Throughout the story, David comes to age as he continues to discover how to live with a speech impediment. The story begins with David setting the scene of his first meeting with his new speech therapist who he refers to as Agent Samson. Even before they began to work together, David put up a wall to distance himself from Agent Samson. David assumes that Miss Samson is there to punish him and views her whole presence as negative. “I ran down a list of recent crimes, looking for a conviction that might stick. Setting fire to a reportedly flameproof Halloween costume, stealing a set of barbecue tongs from an unguarded patio, altering the word hit on a list of rules posted on the gymnasium door; never did it occur to me that I might be innocent.
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Perhaps this is just because he is a mischievous kid, but the fact that he immediately blames himself shows that he is insecure. From the beginning of their first meeting, David takes an immediate disliking to Agent Samson. Through this quote, it is made clear that David is doubts himself and views others as the enemy. As the story progresses David looks for new ways to hide his speaking issues. “I tried to avoid an s sound whenever possible. "Yes," became "correct," or a military "affirmative." "Please," became "with your kind permission," and questions were pleaded rather than asked.” As David begins to work with Agent Samson, he begins to change his behavior. Instead of coming to terms with his speaking difficulties, David chooses to simply avoid words that may show his speaking issues. Instead of working on himself, David chooses to just change his speaking patterns, as he accepts himself and comes to terms with his speaking issues. Towards the end of the David, uses the same methods as he did before but makes adult realizations about his speech. “I agreed but, because none of my speech classes ever made a difference, I still prefer to use the word chump.” At the end of the story, David is sticking to his old habits. He did not correct his speaking issues, but he did come
Perhaps this is just because he is a mischievous kid, but the fact that he immediately blames himself shows that he is insecure. From the beginning of their first meeting, David takes an immediate disliking to Agent Samson. Through this quote, it is made clear that David is doubts himself and views others as the enemy. As the story progresses David looks for new ways to hide his speaking issues. “I tried to avoid an s sound whenever possible. "Yes," became "correct," or a military "affirmative." "Please," became "with your kind permission," and questions were pleaded rather than asked.” As David begins to work with Agent Samson, he begins to change his behavior. Instead of coming to terms with his speaking difficulties, David chooses to simply avoid words that may show his speaking issues. Instead of working on himself, David chooses to just change his speaking patterns, as he accepts himself and comes to terms with his speaking issues. Towards the end of the David, uses the same methods as he did before but makes adult realizations about his speech. “I agreed but, because none of my speech classes ever made a difference, I still prefer to use the word chump.” At the end of the story, David is sticking to his old habits. He did not correct his speaking issues, but he did come