Personal Response

 Personal Response

About Bok Choy By Paul Mason

In the first scene where Jacob and his mother were stacking firewood, AhSum came along with vegetables that he gave out to each door.  When Mrs Bishop shouted out “I don’t know how you can eat that muck”.  She came out from her house that was next door to Jacob’s to beat their carpet, she started to talk like AhSum wasn’t standing right there. In this first scene you can see that Mrs Bishop is very racist and is very judgemental.

 Jacob’s mother responded to Mrs Bishop saying “It’s called Bok Choy”, while she was giving AhSum some money. When William sneered at Jacob, Jacob felt embarrassed for liking Bok Choy, and he started to say that he didn’t like it, so he doesn’t sound like a loser or something. Jacob could feel his negative energy as he walked away to do some fishing.  In this scene that I’ve read so far, is that Mrs Bishop is racist and that her son is as well. 

From AhSums point of view, is that he felt embarrassed when Mrs Bishop was speaking bad about him and Bok Choy, and started saying those stuff acting like AhSum wasn’t standing right in front of her, when she knew exactly that he was there. But when Jacob’s mother started giving him money, while saying “It’s called Bok Choy”, with a smile along her face. 

In the second scene where Jacob went fishing, it only took a moment for him to get stolen by the river. As his worn-out boot slipped on the rock, which made him fall into the river. He was up to his waist in the rushing water. The current kept tugging and swirling. Jacob suddenly was swiftly dragged away into the middle, where turquoise turned to deep blue. In that moment Jacob was probably scared for his life, as his arms failed his arms, when he tried to stand back up, finally, he flipped onto his back while his feet were pointing to the bottom of the river.  In my point of view coming from this paragraph in the story is that he was very nervous and his heart was racing very fast.

When Jacob awoken in the next scene, he was in a darkened hut. Jacob forced his eyes open. In the gloom, he could see a man hunched in the doorway, tending a fire that was more smoke then flame. Jacob tried to sit up, groaning a little. The man turned and pressed him down, pulling the covers up to his neck. Now Jacob recognised AhSum.  “Rest, Rest” AhSum said with a gentle smile. “My mother?” “Mother come soon,” said AhSum. He busied himself over the fire, then gave Jacob a mug of something hot. AhSum supported the boy's head with his hand, while Jacob took little sips, the warmth flooding his chest. “Walking home, I see you in water, on rocks.” Ah Sum clicked his tongue. “You are a lucky boy.” 

  “I slipped,” Jacob said softly. AhSum nodded. Jacob started to look around the hut. Smoke clung to it’s low roof. Wooden boxes and sacks lined the stone walls. His own wet clothes - and more things besides - were draped over a rack that hung from the ceiling.  AhSum offered him a dish of rice, and Jacob declined.

From what I’ve written from the story is that he feels safe and is not that scared. He also feels comfortable around AhSum. But he didn’t feel hungry when AhSum gave him some rice but he declined. 

After a while his mother came to AhSum hut. Jacob’s mother seemed nervous at first when she walked into the doorway of AhSums hut.  “Are you alright?” she said.  She put her hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “What’s all this about falling into the water?”.  “AhSum rescued me,” said Jacob.  Mother stood up and shook AhSums hand. “How can I thank you?” she said.

AhSum just smiled. Mother noticed Jacob’s clothes hanging from the ceiling and brought them down.  “Can you walk?” she asked him. “Let’s get you home to bed.” 

In this paragraph that I just wrote out is that Jacob is feeling safe and not scared anymore. And is comfortable around AhSum.

Mother turned to the old man. “Come by the house tomorrow. I’d like to fix you up.”  AhSum shook his head “No money” he said “No problem.” 

“I insist,” said Mother. Jacob and his mother walked back home, through the Chinese village, which was little more than a handful of low huts clinging together in the shadow of the hill. A few old men worked in their vegetable patches; others sat outside their out huts, nodding as the boy and her mother passed by.  Jacob rubbed at the bruise on his head, his clothes were damp and cold. 

From this paragraph he felt cold and damp, when he was walking down the street. And he probably didn’t feel nice walking down the street in his damp/ wet clothes. 

They spotted Mrs Bishop. Mrs Bishop said “I hope you’re not cooking that foul cabbage tonight, wrinkling her nose.  “It’s called Bok Choy,” said mother quietly, taking Jacob’s hand and leading him into their cottage.

From this scene, Mrs Bishop sounded racist about Chinese people. And always speaks bad about Bok Choy, when what she said wasn’t needed to hear.