One of the themes presented in this
story is relationships. The main character, who is
in fact the narrator, has had a great relationship
with her grandmother. When her grandmother was healthy
and somewhat younger, the two of them would into Chinatown
and go shopping at various stands and shops. Everyone
would smile and talk very loud, hence the title of
the story. The little girl was always so happy. Now,
her grandmother is sick and the main character is
forced to take care of her bed ridden once prosperous
friend.
Her
relationship with her parents is completely opposite.
They are always making her do chores, take care of
her grandmother and don’t feel that their daughter
should see Todd, the girl’s boyfriend because he is
white. Whenever she goes out on a date with him, they
always come home late and her parents wait for her
on the porch and scold her disobeying them.
Generational differences are very
present throughout the course of the story. The eldest
members of the family are considered to be the wisest
and should be highly respected and taken care of when
sick. Children are to be polite and respect what their
elders (parents, grandparents) say. The oldest members
see everyday and to be healthy as a privilege, while
the children seem to take life for granted. They don’t
realize how lucky they are not to be in a war that
their grandparents and/or parents had to fight in.
As they mature; they will learn to appreciate the
smaller things in life, such as food, a roof over
their heads and the company of their family and friends
to share stories with.
