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READ THIS
This is a simple but meaningful story of two people who meet up at a hospital.
One is an elderly man suffering from emphysema who needs looking after. The other is a young but
simple woman who has been rejected by her family.
They decide to help each other.
READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE:
There was something strange about the figure of the young man before him in the queue of seats. His
small dark cropped head was turned away and his stocky tweed-jacketed body leaned out twisted at the
waist so that their owner could look along the row of waiting patients. Donald glanced down at heavy
brogues and navy blue trousers and a smooth white hand with tapering fingers standing out against the
blue of the knee of the trousers.
As if feeling the curious stare, the young man leaned back and turned to look at him. Startled by the
unexpectedly diminutive features, Donald exclaimed, "Why, you're a woman! Why do you dress like that?"
"I walk," she answered evenly, "I walk all over the place and at night. Nobody gives me any trouble
dressed like this."
"Oh," he said, embarrassed by the grossness of his question, and, wanting safer ground, added gruffly,
"Why are you here? You look healthy enough."
"I had 'flu and they said I should come back next week. They don't like it if you don't keep appointments.
Why are you here?"
The habit of keeping his condition to himself was strong. "A spot of chest trouble." Pale blue eyes set in
an unlined face continued to look steadily into his own. Anxious to avoid another question, he went on
hurriedly, "I was thinking how good it would be to get away from the city, to live in a caravan somewhere
where there are trees and hills and perhaps a stream nearby." He gave a short laugh, "Back to nature,
you know."
"Yes, I know. I walk to the green places. I've seen the sun come up at Zoo Lake."
Her answer took him seriously and affirmed his desire. He began to play aloud with possibilities.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
Why does the author keep the identity of the girl hidden? (2)
[Need help?]
The author wants to keep the reader in suspense by making us believe he is describing a male.
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Why is the girl never given a name? (2)
[Need help?]
The story is kept as simple as possible. Although the man has a name, the woman does not.
Furthermore, her name is unimportant. It is the plot of the story which is important.
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Why does the girl dress like a man? (2)
[Need help?]
She likes to go for walks after dark or in the early hours of the morning.
This is dangerous for a woman, so she dresses like a man and keeps her hair cut short so she will not
be recognised as a woman but rather that people will think she is a man.
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What is Donald's dream for the rest of his life? Why can he not fulfill this dream? (4)
[Need help?]
Donald would like to spend the rest of his life in a tranquil place in the country, away from the city's
pollution.
He cannot fulfill his dream because he would have to walk to town to collect his pension but the dust of
the country roads would affect his emphysema.
Back when this story was written, few country roads were tarred.
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Why does the girl's family reject her? (2)
[Need help?]
The girl is mentally simple and odd in her ways. Presumably her siblings find her ways irritating.
They are certainly embarrassed to have her around when they have guests.
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Donald and the girl quickly reach a mutual decision.
- What is this decision? (4)
[Need help?]
The decision reached is that they will both move into the country. She will look after him and collect his
pension.
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- How does this decision benefit both of them? (4)
[Need help?]
The decision is mutually beneficial in the following ways:
- Donald will have someone to care for him and collect his pension which means he will not have to walk
along those dusty roads;
- the girl will have a home to go to, and somebody to care for who does not mind her simple
mind.
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- Why does the girl want to live with Donald? (2)
[Need help?]
Donald is old and does not present a physical or sexual threat to her.
At the same time, he will provide her with a place she can call home, and somebody she can care for. He
will become a father to her.
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The story is called "Simplicity".
- Is this a good title for this story? (4)
[Need help?]
"Simplicity" is indeed a good title.
- Both Donald and the girl are simple people.
- The girl herself is mentally simple.
- Their solution is also a very simple one which will nevertheless mutually benefit both their lives.
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