2018 - November 19 -- Monday --- 07:00am ---- [PST]
[The Story] Friendly Familial Functions
"You can understand him better than I can![1]" If "The Story" is a broad commentary on the grime and glitter of reality, then how do we comment on factors closest to us: our families? Trishna has two distant families outside her own at the Lanchester Farm: maternal relatives in Direland and paternal relatives in Sindia. When John joins Trishna's family to visit Trishna's Sindian relatives, Trishna worries he'll be excluded, until he has socializing breakfasts.
Spoilers?: Minor (characterization through socialization)
John chats frequently with Trishna's Uncle Gopal.
Gopal and John are both early-risers, so when John wakes up on his first morning in Trishna's Sindian family house, they'll chat over coffee until everyone else wakes up. Gopal has a thick accent so it's tough for John to keep track and understand him fully, but Gopal doesn't mind, because he accidentally repeats himself frequently and randomly.
John enjoys learning to understand his new uncle's accent.
When Trishna wakes up and sees them talking, that's when she'll say that leading quote. The three of them will sit and chat for a good portion of the early morning, even as more of the family wake and filter into the dining room or kitchenette area. They'll continue the conversation after a more formal breakfast to welcome their guests.
John quickly acclimatizes to his newly-adopted family.
Trishna and John will talk later about his general impressions, and Trishna says that she was worried he wouldn't fit in. John says that he was a little nervous on both the plane ride over and before meeting the family, but talking with Gopal and accepting his warm hospitality helped him feel warm and welcome.
"I'm glad you're getting along well. I was worried![1]"
The family that invites you into their house, out to their favorite restaurants, or share their time with you when you're in from out of town are the best. It's that sense of hospitality and acceptance of your faults that make families work. They may complain amongst themselves or talk excessively, but overall they'll care for their own.
That should be the same for any good family in general.
John is used to feeling judged over his physical impairment and was outcast growing up. Once he showed that he's not rude, they quickly accepted him into the family. The only thing that might be difficult for him is that this family, like some including my own, have a tendency to talk excessively. I use the phrase "talking in paragraphs."
It can be difficult to listen when you're used to having more of a dialogue.
Trishna's family are more of the excessively talkative types. Based on his growing up without a nurturing environment, John will be more than happy to learn to shift gears and let everyone else talk first. He might initially feel weirded out, but I'm sure he'll realize a balance.
Once John remembers that he's lucky to have a family- flaws and all.
Quotes: [1] Family member.
Sources: The Story's Imaginarium.
Inspirations: Second part of a series of essays and writings I did while on vacation to visit family.
Related: Essays building "The Story."
Picture: Generic picture to save time.
Written On: October 2nd [2 hours]
Last Edited: November 1st [2 hours] – I nearly had to re-write this whole thing! This was one of those examples that happen sometimes when I'm writing, where I find a thread in one of the sentences has gone undone, and when I fix that, the paragraph falls apart, then the surrounding paragraphs also fall apart, then by the time you know it, I'm re-writing [or scrapping] the whole thing.
The Characters, The Story, The Week to Sindia Arc
John, Sindia, The Lanchester Farm, The Story, The Week to Sindia, Trishna, Trishna's Uncle Gopal, Trishna's Uncle Gopal Mishra
[Sober Living] Culturally Innocent Crutch
[Sammohini Arc] Remember Your Name