Page 79

Think as you read

Q1. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?
Answer: It was most likely that the two girls would find work at the biscuit factory.

Q2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?
Answer: Sophie was dreaming of having a boutique, becoming a manager, an actress, or a fashion designer. Jansie discourages her because she is a realist and knows they are “earmarked for the biscuit factory.” Such dreams need money, which they don’t have, and Sophie’s father would not approve of low-paying shop jobs.

Page 81

Think as you read

Q1. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?
Answer: Sophie wriggled because she was embarrassed. Her father’s expression showed disdain, and she knew he would not believe her, leading to trouble.

Q2. Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Answer: No, Geoff does not believe Sophie. He says, “It’s never true” and “I don’t believe it,” though he plays along because he loves her.

Q3. Does her father believe her story?
Answer: No, her father does not believe her. He grunts, mutters, and dismisses it as “another of your wild stories.”

Q4. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?
Answer: Sophie imagines Geoff riding a motorcycle in black leathers with her behind in a yellow dress with a cape, both admired by the world around them.

Q5. Which country did Danny Casey play for?
Answer: Danny Casey played for Ireland.

Page 85

Think as you read

Q1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?
Answer: Sophie didn’t want Jansie to know because it was a “Geoff thing not a Jansie thing.” Jansie was nosy, and Sophie feared the whole neighbourhood would hear of it.

Q2. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?
Answer: No, Sophie never really met Danny Casey. It was all her imagination and fantasy.

Q3. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?
Answer: The only occasion was when her family went to watch United play, where she saw him score the second goal.

Understanding the text

Q1. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?
Answer: Sophie was a dreamer with wild fantasies of becoming rich and famous. Jansie was a realist, practical, and grounded, aware they were destined for the biscuit factory.

Q2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?
Answer: Sophie’s father was hardworking, realistic, cynical, and gruff. He disliked her wild fantasies, was tired from labour, and cared more about survival than dreams.

Q3. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?
Answer: Sophie liked Geoff most because he understood her more than anyone else. His silence symbolised mystery, adventure, and the vast unknown world outside her reach.

Q4. What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?
Answer: Sophie belonged to a poor, working-class family. Indicators: her father was a labourer, the house was small and cluttered, they were destined for the biscuit factory, and they lived a modest, struggling life.

Talking about the text

1. Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.
Answer: Yes, Sophie’s dreams were fantasies, and her disappointments were due to reality not matching them. Her imagined meeting with Danny Casey and her boutique dreams never happened.

2. It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. What are the benefits and disadvantages of such fantasising?
Answer: Benefits: motivation, hope, exploring identity, and escape from harsh reality. Disadvantages: disappointment, disconnect from reality, and inability to cope with real-life challenges.

Working with words

Expressions (non-literal meanings):

• Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of a ground. → Geoff spoke very little; it was hard to make him talk.
• Sophie felt a tightening in her throat. → She felt nervous and anxious.
• If he keeps his head on his shoulders. → If he remains sensible and practical.
• On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to the United. → Going to watch football was like a ritual, almost religious.
• She saw… him ghost past the lumbering defenders. → He moved swiftly, gracefully, as if invisible.

Noticing form

Five sentences with present participles:

1. He was kneeling on the floor… tinkering with a part of his motorcycle.
2. He wore new, shining black leathers…
3. The table lamp cast an amber glow… spreading across the wall.
4. Coming through the arcade she pictured him again outside Royce’s.
5. She sat there, waiting, measuring in this way the changes taking place in her.

Thinking about language

Colloquial words list:

1. Lousy
2. Shoddy
3. Miffed
4. Quirky
5. Gobsmacked
6. Barmy
7. Topping
8. Yucky
9. Dodgy
10. Chuffed

Writing

Interview questions for J.K. Rowling (role-model):

1. How did your personal struggles influence the themes in Harry Potter?
2. What advice do you have for aspiring world-builders?
3. How do you overcome writer’s block and pressure of success?
4. How do you choose causes for philanthropy?
5. One piece of advice to your younger self?
6. What is the biggest misconception about you?
7. Do you plan everything in advance or write spontaneously?
8. How important is failure in a writer’s journey?

Things to do

Other stories/movies with theme of hero-worship/fantasising:

• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• Billy Elliot
• Billy Madison
• Almost Famous
• Little Miss Sunshine
• Bend It Like Beckham