Fish In A Tree- ch. 5 & 6

Summary

In 'Fish in a Tree' by Linda Mullaly Hunt, Ally's brother Travis shares his successful day restoring vintage machines, revealing dreams of owning a restoration business. Despite Ally's struggles with school and feeling misunderstood, she finds solace in her family's support and shared passion for coins. A poignant encounter at a pawn shop highlights their bond and Travis's wisdom on overcoming low expectations, offering Ally a valuable life lesson.

Takeaways

• 👫 The story revolves around the protagonist and her brother Travis, highlighting their close relationship and shared interests.
• 💰 Travis has a successful day, which he refers to as a 'silver dollar day', and he shares his excitement about his work in restoration with his sister.
• 🏭 The protagonist's father has been deployed, and her grandfather has passed away, creating a sense of loss and longing for the past.
• 🛠️ Travis is passionate about his work at the garage, learning various skills and dreaming of opening his own restoration business.
• 🚗 Travis plans to buy a classic car and is saving up for a neon sign for his future business, showing his ambition and determination.
• 🎨 The protagonist is portrayed as a gifted artist with a love for drawing, particularly her pet llama named Butch Cassidy.
• 🎂 The protagonist's mother expresses concern about her behavior at a party on her 95th birthday, indicating a strained relationship.
• 🏫 The protagonist struggles with school and feels misunderstood by her peers and her mother, who wants her to focus more on academics.
• 🤔 The protagonist's mother believes her daughter is capable of more but is not living up to her potential, leading to a recurring argument about her school performance.
• 🏦 Travis and the protagonist visit a pawn shop, where they engage in a negotiation for coins, showcasing Travis's knowledge and negotiation skills.
• 🔍 The story emphasizes the importance of self-worth and not letting others' low expectations define you, as illustrated by Travis's advice to the protagonist.

Q & A

What does the phrase 'silver dollar day' signify in the script?

In the script, 'silver dollar day' is a metaphor used by the characters to describe a good day, possibly in reference to the value or success of the day's events or activities.

How does the relationship between Ally and Travis appear to be?

Ally and Travis have a close and supportive relationship. Travis is portrayed as a caring older brother who shares his excitement and achievements with Ally, and Ally appreciates his presence and efforts.

What is Travis's hobby or interest as depicted in the script?

Travis is interested in restoring and collecting old items, particularly vintage coin-operated machines like the Coke machine and the gumball machine mentioned in the script.

What is the significance of the 'wooden nickel' in the context of the script?

The 'wooden nickel' is used in contrast to the 'silver dollar' to represent a day that was not as successful or enjoyable, indicating a bad day or a day with difficulties.

How does Ally's mother perceive her daughter's behavior at school?

Ally's mother is concerned about her daughter's behavior, believing that Ally is too smart for the antics she performs at school. She wants Ally to take her education more seriously and work harder.

What does Ally's mother want for her future that is different from her own?

Ally's mother wants her to have a better future than working long hours for a few tips, as she does. She believes Ally is smart and talented and should aim higher than what she herself has achieved.

What is the significance of the year '1933' in the script?

The year '1933' is significant because it is the year both the Walking Liberty Half Dollar and the Mercury Dime coins were minted, and it is also the year Grandpa was born, making these coins particularly special for Travis and Ally.

What lesson does Travis teach Ally about dealing with people who underestimate you?

Travis teaches Ally that when people have low expectations of you, you can use it to your advantage, implying that one can surprise them or negotiate better deals by not meeting their low expectations.

Why does the pawn shop man try to sell Travis a penny dipped in nitric acid?

The pawn shop man attempts to sell the penny because he believes its altered state makes it valuable, but Travis recognizes this as a fraudulent attempt to overcharge for a coin with an artificial flaw.

How does Ally feel about her school and social situation?

Ally feels misunderstood and alienated at school, believing that her peers hate her and that she is too smart for the environment. She struggles with the pressure to conform and perform academically.

What is the significance of the pet llama named Butch Cassidy in the script?

Butch Cassidy, the pet llama, serves as a creative outlet for Ally, allowing her to express herself through drawing. The name and the cowboy attire she imagines for the llama reflect her desire for a different, more adventurous life.

Outlines

00:00

😄 Family Bonds and Aspirations

In this paragraph, the protagonist is greeted by her brother Travis after a tough day. They share a close relationship, and Travis's successful day of restoring antique vending machines inspires him to dream of owning his own restoration shop. Despite their father's recent deployment and grandfather's passing, Travis remains optimistic about their future. The protagonist, Ally, struggles with her school life and feels misunderstood by her peers and her mother, who wants her to focus more on academics and less on humor. The conversation between Ally and her mother highlights the tension between Ally's desire to fit in and her mother's aspirations for her to succeed academically.

05:01

😌 Cherishing Memories and Coin Collecting

The second paragraph takes us on a trip to a pawn shop with Travis and Ally, where they reminisce about their past coin collecting adventures with their father and grandfather. The shop is filled with nostalgic memories, and Travis's knowledge of coins and negotiation skills come to the forefront as he haggles for a rare 1933 Walking Liberty Half Dollar and a Mercury Dime. The coins hold sentimental value, as 1933 was the year their grandfather was born. The paragraph also showcases Travis's protective nature towards Ally and his ability to use people's underestimations to his advantage.

10:02

🤔 Life Lessons and Self-Expectations

In the final paragraph, Travis imparts wisdom to Ally about not letting others' low expectations define her. He emphasizes the importance of self-belief and having high personal standards, especially when others may underestimate her abilities. This conversation occurs after an encounter where a shopkeeper tried to overcharge Travis for a flawed penny, highlighting the importance of knowledge and assertiveness in navigating life's challenges. Ally reflects on the difficulty of maintaining high expectations for oneself amidst daily struggles.

Keywords

💡Silver Dollar Day

A 'Silver Dollar Day' is a metaphor used in the script to describe a particularly good day, possibly in terms of financial success or personal achievement. It is a concept inherited from the protagonist's family, indicating that the day was as valuable as a silver dollar, which is historically more valuable than a wooden nickel. In the context of the video, Travis mentions having a 'silver dollar day' after restoring an old coke machine, suggesting a successful day in his restoration work.

💡Wooden Nickel

A 'Wooden Nickel' is used in contrast to a 'Silver Dollar Day,' suggesting a day that was not as successful or valuable. It serves as a family idiom to discuss the quality of their days. The term is used to reflect on the emotional state or outcomes of the day, with a wooden nickel representing a less favorable outcome compared to the positive connotation of a silver dollar.

💡Restoration

Restoration refers to the process of repairing or renewing something to its original state or condition. In the script, Travis is involved in the restoration of vintage items like a coke machine and a gumball machine. His work in restoration is a central part of the narrative, showcasing his skills and passion for bringing old items back to life, which is also a metaphor for the characters' attempts to restore their lives after personal losses.

💡Nickerson Restoration

This term represents the dream of Travis to have his own restoration business, as indicated by his sweeping hand motion that symbolizes a row of mountains with his name in lights. It signifies his aspirations and the hope for a future where he can be successful and independent in his chosen field of work, carrying on the family tradition of restoration.

💡Pawn Shop

A pawn shop is a type of business where people can sell or pawn goods on temporary contract basis for immediate cash needs. In the script, the pawn shop is a place where Travis and the protagonist visit to buy coins. It is a setting that triggers memories of good times with their father and grandfather, and it is also where Travis hones his negotiation skills and knowledge of coins.

💡Liberty Coins

Liberty Coins refer to a series of U.S. coins that feature the image of Lady Liberty. In the script, Travis is interested in purchasing liberty coins from the pawn shop, which indicates his interest in numismatics (the study or collection of currency) and his connection to family traditions involving coins.

💡Mercury Dime

The Mercury Dime is a ten-cent coin struck by the United States from 1916 to 1945, featuring the obverse of a winged Liberty and a fasces on the reverse. In the script, the protagonist recalls a similar coin that her father has in his wallet, indicating a personal and sentimental value attached to these coins, as well as their significance in the family's shared interest in coins.

💡Walking Liberty Half Dollar

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a U.S. coin with an image of Lady Liberty walking towards the sunrise. In the script, Travis negotiates to purchase this coin, which is significant because it was minted in 1933, the year their grandfather was born. This detail highlights the emotional connection to family history and the importance of传承heritage within the story.

💡Fraud

Fraud refers to the use of deceit to obtain an unfair or illegal advantage. In the script, the pawn shop owner attempts to sell Travis a penny that has been artificially altered to appear valuable. The protagonist's knowledge of coins prevents this fraud, illustrating the importance of expertise and caution in their shared hobby.

💡Expectations

Expectations are beliefs or anticipations about what will happen or what someone will or should do. In the script, Travis advises the protagonist to not let others' low expectations of her define her potential, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and personal ambition. This theme is central to the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and overcoming adversity.

💡Clowning Around

To 'clown around' means to act in a silly or humorous way, often to entertain others. The protagonist's mother expresses concern about her daughter's tendency to 'clown around' at school, suggesting that it may be a defense mechanism or a way to cope with feeling out of place. This behavior is a key aspect of the protagonist's character and her struggle to fit in.

Highlights

Travis comes home smelling like grease and shares his 'silver dollar day' with his sister, referencing their family tradition of asking about each other's day.

Travis' father has been deployed and their grandfather has passed away, creating a sense of loss and longing for better times.

Travis finds joy in restoring old items like a Coke machine and a gumball machine, showing his entrepreneurial spirit and love for vintage items.

The protagonist, Ally, struggles with fitting in at school and feels misunderstood by her peers and even her own mother.

Ally's mother expresses concern about her daughter's behavior and academic performance, urging her to take school more seriously.

Ally feels the pressure to live up to her mother's expectations but struggles with self-doubt and a desire to be accepted.

Travis takes Ally to a pawn shop, reminiscent of their childhood trips with their father and grandfather to collect coins.

The siblings bond over their shared interest in coins and the memories of their father and grandfather, providing a sense of connection and continuity.

Travis demonstrates his knowledge and negotiation skills when purchasing coins, outsmarting the pawn shop owner.

Travis buys a special 1933 Walking Liberty Half Dollar and Mercury Dime for Ally, connecting the coins to their family history and showing his thoughtfulness.

Ally appreciates the gift from Travis and reflects on the enduring nature of coins compared to the transience of people.

Travis imparts wisdom to Ally about using others' low expectations to one's advantage and maintaining self-belief.

Ally grapples with the challenge of not letting others' low expectations define her self-worth and identity.

Transcripts

fish in a tree by linda mulally hunt

chapter five silver dollars and wooden

nickels

the back door swings open and my brother

travis is there

smelling like grease looking like he

rolled in it and i instantly feel better

how's my favorite little sister i'm your

only little sister

doesn't matter you'd still be my

favorite he smiles

so your favorite big brother had a

silver dollar day today

i think of grandpa and dad who always

asked us if we were having a silver

dollar day or a wooden nickel one

travis is doing that thing where he

wiggles his fingers in the air and asks

his daily question

what are these he looks older more like

my dad who's been deployed since just

before thanksgiving last year

it was hard to feel thankful after he'd

gone especially since grandpa had died

three months before that

the hands of a genius i say

correcta mundo do you realize you come

home

every day and ask me to compliment you

not really he says opening the fridge

just asking you to state the facts

you are unbelievable exactly he says

pointing at me

guess what i finished restoring an old

coke machine today

thing is like 70 years old he pops open

a soda

those things are worth a bundle fixed up

then he holds up the can look at this

disappointing compared to those old

green bottles

travis must be happy the happier he is

the more he goes on about things

and he says i picked up an old gumball

machine

the kind that takes pennies i'll sell it

for 10 times what i paid for it

his voice drops as he takes a sip i will

have to throw some money and elbow

grease at it first though

he comes over like he's going to mess up

my hair but i block his dirty hands

no way i laugh don't touch me aw come on

al

i've had a great day and guess what i

almost have enough to buy those rolling

tool cabinets

and someday my big neon sign he sweeps

his hand through the air like he's

showing me a row of mountains

nickerson restoration my own place

my name our name is going to be in light

someday al but then his voice deflates

i just have to get out of high school

we're like oil and water schooling me

i wish mom would let me quit she would

kill you

yeah so a dad and being dead won't

be good for my business he smiles won't

be long though

i'm learning a ton at the garage the

boss is letting me do all kinds of

different stuff

i smile i'm gonna buy a car soon too a

classic and a v6 at least

and then he's off and i can still smell

the grease after he's gone

i'm glad he had a silver dollar day when

my mom finally gets home i've already

microwaved my dinner and i'm watching tv

while i sketch pictures of my pet llama

named butch cassidy

with a name like that i give him a

cowboy hat a bandana

and a holster but in the holster he

carries an ear of corn

when my mom comes home in from work she

turns off the tv and i can feel it

coming

so she begins when are we going to

really talk about today

on my 95th birthday funny one

she shifts her weight i'm trying to be

patient honey i really am but today was

a party

how could you get into trouble at a

party

i don't have to do anything they all

hate me i blurt out

i doubt that but can't you see why

they'd be tired of your behavior

these shocking things you do and say to

get laughs

she doesn't get it being funny when you

don't mean to be

is terrible having to laugh at yourself

along with everyone else is humiliating

oh ally you're too smart for this school

is too important to joke about

i don't want you working long hours on

your feet for a bunch of tips like me

i want more for you and you're so smart

good at math

a gifted artist don't you think it's

time to start

stop clowning around i'm not that smart

you say that but i'm not now we know

that isn't true

you could stand to work a little harder

though i'm so tired of this conversation

we've had it a hundred times even though

my third grade teacher told her that i

might just be slow

that my mom shouldn't expect too much

for me my mom's eyes got all wide and

shiny when she heard that and i felt sad

and embarrassed for her

having to be my mom but my mother's

never bought what that teacher said

i sometimes wish she would but most

times i'm grateful that she hasn't

she bends over to look me dead in the

eyes i know that moving as much as we

have had

has been hard on you and i know i work

all the time and can't keep tabs on your

schoolwork

it has made it hard for you to keep up

with some subjects and i understand that

i really do

but you're going to have to make more

effort ally things worth having are

worth working for

i'll do better i tell her i used to say

this and mean it

now it feels like i'm just making up one

of my stories

her smile is sad okay then

she kisses the top of my head can i turn

the tv back on now

she unties her apron and stares did you

take your bath yet

no i sigh the tiredness in her voice

says there's no use arguing

i trudge toward the hallway by the way

i don't want to hear you say that people

hate you she calls out

how could anyone on earth possibly hate

you

i wish she could understand my world but

it would be like trying to explain to a

whale what it's like to live in the

forest

chapter 6 triple sided coin

opens the door of the pawn shop in town

and waves me in ahead of him

the bell on the door announces our

arrival as it hits the glass

the dusty smell of the place triggers a

bunch of memories good

times together times when dad and

grandpa would take travis and me out

looking for coins

numbers and money are something travis

and i can do well so we took to it fast

grandpa loved the dusty stores best

because they were the ones that would

have uncracked rolls of coins in the

backs of their safes

when the store owners would trade the

old rolls for new bills

we'd open them at home to see what was

inside sometimes we'd find a buffalo

nickel a mercury dime or an indian head

penny

it was like a little bit of christmas

being here makes me ache to go back in

time the man behind the counter doesn't

say hello

he rolls a toothpick back and forth in

his mouth with his tongue

in one way it's a completely impressive

and in another the grossest thing i've

ever seen

travis rests his fingertips on the glass

counter looking down into the case

filled with coins

you need something the man doesn't talk

that way to

that way to mom says you're supposed to

talk to customers

i want to buy some coins travis says oh

yeah

yeah travis brushes his chin with his

knuckle something he does when he's

nervous

the guy reaches up and takes the

toothpick out of his mouth he uses it to

point at travis

do you have money or are you all talk

travis does what dad said never do he

shows him his money

and not money like a regular person a

roll of money wrapped in an elastic band

the guy's eyes widen then he asks

looking for something special

i want liberty coins you got any he

takes out several coins

one is a mercury dime with a head that

looks like it has wings for ears

i remember those i say like the one

daddy has in his wallet

travis turns them over in his hand nice

you have anything more unusual

the guy's eyebrows jump he reaches into

a drawer

this is unusual but it'll cost you big i

don't mind paying for something special

okay then he says this one is special he

puts a penny on the counter

travis picks it up and his eyebrows

bunch up this is smaller than the other

pennies

the guy nods it is a rare find

travis glances at me and then he turns

towards the guy how much

well the guy says if you know anything

about coins you know that a coin with a

flaw in it

is far more valuable than a regular coin

something isn't right with it and it's

worth more

like i said travis says how much the guy

tilts his head to the side

well normally i'd ask for 80 but i'll

charge you

say 75 travis smiles

even i remember how dad used to tell us

never to smile when you get a number

never even if it's the best number in

the world

and here he is smiling like he won the

lottery i try to look serious enough for

the both of us

well that's really generous of you 75

bucks for a penny that's been dipped in

nitric acid the guy's smile falls off

his face

i bet the police would be interested in

a little bit of fraud

now listen travis interrupts look i

wasn't born yesterday stop

messing with me travis at a coin in the

case that has a walking woman wrapped in

a sheet that was the sun rays behind her

it is beautiful

that 1933 walking liberty half dollar

how much for that one

well that one is in really fine

condition in fact just

tell me how much travis says leaning in

palms on the glass

45 36 and you throw in the mercury dime

for my little sister

i look up quick for me then i do the

math yep he is following dad's rule of

offering 20

less than what they offer but travis

threw in something extra

the guy squints 40. travis nods

done he slaps the money on the glass

count glass case

outside the store travis holds the dime

toward me

oh it's beautiful i love it so much

thank you travis you're the best

he looks a little sad staring at the

coin

you know grandpa was born in 1933.

that's why i chose these coins

they were both minted in that year i

looked down at my mercury dime and it

stated

wishing people could last as long as

coins when we get into the car travis

says

did you see how that guy in there took

me for a fool trying to rip me off

remember ally when people have low

expectations of you you can sometimes

use it to your advantage

then he looks me right in the eyes and

points at my nose as long as you

don't have low expectations of yourself

you hear

i nod again but i think to myself that

it's hard

not to these days