Jeb and Donny

"It Pours"
Tim Parish

" We wondered why Tootie and Bob had
never been friends, wondered if things would have
been different for them if they had."

"It Pours" is one of those stories that makes you sad, has some darker, underlying tone but it's difficult to explain why.  If I were to sum up the most prevalent feeling in this story I would guess that it was frustration.  Both Mr. Ramos and Jeb's father are stereotypical male parents.  Quiet, and having issues with their sons, they both take their frustration out by drowning themselves in house or car maintenance.  While Mr. Ramos is likely disappointed in his son, Jeb's father feels guilty about not more adamant in regards to his son going to war.  They are both stubborn and frustrated, and feelings leak out onto their sons, attempting to deal with a nation in war and their father's frustration, grow up confused themselves.

Jeb's character is passive.  For the most part he accepts and takes in the happenings around him, as opposed to acting out himself.  Donny, like Jeb, is troubled and angry with his father's inability to cope.  Together. they are simply vessels for their parents' frustration and their brothers' issues.  The rain, both a metaphor for the air of frustration and a direct impact on their lives, agitates their parents further, and creates an even darker atmosphere.

The most intriguing thing about this story is that, without the proper writing, it could be an incredibly boring story about one time when it rained and this kid's neighbor's house flooded.  However, the darker, more upsetting tone behind the story gives the reader a pessimistic feeling.  Vietnam is raging, and Jeb's brother is falling apart overseas.  This deeper issue is furthered by the weather, and Jeb's father begins to go insane at a rate only slightly slower than Donny's father.  Ironically, though there is no dramatic irony or twist to this story, I find it one of the sadder ones.  Of course, the family could've gone on to be well developed and happy.  However, from the small portion shown, I only see two confused children who's lives are ruined by circumstances completely beyond their control.  Maybe if Tootie and Bob had been friends things would have been different.  Maybe, neither would've joined the military or done drugs, but all these speculative wishes are just children's hopes and dreams.