Literature: how a character has changed due to certain events that have taken place

   The novel that I have learned is “Step By Wicked Step” by Anne Fine. In this story, five curious children who was on a trip stumbled upon Richard Harwick’s diary. His sad story prompted them to share their own. And  from there, they not only know each other better, but also discovered that they have many similarities.

   

   Based on the novel, Colin is a character who had changed due to certain events that have taken place in his life. After both him and his mother moved away, left his father, Colin changed into a very unhappy and lonely boy. He had to join a new school when they moved out of their home. “I had to start at another school, where everyone had friends already.” In school, he had to go through unpleasant experiences, got ignored as the students there already had their own friends. “nobody bothered with me, except to snigger when I didn’t understand all the stuff they’d been doing.” To make matters worse, he had no one to confide to his mother who was always busy with her job at the canteen  and with her household chores and had no time to listen to his problems. “Then mum found this job at the canteen and when she comes home she is always too busy doing things to listen to anything I said.” Thus, as a result of not being able to talk to anyone about his unhappiness, he grew unhappy and lonely.

  

   Besides, Colin became a dreamy boy which caused him to have less focus in class and did badly in school. “I started getting trouble at school for being half asleep.” This was because, he missed his dad very much. “I think of him every single day.” Every night, he would take his father’s tobacco tin out of the toe of his boat and put it under his pillow. “Each night, I took the tobacco tin out of the toe of my boot and put it under my pillow. He did this to remind himself of his father. Also, he would hum their favourite song and stay awake talking for hours to his dad. “Then very softly, so Mum wouldn’t hear, I’d hum our favourite song. I’d stay awake for hours, talking to him, although he wasn’t there.” Not seeing his father had caused much heartache to him as such he lose focus in his studies.

   

   Not only that, after moving away from his father, Colin became resourceful. Colin remembered exactly how long was it since he last saw his dad. “Five years, eight months and seven days” He too secretely writes his dad’s name and his old address on school forms. “I always secretely sneak his name and our old address on all forms that Mum’s filled in for the school, to show he still matter and he’s still my dad” To search for his dad, he saved money and even did paper rounds to earn more money. “I keep practically every penny that comes my way. I even do three paper rounds. As soon as I’m tall enough, I’m off.” His meticulous planning shows that he is indeed resourceful and determined to find his father.

   

   In conclusion, his encounter had caused much changes in his life. At first, Colin responded negatively to it and he was often depressed. Then, he managed to channel his energy to do something worthy and that is to search for his father. His newfound goal and longing for his father motivated him to become optimistic, resourceful and patient in his  mission.