Aha Moment
Teacher Copy
Mullaly Hunt, Lynda. One for the Murphys. New York: Penguin Group, 2012. Print.
Page 188-190
Carley Connors and her mother have left everything from their old life in Las Vegas. Her grandfather had
passed away and left his home to Carley’s mom. They had to move because if she didn’t take the home
ownership of the home would move to her mom’s cousin. Her mother was not going to let that happen.
Carley is a creative, intelligent twelve year old who has a penchant for anagrams. She uses the anagrams for
subtle warnings. So when Carley’s mother introduces her to her boyfriend soon to be step-father, Carley is
concerned. Dennis spelled backwards is sinned. Her mother was not amused. Through a tragic event
Carley ends up in foster care. She struggles with why she was placed, but soon learns to grow to love her
foster family and then struggles with the possibility of moving back with her mother.
In this scene, Carley is questioning her foster father, who is a fireman, on whether he had ever left someone
behind.
Mr. Murphy sits on the couch watching the Red Sox, wearing his Dropkick
Murphys T-shirt. I know that to disturb him in the eighth inning is a sin and I would,
undoubtedly upon my death, be sent to that great dugout underground. But I
probably have a ticket in that direction anyway.
“Mr. Murphy?” I ask.
“Yes, Carley?”
“Do you ever have to leave some people behind? You know, in a fire?’
His face darkens, and he glances back at the game. I know that I shouldn’t have
asked. But something inside me just has to know.
“One child, two women, one man.”
“Huh?”
“That’s who I’ve had to leave behind.”
Four people. “Oh.”
He nods slowly. “Yeah.”
I feel courageous and continue. “Well, how do you decide? I mean, how do you
decide who to save and who to leave?”
He glances at me but answers while watching the TV. “Well, Carley, I don’t really
decide. The fire does. She always wins when she wants to. The first rule is that your
own safety is paramount. I try to remember that I’m no good to anyone dead.”
“Do you think of your family when you’re in a fire?”
“Will you get the pitcher out of there!” he yells at the TV. He looks at me. “You
know, you’d think for eight million a year, he could throw a ball over a plate.”
Aha Moment
Teacher Copy
The doorbell rings, so I get up. I am almost out of the room when he says, “I
don’t think of the boys in the middle of a fire because I’m trying to save lives----including my own.” He clears his throat. “But on every trip, you know, as we’re on the
engine going to a call, when I’m suited up and everything, I pull out a picture of Julie
and the boys, and I remember why I need to come home.”
I don’t expect this answer that makes my stomach roll.
I hear Mrs. Murphy open the front door and Toni comes in. “Hey, Connors.”
“Hey.”
“The Red Sox again? You know,” she says to Mr. Murphy, “I hear there’s and
exhibition game---the Sox versus a bunch of blindfolded kindergarteners in body casts.
The Sox may actually have a chance.”
“Can someone please tell me why,” Mr. Murphy begins, “I have to put up with
this in my own house? It’s an injustice, you know that?” He reaches under the couch
and pulls out a white bag. “Good thing I’m such a good sport! Come here, girls! I got
you each a little something.” He pulls out two baseball hats. First, he hands Toni a
pink Yankees hat.
“Pink? You got me pink?”
“Yeah. I thought it would be nice on a pretty girl like you.”
Wow. I didn’t think anything could stop Toni from talking, but that does.
Miracle.
The he hands me a green Boston hat with a cream-colored shamrock on the
brim. “I thought I’d get you the Irish one, ye young lass, Carley Connors!” he says. It
makes me smile. I really like how it’s Irish. The bright green reminds me of the trees.
And besides that, I feel like I’m a part f something special.
As I put on the hat, I think about my conversation with Mr. Murphy. I think how
he really does need to come home. How his family needs him.
I also think maybe I’m not supposed to be able to save my mother. Maybe I’m
supposed to save myself first.
We’ll stop here at look at Carley’s Aha moment. What does she say that indicates that she has
gained an understanding of her situation and what she needs to do with her life? Through this
dialogue Carley has come to an understanding that she needs to save herself first.