New Directions

Summary

Mrs Annie Johnson, suffering from a divorce after her ex-husband left her marriage, decides to start over again. One day on her way home she looked up on the road she was going. She wasn't satisfied with the results that road had given her so she descided to "cut herself a new path". In secret she made plans to sell food for the workers at the saw mill. The next morning she had prepared an enormous amount of meat pies and stood on a empty lot behind the cotton gin. Although she didn't make a lot of sales the first few days, she was successful over the years and went even bigger by building a stall were she sold meals, cookies, syrup, pickles, canned goods and so on. "The new road" she had chosen had proven to be perfect for her.

Historical Values

Pioneers traveled a long journey westwards because of their beliefs for a better life for themselves and their children. This American value is often called "Mobility". In the short story New Directions you have Annie who is sick of her disappointing life. She goes on a new path in hope for a better life and is successful with that decision.

The great-grandparents who arrived from the Old World with nothing, worked hard and provided resources for future generations. Annie, from New Directions, loses everything when her husband leaves her. She has to work from scratch to get herself support for herself and her children.

Theme

This short story is about how each and everyone of us have the possibility to start over again if we want. If someone isn't satisfied with his or her current way of life, he or she can easily start over again on a new direction. If that decision isn't working out for you, try again once more.