Wide reading#3-Big brother,little sister

Tittle: Big Brother, little sister

Author: Witi Ihimaera

Text type: Short story

March 2019

This short story is about Hema and his little sister Janey running away to Gisborne to escape from the mother(Wiki) and her new man(uncle Pera). This story follows them on their path to the railway station.

Within this short story, I found the characters Hema and Wiki very interesting. I found Hema interesting because of the way he acted in the situations, how he just always wanted the best for his mother “mum was too busy enjoying herself. As long as she was happy, Hema was too.” Even when she didn’t necessarily want the best for her son “you’re good kids, she’d whispered. too good for a rotten thing like me. I’m sorry”. I feel as though I can relate to that with my mother I feel like I have been in kind of the same situation with just wanting the best for them when they don’t really want the best for you. This relates back to selfishness which is a really big thing in the society now. Where you put yourself before others, which Wiki is doing going out partying, drinking and leaving Hema to look after little Janey ” we’re having a party tonight, Hema. Look after your sister.” It just intrigues me how she can just start to push her own children away from her for a man, a man the doesn’t really care about her. “when uncle Pera had come to stay mum began pushing hema and Janey away from her”.

From this short story, I believe that the author was trying to get the message that not every family is the same, that you don’t always know what is going on in someone’s life. As Hema and Janey faced in this short story. Every families situations are different but what Hema and Janey were going through with their family situation is actually very common in New Zealand, and society today. There are a lot of parents that neglect their children due to drinking and other things “she did not come to her son. She did not….”. I believe that the author was quite successful with portraying the message through this short story while reading it, it really made you think about it, finding ways to actually relate. I felt like I really related to the part where you don’t know what’s going on in someone’s life because when I was having a rough time at home I’d still come to school smiling so no one ever knew what was going on. Reading this really makes you think have others gone through this stuff or something similar, what’s their situation?. It makes u really feel remorse for the people that have.

During the story, Hema and Janey had a lot of challenges. From not having a lot of money. “we’ve only got money enough for one ticket, he answered”. Their family being on the poor side of the social status,. Which is the same for a lot of people in New Zealand not everyone has heaps of money so just have to survive on the basics some can’t even afford the basics? Hema and Janey also have the struggle of not having a happy family life. I feel very deeply for Hema and Janey in this story as I feel like this story was very similar to my early stages of life with the parents just leaving you to fend for yourself while they go out and have fun. Even through all these challenges Hema and Janey always had each others backs, they made sure that they took care of each other, the brother and sister bond. I don’t have a brother but I do have an older sister which I felt like my sister and I had a very similar bond to Hema and Janey as I always looked up to my sister I relied on her when our parents weren’t there.

I think that the title of this short story was appropriate because this story is following a big brother and a little sister through their challenges and how they faced them. Which was running away to Gisborne ” he’d previously planned to make for the railway station and get a ticket for Gisborne”. the story just followed them on their way there. when you first hear the title of the text, big brother, little sister you don’t really expect the story to be about them running away, so it surprises you when you start reading. But the surprise is interesting so keeps you reading the story.

I think if I was to recommend this short story to someone it would have to be probably people that live in a more privileged home/ have a more privileged lifestyle. From reading this you can really get intel on what it’s like to not have as much money ” we havent got enough money Hemma said” and how hard it is living like this. It is very common in New Zealand and all over the world, child neglect and living with just the basics. Not living a luxury, extravagant lifestyle. So I really believe this story gives them intel on the other side of things.

I really enjoyed this story I really felt as though I related it in many ways with the sibling bond, the parents going out and just leaving you by yourself. It really makes me feel for my older sister, her having to look after me at such a young age. it also makes me feel for my friends that have been through something like this. at first, you can’t really believe that something like this is happening in New Zealand, the country I live in but it is, and its still happening to this day.