Take It For What It Is

A statement can be perceived in many different ways.  To believe, or not to believe.  It was as simple as that.  People usually jump to conclusion andbelieve everything that they hear.  Whether it is coming from a family member, or a close community the truth is not always what we get.

Banks (1986) writes that, “My mother tells me stories about her past, and I don’t believe them, I interpret them”(p.174).  Bank’s couldn’t have stated Earl, the narrator’s relationship with his mother any better.  At that, his father.  Little lies such as being the female lead role in the Catamount High School play had been told to Earl.  His mother stated that Sonny Tufts was the male lead who she turned down for his father who she had been in love with.  She talked about the party she and her husband had thrown only to find out a girl there was found dead the next morning.  The story was kept a secret according to Earl’s mother. His mother wanted to have a story to make her son feel good about himself.  His parents wanted to make themselves to be more than they were.  Deep down Earl knew this wasn’t the truth but never said anything to his mother.

Alcohol was the topper to the lies that occurred through Earl’s father.  Bank’s (1986) writes “My father, a depressed cynical alcoholic”(p.175).  Alcohol was the reason for his father’s death.  He drank his life away.  All though his father died, Earl did not miss him.  He was not missed because he had not been a huge part of Earl’s life.

 Relating to Earl’s story about his mother and her lies, I can somewhat relate.  Remember back years ago when I was little I remember my aunt always lying to me.  She is also an alcoholic who would lie consistently.  She was always in such denial about her addiction.  I remember her being someone I looked up to in my life.  She was supposed to be a role model to me.  I remember her telling me stories, to make herself seem like a better person than she really was.  I would ask my mom if some of her stories were true.  Come to find out, they were mostly lies.  She was a single mother raising two kids on her own.  Not only was alcohol an issue in her case, but she was also severely depressed, leading her to vent to alcohol.  Looking back, my aunt was so wrapped up in her life that just about everything told to me, and my cousin was a lie.  She was so sick with this disease that I thought alcohol was going be the death of her.  Gladly, she is still alive and is now working towards getting better for herself and her family.

In Earl’s case, only once did he take the time to listen closely to a story his father told.  His father explained to him how he was named after Uncle Earl.  The story of Uncle Earl was taken seriously.  Bank’s (1986) writes, “He died a few years later, fell into a snowbank.  Passed out.  Froze to death” (p.175).  Earl listened to the story so clearly because she thought the story was about him.  Come to find out Uncle Earl had never been heard of in the family.  The one story Bank’s listened to, he found out was made up. 

Relating to the stories, and lies that Earl states I can relate to.  Neighborhood wise, lies play a big role in my area.  I come from a neighborhood where everyone knows everyone’s business.  At times I feel like there could almost be a reality show about it.  The girls love the drama, and the men take it all in.  It is almost like a desperate housewives episode.  Due to the fact that everyone knows everyone’s business it leads to many rumors.  Most of what is heard is a lie.  I feel like people hear a story, and then twist it around to make it seem a lot juicier.  Regarding the story, Earl’s parents would make up stories to make themselves out to be much more than they really were.  They were trying to impress Earl.

Overall, the narrator made it clear that in the end Earl realized everything was one big lie.  Earl learned to listen in on a story, even if it wasn’t all the truth, as do I.  Sometimes all you have to do is listen.  There are people out there that tell nothing but lies, and you just have to take it for what it is.