Mythology and adverbial clauses, wk. 11

 "     A few days after he bought the car,  he brought each of us children up to it, one at a time, raised the hood, and told us to look inside and see if we could find the birdie in the engine. While our backs where turned, he'd tiptoe back to the driver's seat - a jolly Santa Clause in mufti - and press down on the horn.

     'Kadookah, Kadookah.' The horn blaring right in your ear was frightening and you'd jump away in hurt amazement. Dad would laugh until the tears came to his eyes."
                                           ~from, Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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 My brother and I are currently reading this book together, and we laughed so long and hard over this part, I just had to share it! Not only is it absolutely hilarious, but it shows the tough love and humor that a lot of fathers have. Truthfully, this sounds kind of like something my Dad would do! He is full of surprises, especially if we have recently pulled a joke on him. Sure, he's a good sport when a joke gets pulled on him, but watch out! Overall, this passage is a perfect one for describing fathers, and my brother and I still laugh about it! 

Angel Levine w/adjectival clauses, wk. 10

 " But Bella's was bursting with strains of blues. Through the window Manischewitz recognized the dancing crowd and among them sought Levine. "..." Levine had shed his old clothes, wore a shiny new checkered suit, pearl gray derby, cigar, and big two-toned button shoes. To the tailor's dismay, a drunken gaze had settled upon Levine's formerly dignified face.
                                                                ~ from Angel Levine, by Bernard Malamud
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What!? The angel isn't an angel! I believe this piece to be the climax of the story. It is where the main character discovers that this man whom he thought was an angel sent from God isn't in fact and angel, which is absurd to him - how could he not be one? The tailor had prayed for... a deliverer of sorts, and he ended up with Levine, who was just beginning to warm up to the role of being this angel figure, sent to answer all of the tailor's prayers. Then he discovers Levine, possibly drunk, in a bar with a bunch of other men. (with a lady on his lap, and a cigar in his mouth) This just can't be! I like the emotion of this particular part of the story.