Change In The Story 'Boys And Girls'

The story “Boys and Girls” is about an eleven year old girl that is having a difficult time accepting that she is “only a girl” (148). The narrator, the unnamed girl, lives on a fox farm with her parents and younger brother, Laird. Throughout the story the narrator has a difficult time accepting that there is a difference between being a girl and a boy. She does not see that there is a difference at all because she helps her father in a boy’s role. The girl doesn’t recognize that a change is happening. She doesn’t see a difference between a boy and a girl.
The narrator reveals slight changes that she is going through but does not realize that these changes are her developing into a girl. I don’t think she realizes till the end that this has happened. When she is referred to as a girl she has a rebellious sense,
“Girls don’t slam doors like that.” “Girls keep their knees together when they sit down.” And worse still, when I asked some questions, “That none of girls’ business.” I continued to slam doors and sit as awkwardly as possible, thinking that bu such measures I kept myself free. (150).
She also shows reactions that reveal the change. When a Salesman comes to visit her father acknowledges her, “Like to have you meet my new hired man.” I turned away and raked furiously, red face with pleasure” (147). A boy would not
This excites the narrator. I think she sees herself in the way the horse acts. After the horse jumps the fence and is running around in the L field the father yells at the narrator to shut the gate. She runs to the gate and arrives before the horse gets there. She starts to close the gate and sees the horse running straight for her. Instead of shutting the gate she flings it wide open allowing the horse to escape. Knowing that the horse was going to be killed I believe that the narrator lets the horse escape to show her development into be a