The narrator has chosen an ordinary life as an algebra teacher and as a loving husband and father. He spends his days working surrounded by troubled teenagers who remind him of his brother Sonny. Although he works with adolescents, the narrator is unable to listen and understand his sibling. After their mother´s decease, the narrator tries to fulfill a promise to their mother and take care of Sonny. He has never played the role of the oldest brother seriously before, but at their mother´s funeral, they both have a serious conversation where the narrator cannot accept his brother´s future plans. The narrator is not able to comprehend why Sonny does not want to study anymore and dedicate his life to music. He does not take on account Sonny´s reasoning about how useless school is for him. The narrator is not able to listen to Sonny´s motives for abandoning school and following his dreams. He cannot understand why Sonny wants to spend his time hanging around nightclubs playing the piano and he strongly believes that Sonny cannot make a living out of music. The narrator does not know how to explain to Sonny the kind of problems he can have if he does not finish school. As the narrator realizes he cannot change his brother´s opinion about the future, he gives up the conversation. He decides that they can talk about it in other occasion what shows that he is not ready to deal with his brother´s desires and life choices. Even though Sonny is reserved, he tries to explain to the narrator the reasons of his plans for the future. The narrator is obviously afraid of his brother´s future and life choices, but he cannot understand the kind of living Sonny desires to have. He cannot comprehend Sonny´s devotion towards music. As the narrator is not able to show empathy
The narrator has chosen an ordinary life as an algebra teacher and as a loving husband and father. He spends his days working surrounded by troubled teenagers who remind him of his brother Sonny. Although he works with adolescents, the narrator is unable to listen and understand his sibling. After their mother´s decease, the narrator tries to fulfill a promise to their mother and take care of Sonny. He has never played the role of the oldest brother seriously before, but at their mother´s funeral, they both have a serious conversation where the narrator cannot accept his brother´s future plans. The narrator is not able to comprehend why Sonny does not want to study anymore and dedicate his life to music. He does not take on account Sonny´s reasoning about how useless school is for him. The narrator is not able to listen to Sonny´s motives for abandoning school and following his dreams. He cannot understand why Sonny wants to spend his time hanging around nightclubs playing the piano and he strongly believes that Sonny cannot make a living out of music. The narrator does not know how to explain to Sonny the kind of problems he can have if he does not finish school. As the narrator realizes he cannot change his brother´s opinion about the future, he gives up the conversation. He decides that they can talk about it in other occasion what shows that he is not ready to deal with his brother´s desires and life choices. Even though Sonny is reserved, he tries to explain to the narrator the reasons of his plans for the future. The narrator is obviously afraid of his brother´s future and life choices, but he cannot understand the kind of living Sonny desires to have. He cannot comprehend Sonny´s devotion towards music. As the narrator is not able to show empathy