Chapter 4
FLIGHTS OF FANCY
1. What was the tradition followed in the small Texas school?
Answer: The tradition in the small Texas school was to award a beautiful gold and green scholarship jacket to the class valedictorian—the student who had maintained the highest grades for eight years—during the eighth-grade graduation ceremony.
2. What do you think the letter S on the Jacket represent!
Answer: The letter 'S' on the jacket most likely represents the word "Scholarship," as it was called the Scholarship Jacket and awarded for academic excellence.
3. This one, the Scholarship Jacket, was our only chance. Why does Martha say so?
Answer: Martha says, "This one, the Scholarship Jacket, was our only chance," because she and her family were very poor and couldn't afford the expenses required to participate in sports—such as registration fees, uniforms, or travel costs. Since sports jackets were only given to athletes, and she couldn't join any teams, the Scholarship Jacket, awarded purely for academic excellence, was the only opportunity she had to earn recognition at school. It was her only chance to feel proud and be honored like other students.
4. How does Martha describe herself?
Answer: Martha describes herself as pencil thin, without any curves, and says she looked like a beanpole or string bean. She felt self-conscious about her skinny appearance and thought there wasn't much to admire in her looks as a fourteen-year-old.
5. What were Martha's teachers arguing about?
Answer: Martha's teachers were arguing about whether she should be awarded the Scholarship Jacket. One teacher believed she deserved it because she had the highest grades and had earned it through hard work. The other teacher argued that the jacket should go to another student whose family was influential and could afford to pay for it, showing favoritism over fairness.
6. Why was Mr. Boone arguing in Joann's favour?
Answer: Mr. Boone was arguing in Joann’s favour because he wanted her to receive the scholarship jacket instead of Martha, despite Martha having the highest grades. This was likely influenced by Joann’s family status or connections, suggesting partiality.
7. “It seemed a cruel coincidence” – Why did Martha say so?
Answer: Martha said this because it felt unfair that she accidentally overheard the conversation where her teachers were discussing giving the scholarship jacket to Joann instead of her, despite her hard work and deserving it. The situation added to her sadness and sense of injustice.
8. Why was the principal uncomfortable and unhappy?
Answer: The principal was uncomfortable and unhappy because he had to inform Martha of the new policy requiring a payment for the scholarship jacket, knowing well that her family could not afford it. He was aware that the decision was unfair and would hurt her.
9. Why was Martha shocked?
Answer: Martha was shocked because the scholarship jacket, which had always been given free to the top student, now suddenly required a payment of fifteen dollars. This unexpected change threatened her only chance of receiving a symbol of her academic achievement.
