rough draft...

Rough Draft
As I read the novel, The Flowers, I noticed how Sonny gained maturity through his teenage issues and overcame obstacles a stepchild and only son. Sonny experiences many changes throughout the story. He learns some French, he dislikes Cloyd more as each day passes, loses his virginity, falls for the girl nextdoor, and he also majorly improves his bowling skills. Sonny is a typical American teen who loves cheeseburgers, engaging in risky behaviors, and simply hanging out with his friends. I’m sure everyone can relate to Sonny, as we all have something in common that we did in our teens, like driving for the first time and feeling nervous around our crush. We all experienced some sort of influence from the people in our lives, just like Sonny. I feel as we observed changes in Sonny it reminded us all of a young version of ourselves.
Since day one, Sonny had been playing games with Cloyd’s mind. Sonny tricked him into thinking that he wanted to visit Notre Dame. He even went so far as to get a French book from the twins and learn the language of the people. Learning French didn’t do much to budge Cloyd’s thoughts, he even forgot completely about Sonny’s dream to travel, but it did help charm Sonny’s crush, Nica. Cloyd made Sonny clean the whole apartment complex without salary, but Sonny got back at him by stealing Cloyd’s money from his office. Sonny didn’t know what he wanted to do with the money at the time, but he knew he’d save it for something special. If I were in Sonny’s shoes, I would save the money until I really needed it for something important. Cloyd complains about Sonny from time to time, and Sylvia, Sonny’s mother, tells Sonny about the complaints. The time that Sonny finds this out, he really starts to dislike Cloyd. Cloyd isn’t the best stepdad in the world, or even a good person for that matter, but one thing he did do was keep a roof over Sonny’s head. Cloyd is very strict, and he and Sonny dislike eachother but the only thing keeping them together was Syliva. I think Sonny changes from being around Cloyd, because Cloyd is racist and Sonny seemed to gain tolerance from seeing the negativity coming from him.
Sonny loses his virginity from the girl upstairs because, well she isn’t the classiest person on the planet and Sonny is a normal teenage boys whose hormones control his actions sometimes. The girl is lonely, and always feels the need for Sonny’s company when her husband is away. Sonny doesn’t take advantage of her because she is the one to always comes onto him. I could also tell that Sonny had some respect for her even though she acts the way she does. I saw this through the stories he would tell his friends, he never got very specific with the details but they’d still go crazy. Sonny matures through his visits with her, because eventually he stops when he starts to like Nica. I can relate to this because I know many guys my age who like plenty of girls and if they have a girl on the side who’s willing to give them what they want, they’re gonna keep her. Sonny acts mature in this situation because he is willing to move on and solely focus on Nica.
As Sonny gets closer to Nica, he starts to make decisions with his mind and not with his body. He listens to what she has to say, and sometimes he gets an urge to kiss her but doesn’t. He falls for the typical girl nextdoor, but not for what she is willing to give. He likes her personality, the way she speaks, her beauty, her shyness and her secure bubble she’s used to. He wants to take her out and show her new things, like pizza and bowling. Most of all he wants to show her how to love and be loved. Nica likes Sonny as well, and she smiles everytime a French word comes out of his mouth. I think the two of them relate because of their culture, where they live, their age, and they both have stepfathers. Sonny can view Nica as a future mother-figure because she takes care of Angel. It shows that she is responsible and is home whenever Angel needs her, unlike Sylvia in Sonny’s case.
Sylvia goes out and does whatever she wants, and it teaches Sonny to do the same. Sonny likes to walk the streets, eat American food, crack jokes, and go bowling. He spends much time at the bowling alley when things aren’t quite right at home. It’s his getaway time, just a place to think by himself. We all have a place like that where we can go to get away. Sometimes I like to go driving in the mountains and listen to music alone. It gives me time to think, and a breeze in my hair is an added perk. During his time at the bowling alley, he learns how to speak with respect. His conversations with the Zunigas are enjoyable, but they don’t let him curse in their fun zone. They also reward him with free games and delicious food. If I got the same thing when I went to a bowling alley, I’m sure I would go back more often as well.
Sonny learns a lesson from Josep when he tells him and Nica about a girl from Russia. Josep was spending time with Sasha, it could be called a date. They’re having a lovely time on a boat, when suddenly Josep spots a dead dog floating in the river. At first, Josep hopes that Sasha doesn’t see the dog, but they float closer and her eyes fall upon the dead dog. The situation turns out differently as Josep explains further, “But it is not as you are thinking. Instead of wanting to leave, Sasha moves closer to me. Closer. She puts her arm around me, and she rests her hair on my shoulder, and I put my arm around her, which she wants. Now it is better! The dog is dead, yet I am lucky because I am in love and I feel as a man full of his strength” (130). To me, this story gave a good message. It means that even though someone is put into a tough situation with another person, it should be a time where you can use each other for comfort. Through the trouble one experiences with another, it draws them closer than they were before.
Sonny is not allowed to date Nica, which creates a problem. Nica is willing to wait for Sonny, and he does. One day, Sonny takes Nica for a ride in the car, but Nica doesn’t want to return home. She wants to go to Mexico and she explains to Sonny that she doesn’t have the money. Sonny puts Nica before himself and says he has the money and they can go together. Through the selflessness Sonny gained through his experiences, he ends up getting the girl he loves, and he is finally happy. That is the biggest change in Sonny. Along with his maturity, he learned how to sacrifice for other people.