Go Ask Alice--Blog 4

Things in the book are still just as changing and drastic as they were in the beginning of the novel. For instance, there has been another death in her life. Gran died soon after her husband's death. She was kind of part of the reason the narrator was trying to stay drug free, so it's sad that she is no longer with her. Also, her opinions on death are still the same. She is scared of it because she doesn't want maggots and worms to crawl inside her and eat her. This fear drives her into a clinic later in the reading. She was babysitting Mrs. Larsen's baby when all of a sudden she found herself in a hospital, almost bandages completely from head to waist. Turns out, she ate a chocolate covered nut that had acid on it. It turns out Jan actually planted the drugs. This rapid onset of acid caused the narrator to feel as if maggots were eating her, and as things led on, she ended up in the hospital with major injuries. After this experience, they decided to put the narrator in a youth clinic. I think this will help the narrator realize what drugs have done to her life and help keep her on the straight path, but I also know, from what we've read thus far that the clinic is awfully painful for the narrator to be in. Throughout the reading, all of the stoners have been mean to the narrator. All of this bullying and peer pressure I'm afraid is going to run her down the bad path once again, which will unfortunately lead to her ultimate downfall. In the clinic, however, she meets a girl with almost as messed up life as she has. Her name is Babbie and they become quick friends. After hearing Babbie's life story and about how she ended up here, the narrator feels for her. I would think all of her compassion towards others who have lived a life of drugs would influence her perception on using drugs. Things continue to worsen in the clinic, which I know will eventually lead to her downfall. All I have to say is... poor narrator. I know we should realize all of the mistakes we have seen her make throughout the novel, but I still feel for her. Yes, she has definitely made some bad decisions, but that doesn't mean she is a bad person, and like she even admits, "After you've had it, there isn't even life without drugs..." This quote seems to be the premise of the plot of this girl's life story.