Author’s Note~ This essay is analyzing a quote from the book “Rules of the Road”. I am describing the meaning of the quote and why it is so important.
Has there ever been a time in your life when nothing feels simple? Everything that you know is just frustrating and you don’t want to have to deal with having to be the bigger person. In the book "Rules of the Road" by Joan Bauer, we meet a young sixteen year old girl named Jenna. She is a shy girl who doesn't speak for herself. That is, until she gets sent on a road trip with her boss Mrs. Gladstone. Both of these ladies go around the country visiting all of the Gladstone shoe stores. At one point Jenna says, “I think Texas makes you think about things in a bigger way or I've never been anywhere that changed me so much." That’s when Jenna becomes proud of the person she is.
These confident words were spoken from our now not-so-shy Jenna after she spent the last three months on the road experiencing a change in the way she sees things. Everything is seen in a different perspective since she has been gone. For Example she has now had to become the customer at the stores they had visited so now she knows what it’s like to see thing from the buyer’s perspective. Also she must now be her own person and grow up a little bit. She has to handle things in a more adult way, since she doesn’t have anyone else to rely on. Of course she had Mrs. Gladstone around to keep her company so she doesn't feel so lonely. Yet she has a lot of responsibility making sure Mrs. Gladstone gets to her locations safe and sound. That's a lot a young lady must deal with.
Throughout their long journey Jenna was able to grow fond of her new companion Mrs. Gladstone. They went through a lot together. She helped Jenna see her life in a different way. With stories of when she was younger. She told Jenna "because you remind me of myself when I was a young girl." This proves their bond.
Jenna’s words about Texas were for Mrs. Gladstone. This was Jenna thanking her for all she has done. She wasn’t thrilled at first, yet she wanted the money. Then she realized it wasn’t so bad. Who would have thought that a 16 year old girl with a messed up family would get along so well with a rich snobby person who owns a bunch of shoe store all over the country. This journey with this woman really taught her a lot about life. Also she learned it is better to speak up then not speak at all.
In conclusion Jenna has learned to love the person she is. She might not be the pretty sister but she has a beaming personality and she is a wonderful shoe saleswoman. She is respectful, and caring. When she says at the end of this book, “I've never been anywhere that changed me so much," you can really tell how much she cares. Also you can tell how confident and proud she is.
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