Ashes By Susan Beth Pfeffer Essay

Have you ever had to make a decision on whether or not to steal from your own mother? I sure hope not, but in the story “Ashes” by Susan Beth Pfeffer, the main character, Ashleigh, has to make that decision. Ashleigh’s parents are divorced and she lives with her mother but, she visits her dad often. Ashleigh’s father gave her the nickname “Ashes” but her mom hates it, she doesn’t even like the name Ashleigh. Her dad is in debt and wants Ashleigh to steal her mother’s emergency money. At the end of the story, it doesn’t tell you if she takes it or not, but she most likely did. Ashleigh stole the money because her dad persuaded her to, she thinks he will give it back, and her dad makes Ashleigh feel special.

Ashes thinks her father will return the money in one or two days. In the short story, Ashleigh asks “You’ll be able to pay her back by Friday?” (Page 4) Which her dad says yes to. Since it’s her mom’s emergency money Ashleigh thinks that her mother will not notice a difference. On page 4 in the story Ashleighs father even tells her that her mother won’t notice, not unless there's an earthquake or martians attack. The third reason why Ashleigh thinks her father will pay him back is because she trust him. In the story, her father says to her “I would never steal from your mother. I’ve caused her enough pain.” (Page 4) There
Ashleighs father is very kind to her, he would always sing songs to her or buy her roses. In the story, Ashleigh says “But then dad gave me roses or sang me a song he had written for me.” (Page 1) Ashleighs father also makes her feel special because he gave her the nickname “Ashes”. Every time they spoke in the story he would always call her Ashes instead of Ashleigh. She is also called “the one-in-a-million girl” by her father. On page 2, Ashleighs father says “You’re special Ashes. You’re that one-in-a-million