Browse Items (22 total)

153_When It's Time To Say001.jpg
In this column Cormier writes about saying goodbye to his son after settling him in at the college dormitory. He ponders the differences between saying goodbye to a son than to a daughter, who allows for more sentimentality. He comes to realize that…

Sixteen Stories001.jpg
In this story, the narrator and his 15-year-old son Richy go to his wife's funeral. The narrator struggles to cope with his wife's death, especially unexpected reminders of her. While driving to and from the funeral, the narrator also recounts…

One Could Do Worse001.jpg
In this column, Cormier describes his daily routine as a househusband. He writes at home, does the shopping, cooks dinner, get his daughter off of the bus, cleans house, and meets with friends and neighbors at lunch. He states that none of these…

1177 Main St Sept 1971 St. Anthony Messenger001.jpg
In this column, Cormier recounts his wife calling him out on faking the music he is listening to in a previous column. He normalizes the behavior by recounting several instances where, as a parent, he must pretend to have good advice, know the…

1177 Main St June 1972.001.jpg
In this column, Cormier writes of staying up late waiting for his college-aged daughter and high school-aged son to come home on a Friday night. He takes pleasure in their little evening rituals and small talk and thinks back to his father's own…

1177 Main St July 1972.001.jpg
In this column, Cormier writes about the age transitions all four of his children are experiencing: 4 to 5, 12 to 13, 15 to 16, and 20 to 21. Each stage is a different moment in time. Near the end of the column, Cormier talks of how parents also pass…

Suddenly, Shes 10 Years Old St Anthonys Messenger002.jpg
This column recounts Cormier's daughter's transitional stage as a ten-year-old. Among the topics of discussion are her love of horses and her new-found preoccupation with getting the right haircut and crushing on television actors.

%22My Father's Gamble%22 The Sign.jpeg
The young protagonist of this story witnesses the consequences of his father's alcoholism and poor money management skills for his entire family. The father takes out a loan to pay his debts in a time of uncertain employment. He loses the money,…

%22Her Caterpillar Summer%22 Parents.jpeg
This published version of "Her Caterpillar Summer", Cormier tells of the summer when his daughter turned six, of her caterpillar state. He talks of her awkward movements, her dwindling number of teeth, and her sudden fear of the water. Yet he sees…

%22Her Caterpillar Summer%22 typescript.jpeg
In the typescript of "Her Caterpillar Summer", Cormier tells of the summer when his daughter turned six, where she is still a caterpillar waiting to become a butterfly. He talks of her awkward movements, her dwindling number of teeth, and her sudden…

%22Robert Cormier London, July 2000%22 Achuka Special.jpeg
In this piece, Cormier recounts the "excruciating" experience of being bullied but counterbalances this terror with his serene picture of family life. Featuring prominently are comments on his father's work in the comb factories, his Irish and French…

%22The Santa Problem%22 John Fitch IV Column .jpeg
As with many of his Christmas columns, Cormier addresses the idea of Santa, Christmas magic, and the innocence of childhood. He admits never telling a child that Santa is not real but cannot defend his existence, just as faith or a joke cannot be…

%22Crazy About Horses%22 John Fitch IV Column .jpeg
Here Cormier talks about his young daughter's recent interest in horses. First, he outlines some of her past interests - medicine, veterinary medicine, thoughts about becoming a jockey. Then, he shares her passion for horses and riding. He thinks…

%22That Certain Child%22 John Fitch IV Column .jpeg
This piece shares Cormier's daughter's reaction to her father's column that focused on her figures and arithmetic. When she tells him how embarrassed she felt, he thinks about how this would not have happened when she was younger and less aware of…

%22Ballerina, Turn Around%22 John Fitch IV Column .jpeg
Here Cormier talks about his eight-year-old daughter. Much of the article consists of him offering various numbers that define her - her age, her weight, her height, etc. These numbers, this arithmetic terrifies him - for each day that proceeds she…
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