Night Light Analysis

Shanghai’d “The gift for Dwight that might be right is a bright Dwight Bird-flight Night Sight Light.” Tears streamed down my face and snot dripped out of my nose in typical eight year old fashion. I assumed Dr. Seuss put this line in his book specifically to torture kids who couldn’t read very well. Each time I read the line, a mangled chain of words that were close, but not entirely correct, came from my mouth. Each time I tripped over my words, a silence fell - quickly broken by the hollers of my Dad. “Anthony. You can’t read like a normal kid, and I’m so damn close to pulling the belt out and making sure you read the line right!” echoed from the mouth of a behemoth of a man; six foot six, 300 pounds of Ukrainian blood and culture. Everything about him fit the look: A stubble beard that could cut glass, and clothes that were modest but sat on him assertively, as if they demanded attention as he walked into the room. He sat on the edge of my dinosaur themed bed, …show more content…
Although I was always an exceptional reader, I severely lacked the intrinsic desire. My homework would be checked, double checked, and triple checked until it was exactly perfect. But I’d be lackadaisical in my classwork, and my grades on tests were laughable. I was a much better cheater than I was a tester; my mom (Who is also from the former USSR) would frequently give me spelling tests, as to examine my ability to spell. I quickly learned I could write the words underneath my paper, and place a blank sheet over it. At first glance, it was but a single paper; although when pressing down a pencil, the words underneath revealed themselves in the light. These were methods I adapted to stay on top of my parents intangible expectations. Although I despised their ambitions for me, I quickly became the best speller and reader in the class due to my parents constant pressure. I didn’t know it at the time, but tough love was love