I Can Jump Puddles - Alan Marshall

“I Can Jump Puddle” is the story which our group selected to read. Alan Marshall wrote this story and it’s an autobiography of him. This story is the story of continuous striving until achieving the goal of him. Alan was crippled by polio. Therefor he could not ride physically but mentally his is crazy about riding. His passion to ride gets improved when Starling horse of his friend got him to practise by the help of his friend. He continually practises with that horse at the lunch break of school. While he practises he happened to fall down two times. First time he severely got injured but the strength of his heart and supports of friends uplifted him again. Finally he became skilled rider then one day he went home with this Starling to prove that he is able to ride, though father had said him “you cannot ride any more”. Parents were got impression and appreciated his heroic achieving when he did ride with Starling up to home. Alan rides back to school, parents look at him with full of happiness.

Comments on Story

Shampa and I have reviewed the story together. I write some comments articulated at the time of review.

·         Alan’s father really was encouraging to ride as he says “i wanted you to be able to ride”. He was creating a mind of competition or adventure in Alan’s mind when he told him that he could never ride but he could walk again. And he tells “i want you to be able to ride”. This comment of father really shows his intention was to enable Alan to take adventure. And father’s cunning was successful. Because Alan determined to take over the challenges he faces to ride. Alan also rightly says “I had mind up my mind to ride”

·         I love Alan’s realizing the characters of people. He describes “Bob would come running down full of excitement, announcing an accident to the world” whereas he say “Joe would be running silently with my crutches, his mind busy on how to keep it quiet”

·         This story tells us that friends are very important in the development of a person. Alan overcame his disability by the help and support of his friends. Moreover his friend, Bob appreciated him when he came back with horse riding first time after his polio. Alan describes it “Bob lifted me off, How did he go he asked? Good i said. I will take him down again tomorrow” and Joe always encouraged him even when he fell down ground and injured and he keeps helping until Alan overcomes his disabilities.

·         “His flesh was firm and he was strong and fleet and had a great heart. I suddenly loved him with a passion and a fierce hunger”. These words of Alan tell us that he loved this Starling is not only because his beauty but of course as he said it was because of strength of the horse.