Flying Lessons & Other Stories

The theme of Love and Support in Unexpected or Unconventional Forms is woven throughout Flying Lessons and Other Stories. Each protagonist in this anthology faces challenges or situations that seem untenable. However, some of these characters find the assistance they need in unlikely ways or from unexpected sources.

In several cases, parents and other role models who initially appear unsupportive are later revealed to have unconventional or nonverbal ways of showing their support. In “How to Transform…,” the narrator has two role models—his father and Dante, the star pickup basketball player—who say very little. The narrator struggles with his father’s silence and expects more verbal guidance from Dante, but ultimately realizes that words are not always the support he needs. Reflecting on the summer, the narrator recognizes “the power of […] silence” and that “maybe words aren’t what’s important” (19-20). Although language can be powerful, sometimes mere physical presence or the space to make one’s own decisions can be beneficial too. Similarly, Chris and his father in “Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push” communicate rarely at home, but the boy recognizes that this is okay because their connection on the basketball court is where they complement each other best.