Symbolism In Angela Johnson's 'The First Part Last'

How do you know when you are grown up? Is it having a job, a wife, a baby? In “The First Part Last” Bobby, a character created by the writer Angela Johnson, grew up a little bit at a time, throughout the story he gained new skills. There are symbols which show that he was growing up, the ball rolling away, the red balloon, bobby talking to paul, skiing trophies, and the wall.
The first symbol is the red balloon. When Nia gives Bobby the red balloon, has a lot of meaning, it could mean love. With love NIa is showing Bobby that she is ready to make the commitment to love him and the baby. The balloon can also symbolize when Nia let’s go and Bobby has it to himself that, the baby will be HIS when something happens to Nia. this symbol is very important