Going Places_A R Barton_Idea_Summary_hia

Going Places 

Introduction : ‘Going Places’- a short story is  written by A.R. Barton. He emphasizes the teenager’s dreams and their mind set. He says that adolescent period propagates fantasy and leads to a dreamy  world. In this age, they tranquilizes their  role model and  worships them as their hero.

Main Characters

Jansie : Jansie belonged to a middle class family. She was a sensible and a practical girl. She did not have high ambitions in life as she is aware of the realities of her life. She does not believe in fantasies, unlike Sophie. She already knew that she has to work in a biscuit factory after completing school.
Geoff :  Geoff was a soft-spoken person and an introvert. He preferred to live in reality and was very  hardworking.
Sophie :  Sophie was an outspoken and a daydreamer. She had various dreams and fantasies. She refused to accept the realities of life. Belonging to a middle class family, her fantasies were very far away from her reach.

Summary

Sophie is a school girl who wants to own a boutique after her school. She is  from a lower-middle class family. To reach her goal, she wishes to be an actress or a fashion designer. Her friend Jansie tells her that a huge money and experience are required for such dreams. Jansie practically believes that they are earmarked to work in a biscuit factory due to their family status. Sophie lives in  very small house with her father, mother, little Derek and her elder  brother Geoff. Her family members do not believe her stories as she is a daydreamer. Geoff is a strong, handsome,tall and introvert, who does not  share his life with anyone. Sophie likes him most and also jealous of his silence.

Sophie is fascinated by Danny Casey who is a famous  Irish football player. She tells her brother about close meeting with him at the arcade. Geoff does not believe her as he knows her a daydreamer.  But she again  tells that Danny Casey has promised to meet her once again some other place.

Sophie continues to develop the story within herself such a way that she is unable to recognise the reality and the fantasy. She walks on her neighbourhood path where she grew playing in her childhood. She waits for long time on the wooden bench under the elm tree for Danny Casey but he never comes. She then goes back home unhappily, not because Danny Casey did not come, but her family will prove her wrong or false. Unfortunately, she never gets rid of her fantasy and believes that certainly Danny Casey will  meet her again.