Question

read the sample narrative text below. answer the guided questions after reading.
they call me “clicks”

1. i don’t actually remember how i got the scar on my face. i was pretty small at the time. i think i fell against a glass table or something. it’s not noticeable, but it’s still there. i was always a little self - conscious about it, especially when people saw when we met. and i met a lot of people because of the camera, but that’s usually how i met people. for a while, i got used to having to tell the story of how i got my scar every time i met somebody new. for a while, i got tired of having to tell the story. i got tired of people asking, “what happened?” but people thought i was socially awkward at best or a narcissistic show - off at worst. but i wasn’t. i just liked taking pictures. i didn’t remember “and moving on.” i didn’t have it in me. if they asked me to come, “what happened?” and say, “i don’t know,” i would have felt like i was lying.
2. then last year, my mom got a new job. as a result, i didn’t really fit in. i was stationed in japan. it took a while to get used to my new school. as a result, i didn’t really fit in. i didn’t have a camera from when she was up to date with fashion trends and school plays. behind a camera, i could be at school with the whole world and still feel like i was alone with the ugly scar. it was like wearing an invisible cloak. it allowed me to feel like i was part of the community. i didn’t have to explain who i was or why i was there or where my scar came from.
3. one day i was taking pictures at school, and i caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window. all i could see was my big head of curly hair and the camera where my face should be. it made me wonder. maybe the reason nobody bothered to ask me about my scar anymore wasn’t because i fit in. maybe it was because i always had a camera in front of my face. something felt wrong about that. so, i decided to give myself a test.
4. the class picnic was coming up. i decided to go but for once to leave my camera at home! without the weight of the camera around my neck, i felt exposed. i put on a ball cap, and that made me feel a little more like myself. but i could still see my face. at the picnic, i sat near kids i knew from school and i talked to some of my teachers, and that was fine. then i tried to join a game of softball. that’s when i got into trouble. jimmy, a kid from the basketball team, comes up to me and said, “dude, this game is only for kids who go to our school.” i looked around nervously? i said, “i do go to our school.” jimmy shook his head. he said, “i know everybody in our grade, and i don’t know you.” he seemed to be getting angry.
5. the girl standing next to him looked at me thoughtfully. i could tell she was running through her memory bank trying to place me.
6. “oh, yeah! you’re clicks,” the girl said.
7. “you’re the kid with the camera? the one who’s always taking pictures of the basketball games? my mom, she really loved that picture you took of me making the winning shot. nice!” he held out his fist, and i tapped it with mine.
8. a big sigh of relief escaped my lips. i had a nickname that was kind of cool. who knew? and i wasn’t going to get beat up! all this time, people had been thinking of me not as that kid with the scar but as the kid with the camera. maybe i wasn’t such an outsider after all.
9. next thing i knew, jimmy and clarice were asking me to take their picture with her phone. then we took a selfie, and clarice sent it to me. and then we all played some softball. i probably missed it, and that felt pretty good.
10. what is the significance of the scar to the narrator’s identity and social interactions?
11. how does the narrator’s perception of their scar change throughout the text?
12. in what ways does the camera serve as a metaphor for the narrator’s feelings of belonging?
13. describe the moment when the narrator sees their reflection in the window. what realization do they come to?
14. what emotions does the narrator experience when deciding to leave their camera at home for the picnic?
15. how does the interaction with jimmy at the picnic challenge the narrator’s self - image?
16. what role does clarice play in shifting the narrator’s perception from being identified by their scar to being recognized as “clicks”?
17. analyze how the narrator’s feelings of being an outsider evolve after their interaction with jimmy and clarice.
18. what does the narrator’s experience at the picnic suggest about the importance of social acceptance in adolescence?
19. reflect on the ending of the text. how does the narrator’s participation in the softball game symbolize a change in their character?

Explanation:

1. The scar was a source of self - consciousness and social awkwardness for the narrator. It influenced how they saw themselves and how they thought others saw them.
2. Initially, the narrator was self - conscious of the scar. As the story progresses, they become less focused on it, especially after positive social interactions.
3. The camera represents the narrator's attempt to fit in and be noticed in a different way. It is a tool for connection and a way to hide behind.
4. When seeing the reflection, the narrator is confronted with their self - image and questions why they are so defined by the scar.
5. The narrator experiences a mix of relief, anxiety, and a new sense of freedom when leaving the camera (and by extension, the self - consciousness related to the scar) at home.
6. Jimmy's positive interaction challenges the narrator's negative self - image. It shows that others may not see the scar as a defining characteristic.
7. Clarice helps the narrator shift their identity from being "the kid with the scar" to "Clicks" by normalizing their presence and showing interest.
8. After interacting with Jimmy and Clarice, the narrator's feelings of being an outsider diminish. They feel more accepted and part of the group.
9. The picnic experience shows that social acceptance is crucial in adolescence as it can transform one's self - perception from negative to positive.
10. Participating in the softball game symbolizes the narrator's newfound confidence and willingness to be actively involved, rather than just an observer. It represents a change from self - isolation to social integration.

Answer:

1. The scar was a symbol of self - consciousness and social awkwardness for the narrator, influencing their self - identity and social interactions.
2. The narrator's perception of the scar changes from being a source of self - consciousness to being less significant after positive social experiences.
3. The camera serves as a metaphor for the narrator's attempt to connect and hide their self - consciousness about the scar.
4. When seeing the reflection, the narrator questions their self - image defined by the scar.
5. The narrator feels a mix of relief, anxiety, and freedom when leaving the camera at home.
6. Jimmy's positive interaction challenges the narrator's negative self - image.
7. Clarice helps shift the narrator's identity by normalizing their presence.
8. The narrator's feelings of being an outsider decrease after interacting with Jimmy and Clarice.
9. The picnic shows social acceptance is important in adolescence for self - perception.
10. Participating in the softball game symbolizes the narrator's new confidence and social integration.