that his grandfather is at fault. He does not get to join the football team because he cannot make it for practices. My sympathy for Rory is because he is very young boy doing a mans job with no-one to help him. How does this at the expense of doing things that a young boy should. He cannot join his friends at play nor join the school football team because he has to take care of his grandfather. Rory seems to be letting his childhood pass by. I do not, also, see Rory behaving as a young child should. He does not laugh like children of his age do at situations that are funny. Darren and his friends find Grandas actions hilarious but Rory knows the seriousness of the situation. Thus I feel that Rory cannot let his hand down and behave spontaneously. He has always to be alert and watchful over his Granda so that no harm comes to him. Therefore, I feel that Rory deserves the greatest sympathy considering the type of responsibilities he has and the fading away of his childhood.

4. In the novel of your choice, - Pick any one decision in the novel made by someone or some party that makes you most angry. - Explain why it makes you angry. The one decision that makes me most angry is the one taken by the government to separate both Rory and his grandfather. Rory and his Granda are very close and each depends on the other for love and comfort. They are family, a double act and one cannot survive without the other. When Granda accidentally starts a fire in the flat, the State makes a decision to put him in a home because he may endanger himself and others. It considers Rory too young to be able to look after his ailing grandfather. Also, Rory needs to concentrate on his education and not running a home. I can understand that the State has the interest of Rory and Granda at heart when it makes this decision. But what makes me angry is that it considers them as only a case on which it needs to act, not as people with feelings., Each citizen has a right to run his or her life the way he or she wants to without outside interference. Also, no discussion has been held with Rory and Granda how best to solve the problem. When the two run away, however, the police go after them as if they are criminal. As a person interviewed on television rightly said, the police are wasting their time hunting down an old man and a young boy instead of chasing criminals and fighting the gun culture. Therefore, it is the high-handedness and coldness with which the State tackled the situation that makes me angry. People should be treated with greater respect and compassion and not like cases to be solved.

5. In the novel of your choice, - Describe any one aspect of society you find important. - Explain why you find this important.

I have learnt that society when united can be a source of power and can affect decisions made by the State. This is very important and has a great impact on the lives of Rory and his grandfather. The State separates Rory and his grandfather by putting them in different homes, one for the old man and one for the young. In doing so it has destroyed a family. Rory and his grandfather are forced to run away because that is the only way they can be together. Society, however, comes together to help Rory and Granda, not just out of compassion but also because it supports the decision Rory has made. This may be contrary to the decision made by the State but society has its own viewpoint. Rory and his Granda, meet a number of ordinary people, simple folk who consider the love of a family as the most important thing in life. People like Ruby and Sammy and Rab take risks in helping Rory but they do it for a cause. They contact other cousins and friends to help them along the way. A relay team is formed to help pass along Rory and his Granda. This is where the power of society can be seen. The importance of this is that the coming together of members of society is a show of strength, it is the voice of the people that is strong and this can affect decisions made by the State. Television has made it possible for ordinary people to voice their views. Hearing their comments gives additional support and encouragement to Rory and Granda. Also, Granda and Rory learn to look beyond colour of lifestyle. Granda, who was once prejudiced against those he calls tinkers now sees the goodness in them. Thus I have learnt that society needs to stay united and it is this that makes it strong and formidable. Only then can it stand up against the actions of the government or any outside source.