Effects of Separation

The narrative examines how Charlie suffers from the physical separation of herself from her nuclear family when she must move from Raleigh to Colby. The move physically separates Charlie from her father, mother, sister, and friends. She leaves behind the only world she has known and the one that she perceives as a better world with malls and movie theaters. It is the land of opportunity and intelligent people. In contrast, squirrel-eating hillbillies live in Colby.

Charlie's physical separation from her family and friends leads to feelings of rejection and makes her feel as if she is mentally separated from them as well. She wonders if they are thinking about her and assumes that they are not. She complains that none of Jackie’s plans include her. She looks for confirmation that Scrappy really wrote her a letter. She knows that her mother would...