they were looking for a bright gal. That’s me, a bright gal. Ha-ha-ha.” Parent, 1971: 24
All of the agencies which Sheila visits has not attractive Sheila. She does
not take any job from her interview because all of the agencies are looking for a woman who can type and Sheila does not like typing. She thinks that typing is not
a match job for her and that is totally not a creative job. Then, she gets another job from Rose Lehman’s sister. Sheila works in children’s record business which Frank
Holand is the owner of the company. So I got my job thro
ugh Rose Lehman’s sister. She was friendly with a man called Danny Hirshfield, who lived next door to a man called Herman Nash,
whose brother-in- law, Frank Holland, was in the children’s record business.
Rose’s sister swore to me that I wouldn’t have to type... Parent, 1972: 27- 28
At the end, Sheila chooses the job which she hates most. It is teaching. Her
mother has already told that teaching is a perfect job for Sheila. Her mother thinks that teaching is a job where Sheila does not have to spend all of her time in office.
When the student has a vacation then the teacher also has a vacation. That is the reason Sheila chooses this job because it is the right job for woman. This job has
some benefits for woman. Sheila has a good salary, holiday on Chirstmast and Easter and vacations on summer.
.....I went into teaching, like Mama always wanted. It was like becoming a nun. I didn’t make it in the real world, so I went into teaching. Through
about pensions and everything. I taught seventh-grade English on the Lower East Side. It wasn’t easy; the kids were tough, but the job had its benefits.
The pay was good-Christmast and Easter off, summer vacations. Parent, 1972: 140
Living in New York makes Sheila opens her mind. She decides what job
she prefers. She gets her own career to support her life. Eventhough her mother
always talks to her about marriage and how important the marriage for her, it does not make Sheila stop her career. She prefers to get her career than to get married.
3. Independent Person
Living in New York makes her become Independent person. She decides what she wants without controlled by other people. She chooses the place to live.
Eventhough her mother does not agree with her dicision to move out from their home but it doesn’t make her change her mind.
“Boy, did my parents give me the silent treatment when I left Parsippany this morning. They’re really upset that I’m leaving home. What about your
mom? How’d she take it?” “Great. No problem. Wished me luck.”
“You’re kidding” “Of course I’m kidding. She’d rather have me frozen in her stand-up freezer
than have my own apartment.” Parent, 1972: 33 As an independent person makes Sheila fells grateful because she is not
married yet. She can gain hapiness by herself. She can choose what job she wants. She chooses her own apartment. She also can visit Europe because she has her own
salary. “It’s been great. A lot of fun. I’m glad I didn’t get married right out of college. Look at all the things we’ve done-worked, had our own apartment, seen
Europ e”Parents, 1972: 79
Being independent person is also shown when she decides to have promiscuous sexual intercourse. She does no
t need anyone’s opinian whether it is a good thing or a bad thing to do. If she wants to do the sexual intercourse with the
man that she just meets that is not a big problem for her. She also feels that having sex has its own advantages. First, she can lose some weight by doing this. Second,
she does not need to eat while having sex. This is one of her thought that makes her do sexual intercourse.
I’m glad. All that sleeping around did two good things for me. First of all, I lost a little weight.
FACT: The average sex act uses up about a hundred and fifty calories. Really, that is a fact. And you don’t eat while you fuck. Therefore, the more
you fuck, the less you eat. It’s the best diet I’ve ever been on. Second of all, all that sleeping around got me rid of my sexual hang-ups.
Whadda you mean, Mom, don’t let a boy touch you, you know where? It feels good when they touch you, you know where. Parent, 1972: 11-12
Being independent person also makes Sheila think about her relationship with her boyfried Norman whom she has already dated in seven year. Sheila and
Normal relationship is a normal relationship like others couple out there in New York. They go to dinner, they watch movie together, they go to museum, and they
go vacation together. Along the seven years relationship, Sheila is getting bored because Normal doesn’t propose her to get married to him. It makes Sheila decide
to break up with Norman and be a single lady. So I finally proposed. The night before we left Puerto Rico.
“Norman, I really think we’re wasting each others time if we don’t get married.”
“I don’t think so.” And I gambled with love... “Then I really think we should stop seeing each
other.” “Okay.” ... and lost. Parent, 1972: 151.
Sheila is not depending on others back even her family. She stands by her
own feets. She does what she wants and she will take responsibility by her own self. The fact that she is overweight and is not married makes her feel so depressed. And
it makes her decide to kill herself. Being overweght is one of the reasons I’m going to kill myself. I’m tired of
dieting, and I’m tired of looking at everyone else in bikinis. I’d stick a knife
