1. The Red Ball
By Ismith Khan

2. Main Points Bolan - a fish out of water
Tunapuna - where he really belonged
Woodford Square - a place of safety
Cricket - gives him power and success
A secret world - Bolan’s fantasy
His father - a broken, depressed man
His mother - looks after Bolan
Poverty - it all comes down to money

3. Bolan A fish out of water: Quiet and incommunicative:
“Tunapuna boy from the sugarcane fields”
Quiet and incommunicative:
“jerked his shoulders up and down in an indefinite gesture”
In tune with nature:
“like a small animal scenting the wind with his nostrils”

4. Tunapuna His mind escapes: His memory is triggered:
“his mind did…run away to the smells and sounds of Tunapuna.”
His memory is triggered:
“…he felt as though he were back in Tunapuna, before they moved.”
Happy days (contrast):
“…Tunapuna, where a nip of rum meant that it was a holiday or a celebration and there was laughter all around.”
whereas now his father “gargled the rum as though he were rinsing out his mouth”

5. Woodford Square A haven/cocoon of safety: The fountain: The statues:
“a strange brooding quiet, not of loneliness…”
“the only place in the city…where people were not chasing him down.”
The fountain:
“…he sat in the fountain with his long legs dangling in the water, the spray falling on his face…”
The statues:
“…he held his cheek close to the small breast of one of the smiling women…and she seemed to smile.”

6. Cricket Success and power: Happiness and excitement:
“the touch of this [ball], its rough texture between his fingers, its very colour, gave him a feeling of power”
“The boy was to be their star bowler from now.”
Happiness and excitement:
“…a wide smile on his face such as they had never seen before”
“He began running towards them, filled with an excitement such as he had never felt before.”
Sense of belonging:
“The boy was pleased beyond words that they had not started the game without him.”

7. A Secret World School: Fireflies: Family Tension:
“the teacher had pierced deep into him and discovered a secret he kept from everyone else.”
Fireflies:
“he his his phial of fireflies under the straw mat on which he slept”
Family Tension:
“…he had felt suddenly released from [that feeling], now it was upon him again, clinging to his eyebrows and eyelashes like…invisible cobwebs.”

8. His Father His smell: Exhausted: Depressed and anxious:
“cut grass…cigarettes…and rum”
Exhausted:
“…he stretched his limbs with a sigh of relief and tiredness”
“I too tired to argue with you”
Depressed and anxious:
“He let his hair grow on his head and face unless they were going to Tunapuna”
“…he would press his jaw together and make a terrible grimace, then swallow hard before he spoke again.”
“…his eyeballs were dancing in a frenzy under his closed eyelids.”

9. His Mother Protects Bolan physically: Protects Bolan emotionally
“he felt as if he had held his mother in front of him as a sort of shield to save himself from a rain of blows.”
“She…mixed some salt in a cup of water and made him drink it down…”
Protects Bolan emotionally
“‘…he is not a thief, he just take the money to buy something’”
“‘…you done and kill the half of this boy that is you half’”
Understands Bolan (and empathises):
“When she saw the ball, she knew that they had finally asked him to play”

10. Poverty Physical deprivation: Father’s loss of dignity:
“…the kerosene lamp” and “…the straw mat on which he slept”
the “ajoupa hut” and “two cows” they left behind
“…the straight pin which kept his shirt front closed”
“…used tennis balls which…had lost their bounce and elasticity”
Father’s loss of dignity:
“‘It look as if everything goin’ up since we come to live in town.’”
“‘…so I could go and do the white people work tomorrow…”
Lack of savings:
“…she too felt that there should be more in the cigarette tin”