The Childre Gathering Stones
... and interpretations to the tradition inherited from their fathers. The children gathered first, they took action before the adults did. They were excited about the gathering and the rituals being performed on that day. The children knew that the lottery “could begin at ten o’clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow them to get home for noon dinner” (84). To the children this event was just another part of life. They acted as it was an ordinary day, in fact, it would be the worst day imaginable for one person and his or her family. The author describes them as discussing schools, teacher and collecting stones in a pile and guarding them in the corner of the square, away from everyone else. They treated the event as community activity that was for fun and social purpose, just as what they learnt from their adults. “Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes” (84). The women were greeting each other and exchanging bits of gossip. If someone had been visiting the village on the day of the lottery, one would think this event was a happy one or at least an everyday occurrence. On the gathering day the children were gathering stones. “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pocket full of stones” (84). The children collected a lot of stones and they selected the smoothest and roundest ones. In our common sense children collect stones as their toys. They can play with stones in many different games, such as chess, bouncing balls, and could be used to hit birds or other animals. Stones can be played with by children as toys. Stones can be used to build houses and buildings. But in evil people’s hands stones can be used to hurt and even kill others. The children were young and vulnerable. Under the influe...