"But Scipio has already slipped off the lion's back and was now climbing on to the sea horse. "What are you waiting for, Prop?" he called out impatiently.
But Prosper didn't move. Even though he could picture himself, tall and grown-up, striding into the Sandwirth and simply pushing Esther and his uncle out of the way, then marching out with Bo by his side, he still couldn't step on to the merry-go-round."
This paragraph made me stop and think for a moment. A few pages before Scipio had been stomping his foot and demanding to be grown-up, breaking toys in the process. I think neither of them come close to grasping what being 'grown-up' means. Mostly to them it means being bigger, stronger, doing whatever they want. All Prosper really wants it to take care of his brother, but gives a moments pause when confronted with the merry-go-round. He takes care of Bo now and Bo loves him as a brother. Would he really want Prosper to be more like a father than a brother? Imagine your older brother who takes care of you, but still has fun with you suddenly becoming your 'father-figure'. While Funke does not clue the reader into more of Prosper's thoughts, I can imagine those would be my thoughts if I were in the same situation.
Maggie - you make a good point. I didn't really think about this passage this way, but it is so true. Bo would never love Prosper the way he does now; who knows, Bo might not have recognized Prosper as an adult, and would have run from him in fear. Then they definitely would have been seperated forever.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with what you are thinking, too Maggie. I did wander briefly about Prosper and his hesitation. However you bring about a great point about him becoming Bo's father figure instead of being his brother. What changes would that bring about must have been something to stop and consider.
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