I think that Brady's parents got rid of all of Amanda's belongings because they reminded them of her. It's hard to let go of something if there are always things there to remind you of it. Those reminders can be very painful to see, because they will prompt memories of things that you did with them, and things you'll never be able to do with them. My dad's friend's wife died of cancer, and although he held on to her belongings for about 6 months, he eventually gave them to her other family members. The memory of her was too painful for him to handle, and he couldn't let her go. After he got rid of her things, he was able to meet someone new, and now he's re-married.
I was angry, then sad about spraining my ankle last year. I was angry because I had no idea how long I'd be hurt, and i knew I wouldn't be playing basketball for a few weeks at least. Then, I was sad, because I had to watch all my friends playing basketball together, and all I wanted to do was join in, but it would hurt too much.
Brady's emotions are all over the place because he feels guilty, relieved, and thankful all at the same time. The guilt comes from not saying anything when he knew that the water was rough that day. The relief and thankfulness is from Ben having a pulse and being okay, and his father and Tilly being in the right places at the right time. Seeing the kayak under the water scared him, because kayaks are very hard to sink. I think he knows something is wrong. ..."she pointed me in the right direction." He also says, "I didn't worry abut being a 'hero' or anything, I just wanted Ben to be safe."
He had babysat Benjamin a short while before the incident, so he had developed a relationship with the boy already. After Ben was safely in the ambulance, Brady took his boat back home, and he, according to him, "Stopped my boat right in the middle of the Corsica River, in the pouring rain, to fold my hands. I just sat there with the engine in neutral, with my head against my tightly folded hands, because it had just hit me what happened." At the end of chapter 5, Brady stopped his boat in the middle of the Corsica River to pray. This is out of the ordinary because he hardly ever prays. He was thankful that his dad was working at the shop that Monday, otherwise he would have never heard and gotten Brady from school. There would be no one to check the little creeks and coves like he did. He was also thankful for Tilly, who told him to check that one area. He felt both exhausted and elated, because of all the stress, but also that Ben had a pulse.
On the morning of the accident, the three boys, Digger, J.T., and Brady, noticed Mr. DiAngelo taking his new red kayak out. They knew how rough the tides were that morning, and Brady said, "He shouldn't be going out there today. When he get's down by the point - he'll fly down the river," which clearly shows that he knew what would happen. The other two responded with "He's too far away. He won't hear you," and "why should we anyway?" I think part of the reason Brady didn't call out was because of peer pressure. Later on in the day he felt guilty, but those feelings quickly faded away. That is, until he got picked up early and heard that the red kayak had flipped over, and Mrs. DiAngelo and her son, Ben, were in it. Immediately, he felt guilty, and knew that if he'd just said something, this would not have happened. If Mrs. DiAngelo didn't take her son out on the kayak, they never would have been in the water and they wouldn't have sunk. If Mr. DiAngelo didn't take they kayak out for them, the boys wouldn't even have had the chance to say something, and Brady wouldn't feel guilty at all.
Brady:
Brady is the main character in the story Red Kayak. He is the peacemaker in his group of friends, and is very compassionate. He is best friends with J.T. and Digger. Brady's Father: He is a fisher, who also builds cabinets. He feels strongly about his rights, and is upset when his crabbing season is cut by a month. He is a very hard worker, and will do whatever it takes to support his family. Digger: Very passionate about his opinions, and he dislikes people who have a lot of money. He helps his dad work to make ends meet. J.T.: He lives next door to Brady on a chicken farm. He's easygoing, and doesn't mind the way digger talks to him sometimes. He loves technology. Tilly: She is Brady's dog, and she loves it when he plays fetch with her. He always follows him to the bank of the Corsica, and she is very energetic. Carl: He is Brady's cousin, and he always gives the three boys a ride to school in his ambulance that is also used as a backup for the county. Mrs. DiAngelo: She the very pretty wife of the rich, Mr. DiAngelo. Mr. DiAngelo: A rich man that recently moved into Digger, J.t., and Brady's town. Digger doesn't like him very much. Ben: Mr. and Mrs. DiAngelo's son. He's younger than the three boys, and likes LEGOs. The Chesapeake bay is a body of water located in Maryland. It is surrounded by luscious green grass and tall trees. The tan and yellow cliffs stretch 30 miles, extending up from the water like towers. Lining the still, glassy water are quaint towns, surrounded by docks and sailboats. The bay is known for its seafood production, mostly blue crabs, clams, and oysters. Kayaking and sailing are two very popular tourist activities, and contribute greatly to the area's economy. I think that it is important to the setting of the book because the name is Red Kayak, so the story most likely takes place in or around the water. It also says that Brady enjoys crabbing and fishing, so the bay would be a perfect setting for that.
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