What is a father? A father is someone who is more than just a person who created you. A father is a person who should be a mentor to you and helps guide you through life. What isn't a father is one who simply puts their children aside to live their own lives and have no part in their children's life and growth. The stories I will be contrasting are "The Last Game," by Jan Weiner and "Reunion," by John Cheever. My first reason of contrast is that in "Last Game," the relationship between characters Jan Weiner and his father is that of mutual admiration in which the son had great respect for his, his pride and braveness of choice which is contrasted in "Reunion," as the son Charlie I think this reason is important because it shows how a person can change by growing stronger or weaker given the situation that they find for themselves. What this reason means to me is that different circumstances might cause a person to completely change in the eyes of others. People see them as a better or worse person mainly due to the fact that different situations attribute them a different personality in a way. To prove further my reason, I offer these quotes, in "Last Game," the father says "To die our own way or theirs. We are trapped and I cannot run anymore " (p.4) and in "Reunion," the father says obnoxiously, "Could we have a little service! Chop Chop." (p.232) Love is a special connection you share with a person whether it is a family member or significant other. That connection shows that you have the utmost respect for that person. Then there are the disappointing ones who are those you probably can't even stand the sight of. The last contrasting reason involved in both stories is the bond or lack thereof of the father and son characters which in "Last Game," the bond was strengthened due to their strong sense of family and their deep understanding for each other which was contrasted in "Reunion," as there was a lack of a bond due to the father's arrogance and bad personality. This reason is very important because it shows if a child's relationship with his
