In “Teenage Wasteland,” Donny Flounders fails to live above the line due to his poor decision making skills. Daisy hires Cal to help improve his academics and become a role model for her son. Donny falls overboard and fails to achieve his goals. Anne Tyler’s short story focuses on the relationship between a troubled teenage boy and his neglected parents. Matt and Daisy Flounders are the opposite of self efficacy parents. They are more focused on their own wants than the needs of Donny and they just don’t understand
