Flamingo Chapter 8 Going Places

Sophie and Jansie were both classmates and friends. On their way to home from school, both were discussing to find some work after schooling. Sophie was a girl of imagination and day dreaming. She thought of having a boutique. Jansie was very much aware about their financial conditions and family background. She knew that both were earmarked for the biscuit factory after passing school.

Sophie was a girl of deep imagination and unrealistic dreams. On her way home she told her classmate Jansie to have a boutique. She will be like Mary Quant and will be having the most amazing shop this city had ever seen. But Jansie asked Sophie to be sensible because her dad would never allow it. She had an other option of becoming an actress alongwith her boutique. She also thought of becoming a fashion designer. But Jansie discouraged her because she knew that both were earmarked for the biscuit factory. Both belonged to a lower middle class family and their families were not well-off financially.

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Danny Casey was a celebrity. Sophie was a girl belonging to a middle class family. She had indulged in fantasizing and told her brother Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey. When their father came in the room and switched on the television, Geoff passed the news of Sophie’s meeting with Danny Casey. Hearing these words Sophie wriggled where she was sitting at the table. Her father looked at her with an expression of disdain. He called it another of her wild stories.

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No, Geoff does not seen to believe in Sophie’s meeting with Danny Casey. He rather says that it is the unlikeliest thing. The following lines from the text can be quoted for reference:

“I met Danny Casey,” Sophie said

The looked around abruptly “Where” ?

“In the arcade-funnily enough.”

“It’s never true.”

He inquired more about Casey’s look. But her answer did not satisfy Geoff. When Sophie asked Geoff not to tell that to others, Geoff replied that there was nothing to tell. All these facts testify that Geoff did not believe Sophie’s meeting with Casey.

No, Sophie’s father does not believe her story though he is a fan of Danny Casey. When Geoff tells his father about Sophie’s meeting with Casey, he turned his head to look at her. His expression was one of disdain. He ignores her and talks about another football player named Tom Finney. Then Sophie told that Casey was going to buy a shop. Her father grimaced and called it her another ‘wild story.’

Geoff is an apprentice mechanic and he goes out daily for his work to the far side of the city. He remains quiet and the words have to be prized out of him like a stone from the ground. Sophie is much jealous of his silence. While Geoff is not speaking, Sophie thinks that he is away somewhere to those places and people which she has never seen. She wished and imagined that her brother might take her some day with him. She imagined herself riding behind Geoff in a fine yellow dress.

Further Sophie asked her brother Geoff not to tell anything about her meeting with Casey. Then Geoff told that Casey would be having a string of girls but Sophie denied saying that Casey was not that type as he himself had told her so. Geoff cleared that no boy would tell a girl such thing. Sophie further told that she spoke to him first and requested his autograph for little Derek but neither had pen or a paper. Rather he assured for his autograph for the next week in case she cared to meet him. Thus Sophie included Geoff in her fantasy of her future.

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Sophie had requested her brother Geoff not to tell anything about her meeting with Casey. When Jansie asked Sophie about her meeting with Danny. Sophie was much amazed. She cursed Geoff for it because Jansie was ‘nosey’ and would spread the facts everywhere in the neighbourhood. In case her father knew about it, there would be a great row which her mother did not like. Sophie felt relaxed that Geoff did not tell about the date bit. She requested Jansie to keep it a secret.

No, Sophie did not really meet Danny Casey. She remained fantasizing about his arrival. In the evening Sophie walked along the canal and reached a solitary place. It was the perfect place where the lovers waited and met.

She imagined his coming. She watched along the canal, seeing him come out of the shadows. She watched for him but there was no sign of him. She climbed the step to the street carrying the hard burden of that sadness.

While walking through the Royce’s arcade she pictured Danny again there. She asked him if he was Danny. He confirmed saying 'yes' that was right. She asked for the autograph. He didn’t have a pen. She stood there for a long time where he stood, remembering his melodious voice, green eyes, the innocent genius, the great Danny Casey. Thus she remained lost in a dreamy world where she imagined meeting Casey with her.

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The only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in person was when her family went to the weekly pilgrimage. They watched United on Saturday. Sophie, her father and little Derek went down near the goal. Geoff went with his mates higher up. United one two-nil and Casey drove in the second goal. Sophie saw the Irish genius going round two big defenders near the penalty. She saw how Casey goaled beating the hesitant goal-keeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride.

Sophie and Jansie were both classmates and friends. Both were considerate, sensible and were looming in between the ideas of finding some work after their schooling. Sophie was a sophisticated and a fantasizing type of girl. She had big and beautiful dreams of having a boutique like Mary Quant. On the other hand-Jansie was more practical and a realistic type of girl quite aware about their lower middle class family background. She asked Sophie to be sensible because the shop work required money and her father won’t allow this. She knew that both were earmarked for the biscuit factory.

Sophie entertained the idea of being an actress and then dream of becoming a fashion designer. She was unaware of the reality as to how she would do all these things. Jansie knew that all those different types of work needed money which was beyond the capacity of Sophie’s parents. She advised her to be practical. Sophie had no faith in Jansie and understood her to be “nosey.” She would spread all the news in the whole neighbourhood. So she did not want to tell any of her secret. Thus we can note a lot of difference in their attitudes towards life and things.

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Sophie’s father was a man of authority, truth, hard work and deep senses. He understood, saw, experienced and realised the very truth about life but he was not well- off. He had to work hard for keeping his family alive. He had a realistic approach towards life and had firm faith in social interactions. Being a considerate, kind and sensible father, he understood the nature of the family but was deadly against wild stories. He always wanted to keep his family members happy and peaceful but financially he was not well-off. The day's hardwork was clearly visible on his plump face.

He was a sports lover and used to go with his family on weekly pilgrimage. While seeing the United Team winning, he boosted Danny’s morale. After the victory, he went to the pub for celebration and drink. When Sophie told that Danny was buying a shop, he made an ugly expression on his face to show disgust. He did not approve Sophie’s wild stories for Danny and rather warned as well as advised her about a lot of trouble she was going to be entrapped in. Though he was an aggressive yet he was a true and rightful person. Sophie was much scared of him and told Jansie “You know what a misery he is”.

Sophie liked her brother Geoff more than any other person in the world. She could open her heart to him. She knew that Geoff was the person who would share her dreams. Geoff was an apprentice mechanic who had left school for three years. He had to travel for work to the far side of the city. He spoke very little and his silence always troubled Sophie very much. Moreover the words were to be prized out of his mouth like the stones from the ground. She was jealous of his silence and she thought him to be living in some other world which was unknown to her.

But Geoff was always the first with whom she always shared her secrets. She liked him more than anything. Sophie was a simple but plain speaking girl who had a strong faith in Geoff. Like every other sister she dreamt of riding behind her brother in their attractive dresses, to places where people would welcome and praise them. She wanted to be more affectionately with her brother among all his friends and to all his places. In his own way Geoff warned her that Casey must have strings of girls and she was one of them.

Sophie saw in her brother Geoff, her moral supporter. She thought the world was ready to welcome her. She told Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey at Royce’s window, though he considered it unlikeliest. To Sophie, Geoff was bold, smart, tall, promising and helpful. He recognised and respected his younger sister’s emotions and aspirations well. She was certain that he would never let her down.

‘Going Places’ details the middle class people with their stages of hardwork, helplessness and satisfaction. They are not well-off people to lead a luxurious life. They belong to a lower middle class family. Two classmates Sophie and Jansie have a lot of difference in their attitudes and temperament of life. Sophie is a sophisticated type of girl who goes on day dreaming and fantasizing. She dreams of having a boutique, becoming an actress and a fashion designer. She goes on looming in the unrealistic life which is far from their approach. Jansie is a practical girl who knows that both are earmarked for the biscuit factory. She urges Sophie to be sensible and she understands the financial and other social implications.

In the lesson one can note that Geoff has to go to a far off place to learn apprentice mechanic. He has left schooling three years earlier. Their father works hard and the drops of sweat are visible on his plump face. He is worried about the welfare and peace of the whole family. It is a poor family where all the domestic chores are done in the family. The ladies do all the washing and other household works and the piles of dirty clothes can be seen near the sink. The people are fond of enjoying matches. Her father goes to the pub on his bicycle to celebrate. All these facts indicate that they belong to a lower middle class family.

Like every youth when he is about to leave the school, the struggle of thought begins even in Sophie. On their way back home. Sophie and Jansie discuss possibilities of work to be started. Sophie’s flight took off from boutique to shop manager, to an actress-cum-boutique owner to a fashion designer. Though both the girls, were earmarked for a biscuit factory.

Like every young girl, Sophie also fancied the world was prepared to greet her. She also had in her fancies a strong feeling of knowing the unknown, seeing the unseen and even meeting and welcoming the strangers. Though her father forbade her to be taken to unknown places and countries, yet Sophie expected Geoff to acquaint her to all new and strange things, people and places. She fancied the world greeting and applauding them.

Finally, in her fantasizing she had a lover Danny Casey in her mind. So she visited the perfect place for lovers and sat on the solitary wooden bench under the tree. She waited for her lover coming out of shadows but there was no sign of him. She became burdened with sadness.Thus Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all of her own creations.

It is natural for teenagers to get lost in fantasizing. It is also termed as day dreaming. Such unrealistic dreams are seldom got rid of by the teenagers. This age group starts from thirteen years when one becomes conscious of surroundings gradually. There are thoughts, whims and then determinations. Consequently, they result mostly in agonies and suffering. Sophie, is one such teenagers who dreams like a teenager.

Sophie apparently was determined to have her own boutique, regardless of money in hand. But got pushed in her fancy to become a shop manager. She dreamt of becoming an actress as well as of having boutique. To be more sophisticated-a fashion designer. The fantasizing flight came to an end here, but she faced troubles and the only disadvantages.

Riding behind her brother Geoff, she imagined to visit all unknown places, people and countries where people praised and greeted them. Of course, this unrealistic dream pleased her.

Finally, the romantic and emotional dreaming of Danny casey's love a created uneasiness, impatience, pangs, sadness and burdened posture. Such unrealistic dreams are disadvantageous, Danny Casey, the innocent Irelander—a captive of her fantasizing, chosen for one-side love.

Thus, it is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. There are both-benefits and disadvantages of such fantasizing—the world realities has both.

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* Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of the ground. Geoff was very silent. He was forced to speak first or speak much to let the person continue conversation.

*  Sophie felt a tightening in her throat. ‘A tightening in her throat.’ It means her throat become dry and she felt upset to say anything.

*  If he keeps his head on his shoulders. ‘Keeps his head on his shoulders’. It means used his brain and played sensibly keeping himself under control.

*  On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to the United.

‘They made their weekly pilgrimage.’ It means every week they used to go to see the football match as if they were visiting a holy place.

*  She saw ...... him ghost past and lumbering defenders. ‘Ghost past.’ It means that one goes so fast to dodge others.

Now read the following sentences picked out from the story in which present participles are used in this sense :

1.  Jansie, linking arms with her along the street, looked doubtful.

2.  “I’ll found it,” Sophie said, staring far down the street.

3.  Jansie, knowing both were earmarked for the biscuit factory, become melancholy.

4.  He sat frowning at the oil component he cradled in his hands.

5.  She watched along the canal seeing him come out of the shadows, imagining her own consequent excitement.

1. Boutique: means a shop that sells fashionable clothes.,

2.  Of-fish: means said of a person’s manner

3.  Off putting: means disconnecting, distracting, unpleasant, repulsive.

4.  Prized Out: means extracting some information with force.

5.  Damn: means going to hell.

6.  Peckish: means irritable.

7.  Huh: means an expression of disagreement.

8.  Limo: means short form limousine.

9.  Pup: means place where one can drink.

10.  Ducky: means a term of endearment.

It is purely a students’ activity. But they may use the points and questions for the interview on a television show:

1.  Inspiration,

2.  Aspiration,

3.  Why are you what you are?

4.  What do you aspire to be?

5.  What is your ultimate goal in life?

6.  How do you feel on your present position of achievements?

7.  Any incident you would like to share with your audience.

8.  Your message to the younger generation who looks up to you as a role-model.

9.  Your secret of your happiness in life.

10.  Do you have in your mind any type of campaign for social awareness ?

11.  What do you perceive your image to be ?

12.  Your desire for a special thing to take or to give, etc.

It is purely a student’s activity to be written under the title.

Hero Worship and Fantasising

You may use and develop any story known to you. A young girl from Pakistan crossed over to India. Under the influence of her hero worship and fantasising about a sport-icon especially cricket, made her do so some months back. She came to India with the intention of leading her rest of the life with the Indian Cricketer-Irfan Pathan.....

(Describe his game, his special role as a batsman or as a bailer, his runs, fours, sixes, wickets taken, his look, height, eyes, hair style, photo displayed in newspapers, magazines and posters, etc.)

It was a middle-class family. Her mother was busy in her chores. Food was being cooked on a stove. Dirty clothes piled up in a comer. Her father was scooping shepherds pie after day’s work Geoff had to go to a far off place for his training.

Sophie knew that her brother Geoff was the only person who would share her dreams. She had a strong faith in him. Therefore, she liked him more than any other person. She saw in Geoff her moral supporter. He recognised her emotions and aspirations well. He would never let her down.

The unknown outlying districts of her city unknown places beyond her country, and the world of places where she had never been were great attraction for Sophie. She wished to know about exotic interesting people, and brother’s affections. She hoped to go there with her brother Geoff.

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Father looked at Sophie with sadness on his face, he did not believe it. He called it another of her wild stories. He warned her that those days she would put herself into a lot of troubles because of her talks.

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Sophie wanted Geoff to promise not to tell daddy about her meeting Danny Casey. He would fire her badly. Then Geoff told her that Casey must be having a large number of girls in his contact, and she was still a school girl. But Sophie pointed out that Casey was quiet. He did not have strings of girls.

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On first meeting Danny Casey at Royces’ window, Sophie asked his autograph for little Derek. But neither had paper nor a pen. In the second real meeting at the Royce’s the same riddle stood unsolved-the autograph couldn’t by signed-neither had a pen.

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Geoff told Frank that Sophie met Danny Casey. Frank’s sister Jansie was nosey. She asked Sophie about the meeting. It surprised Sophie because she was doubted Sophie termed it something secret. She felt at ease when she realised that Geoff had not let her down.

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Sitting on the wooden bench Sophie waited and imagined Danny Casey coming. She became loaded with the burden of sadness. She thought what she would tell them about Danny’s not coming. Now she uttered ‘how can you help what people choose to believe in life.’

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With the burden of sadness Sophie walked back home from the canal side park. At the Royce’s arcade she pictured Danny Casey. He answered her he was Danny Casey. She told him she watched him every week with her father and brothers. She asked him for an autograph but neither had a pen or paper. For a long time she stood there alone where he stood. In reality Danny did not arrive. It remained a dream with Sophie.

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Jensie belonged to a middle class family. She was a sensible and a practical type of girl. She did not have high ambitions in life like Sophie. She knew that she was earn marked to work in a biscuit factory. She was a nosey type of girl.

The two classmates Sophie and Jansie discussed about finding some work after leaving school. Sophie thought of having her own boutique, or to become a shop manager or an actress or a fashion designer. Though both were earmarked for a biscuit factory.

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When back home Sophie found her mother busy with the chores. It troubled her seeing her mother in that state of balancing herself. There was a heap of dirty clothes piled in a comer. Her father was eating the shepherd’s pie, Sophie felt uneasy and dryness in her throat. So she moved to look for brother Geoff in the next room.

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Sophie’s brother Geoff was an apprentice mechanic. He was almost grown up yet he hardly spoke any thing of his own. Words were prized out of his mouth like stones from the ground. She could only suspect areas of his life which she wanted to hear from him. So she was jealous of his silence. She took him to be out there in the world, when he was not speaking.

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The unknown far off places even beyond in the surrounding country had a great attraction in Sophie’s mind. She wanted to see and meet exotic, interesting people of whom Geoff never spoke. She was impatient to know them. She thought the world was waiting to welcome her.

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Danny Casey was a young Irish player of the United first squad. Sophie told Geoff of meeting Danny Casey at Royce’s window. It surprised him and he wanted to know the truth. She told about Danny Casey’s gentle green eyes. She talked with him first and asked for an autograph. But neither had a pen nor paper. So he promised to do it next week, if she cared.

The young Irish Danny Casey was a sports icon. He was gentle and calm. He was handsome and always impressively dressed. He was tall and bold with a strong dark face. She imagined him to be fit for her love.

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Sophie claimed that Danny casey had met her in the Royee’s Arcade window where she was looking at the clothes. He confirmed that he was Danny Casey. She asked him for an autograph for little Derek but he neither had paper nor a pen. He said if she cared to meet him next week he would give her an autograph then. He also told her that he was going to buy a shop.

Their weekly pilgrimage on Saturday was to watch the United. Actually she got interested in Danny Casey and wanted to enjoy his game and watch him playing at the United on Saturday. Sophie with her father and little Derek sat near the goal, and Geoff went up with his friends. They boost up Danny’s morale and got thrilled at his scoring goal.

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Next week when Jansie met Sophie, she asked her about the meeting of Danny Casey. Though Sophie got surprised and damned her brother Geoff, yet she called it something special between them. Something secret but not Jansie type Jansie promised to keep it a secret. Sophie told it was a little thing, she asked for an autograph but neither had a pen.

Jansie was the friend and classmate of Sophie. She (Jansie) was a ‘nosey’ girl. It was her habit to spread the news every where in the neighbourhood. In case, Sophie’s father knew about her story with Danny, there would be a great row which her mother did not like. Therefore, Sophie didn’t want Jansie to know about her story with Danny.

For the fancy date Sophie walked by the canal in the evening. She used to play here in her childhood. She reached the wooden bench beneath the solitaryelm tree. She sat and waited there for Danny Casey. It was a perfect place for the lovers who wished not to be observed.

Geoff was the younger brother of Sophie who shared all her secrets with him. She even told him about his meeting with Casey and got a word from him not to divulge any secret lest there should be any kind to trouble in the family. In between two friends Sophie and Jansie had a talk and Sophie doubted if Geoff had told the secret. During the discussion she realised that Geoff had not revealed anythings to Jansie as the later did not know about the date bit.

Sophie’s meeting with Casey was a secret between her and her brother Geoff. Jansie came to know about it from Geoff. She wanted to know if it was true. It was not a Jansie thing. Sophie cursed her brother Geoff and said ‘Damn that Geoff (Don’t trust Geoff), this was a Geoff thing (I wanted to play a trick on Geoff by telling a lie), not a Jansie thing (I can’t tell a lie before Jansie).

Sophie is a girl of day dreaming and fantasing nature. She had a close friend named Jansie. While returning from their way back to house form school, both discussed their possibilities to do some after schooling. Sophie’s flight took off from boutique to shop-manager to an actress-cum-boutique owner to a fashion designer. Even then both the girls were earmarked for a biscuit factory.

Like every young girl, Sophie also fancied that the world was prepared to greet her. She also had in her fancies a strong feeling of knowing the unknown, seeing the unseen and even meeting and welcoming the strangers. Though her father forbade her yet she expected Geoff to acquaint her to all new and strange things, people and places. She fancied the world greeting and applauding them.

Finally in her fantasizing she had a lover Danny Casey in her mind. She visited the perfect place for lovers and sat on the solitary wooden bench under the tree. She waited for her lover coming out of shadows but there was no sign of him. She became burdened with sadness. Thus Sophie’s real world-dreams and fansies as well as disappointments were all of her own creations.

In the story ‘Going Places’, author A. R. Barton had clearly depicted the stages of helplessness and satisfaction in the lives of the middle class people. The members of that society are shown to be law-abiding, minding their own business and hardworking- Sophie’s father had been working hard throughout the day and even helping her mother in her chores.

Sophie’s brother Geoff had travel to a long way for his apprenticeship everyday. The gentsfolk had been very sincerely and sensibly maintaining their family peace, progress and happiness. Sophie’s mother had been carrying on with her family chores. She looked after the whole affairs of her family quietly.

The girls Sophie and Jansie had been seriously taking up their matters relating to life. Both had been discussing about work to be started after school. Even little Derek had the real brain of the elders on his shoulders. He was a clear and intelligent financial analyst. Even his sports forecast sounded like an expert comment ‘Ireland will win the World Cup.’ The teenagers have unrealistic dreams and believe in hero worship.

The author has developed his story by involving only one family. Sophie had one elder brother Geoff and another younger one Derek. Her parents were quite caring and helpful to them at every stage of life.

Geoff was almost grown up. It was three years now he passed schools and was working hard as an apprentice mechanic. He was youth who had a determination to become a mechanical expert. He daily travelled to the other side of the city for his training. He enjoyed doing his work silently. His silence troubled Sophie and she had to prize out words from him like stones from the ground. His silence compelled Sophie to guess him to be somewhere else in the world he never spoke about. She loved and admired Geoff always.

Geoff was “quiet youth and didn’t easily make new friends”. She knew he would take her to all such unknown places and people for which she was impatient, though their father forbade. Like her brother, she liked his friendly groups and hoped to be admitted to that. Geoff not only supported Sophie blindly before their parents but he was the first to share her secrets. Though Geoff hardly believed the truth without verifying her stories.

Sophie’s father was a man of gentle and considerate nature. Inspite of his own hard-work he always helped in the chores. When Sophie's mother Geoff was doing some work on the motorbike had completed the washing of clothes, he came in and switched on the television. Then he told his father ‘Sophie met Danny Casey.’ He turned his head and looked at Sophie. Their father seemed sad and asked if it was true. He did not believe what he was told.

During the conversation she ensured that Danny Casey, was going to buy a shop. Hearing it, her father became rather confused and murmured something. He aggressively called her telling another of her wild stories.

It was at this stage Geoff came to her help and told their father that she met him in the Royce’s arcade with details. Their father knew well Geoff would support her. Therefore, he cautioned Sophie that one of those days she was going to talk herself into a load of trouble. It was a sincere advice from a father to his daughter not to invite troubles for her because of her fanciful talks.

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Geoff was working with a motorcycle part in another room. After coming back home from school, she looked for brother Geoff. She told him she met Danny Casey. It startled Geoff and he turned to her to ask ‘where?’ She cleared there in the Royce’s arcade very funnily. Geoff took it never to be true. Geoff was the first with whom she shared her secrets. She detailed that at Royce’s window she was looking at the clothes, he came and stood beside her. She took him to be Danny Casey and that he confirmed.

In order to know the reality he asked Sophie how he looked like. She stated he had green and gentle eyes. And he was not so tall as he would think. She finally, got a promise from Geoff not to reveal the secret to anyone to avoid any trouble from father. Geoff made her to realise that she was still at school and Danny Casey must be having strings of girls. She denied and told that Danny Casey was not like that. He was........quiet.

She asked him for an autograph for little Derek but he neither had paper nor a pen. So they talked about a bit. Just as he was going he said, if she cared to meet him next week he would give her an autograph then. But Geoff did not believe Sophie’s meeting with Danny Casey.

After her meeting with Danny Casey, Sophie told brother Geoff about the date for an autograph next week. So Sophie walked by the canal along a sheltered path after dark. It was the place where she had often played in her childhood. There was a wooden bench beneath a solitary tree. There lovers came sometimes. She sat down on the bench to wait (for her love Danny Casey). She had always thought it to be the ‘perfect place’ for a meeting of lovers. For those who wished not to be observed.

It was now after waiting for a while, she imagined his coming. She looked along the canal. She saw him coming out of the shadows. She imagined her excitement so caused. After sometime she began thinking of his not coming.

There she sat wishing Danny Casey would come, but he did not come, She felt the pain of doubt moving in her mind. She watched for him but there was no sign of him. She remembered Geoff saying he would never come and also none of them believed her. It made her sad she could not prove them wrong on doubting her.

Now she had become sad. Thus burden of sitting there, waiting and knowing he would not come, was hard to carry. She could see the future and how she would have to live with this burden. She slowly climbed the crumbling steps to the street to go home. Her fantasizing came to a stand still.

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The author A. R. Barton has taken the readers to places through his main young female character Sophie. She was a very sweet and beautiful fantasizing teenager. In the first phase of the journey she took the reader in search for work. She wanted to have a superb boutique of her own. Or a shop manager Or she would become an actress to have real money. If not that, then she would become a fashion designer though it was a little sophisticated. Her such thinking made her friend Jansie melancholy because both were earmarked for the biscuit factory.

In the second phase of the journey she suspected the areas of Geoff life about which she knew nothing and he never spoke. When Geoff kept silent she thought him to be away somewhere out there in the world in those places she had never seen. The adjacent areas of the neighbouring country, its people, and thus she had developed a great fascination for them. Riding behind Geoff she took us to the world that one can go praised and greeted them.

In the final phase, from the Royce’s window, to Danny Casey the United’s first squad player. In her excitement and dreaming. Sophie waited under the elm tree near the canal. She pictured Danny Casey really outside Royce’s arcade again. But here she really could not get an autograph because neither had a pen. Thus throughout the story the reader goes on from place to place but there is no solid result. So the tittle. 'Going Places' is appropriate.

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Sophie was a school going girl. She belonged to a middle class family. In her family, her father had a plumpy face looking grimy and sweaty. He was a man of aggressive nature. He did not believe in his daughter’s ‘wild stories’. Sophie was much afraid of him. When Geoff, the elder brother of Sophie, told that Sophie had met Danny Casey, he had disdainful expressions on his face. He ignored her but he was very much fond of the Irish prodigy Casey. On Saturday, he used to go to watch lenited with Sophie, Geoff and little Darek. Her brother Geoff was doing an apprentice mechanic and he had to travel to his work each day to the far side of the city. Sophie had belief on him and always opened her heart before him. All the family members were football fans. Sophie was a day dreamer and she always dreamt of big and beautiful things. She had a mind to set up her own boutique when she was a school going girl. She took a deep pleasure in being lost in Caseys’ dreams. She adored him like anything. She was an unusable escapist. She told her brother having met with Danny Casey in the arcade at Rayce’s window. In the evening she walked on the side of a canal to see Casey but it remained as her imagination and disappointment.

Sophie is a school going girl. She lives in a dreamy world which has distant relation with the harsh realities of life. She dreams of big and beautiful things beyond her reach or her means. She thinks of having a boutique. Then she entertains the idea of being an actress. She can be a fashion designer too. Here she is poles apart from her classmate and friend Jansie. Jansie is realistic and practical. She knows that both of them have been earmarked for the biscuit factory.

Sophie's romantic and dreamy disposition leads her to hero-worship. The hero of her dreams is the young Irish wonder-footballer Danny Casey. She has developed a romantic fascination for him. Even Geoff cautions her that Casey is a celebrity. Many girls like her must run after him. But she is an incurable dreamer. She thinks of him all the time. She sits for hours imagining Danny Casey coming to her. She knows that he will never come. She becomes sad but helpless. She lives with all her dreams and disappointments. They are not real. They are all the creations of her mind.

Sophie liked her brother more than any other person in the world. She could open her heart to him. She knew that Geoff was a person who could share her dreams. She had a strong faith in him. To her, he was an ideal man. Hence, she longed for his affection.

Sophie was jealous of Geoff's silence because she thought that he had access to an unknown world, of which she too wanted to be a part. For Sophie, Geoff symbolized liberty from the monotonous and colorless life they had been living.

Jansie was a realist who guided Sophie when she was on the wings of her fantasies. Her practical bent of mind made her stand apart from the dream world of Sophie. Though Jansie and Sophie were of the same age-group but Jansie helped Sophie to manage her life sensibly. She made her realize that money was the deciding factor when one dreamt really big. She advised her to forget aspiring high if she was not determined to fulfil it. She was indeed a sincere friend who wished her to accept reality and walk into the biscuit factory. On the other hand, Sophie dreamt of becoming either an actress or a fashion designer. Her dream meetings with Danny Casey leave her shattered but fortunately, the members of her family help her to come out of the gloom.

The chapter Going Places begins with Sophie telling Julie that one day she would have a boutique or be an actress. If she ever becomes as actress, she would have the boutique on the side as actresses don’t work full time. This clearly shows that Sophie loves living in a world of dreams. Perhaps we can take these dreams as being achievable ones. But her fantasy about the football player Danny Casey shows us that she lives completely lost in her world of fantasy. She strongly believes that she has met Danny Casey despite people not believing in her words. She is so deeply lost in her world of dreams that she does not even doubt her capability of achieving them. Towards the end of the chapter, we see her imagination getting a boost when she sees Danny Casey crisply striking the ball into the goal.