All the Dancing Birds (30 page)
Read All the Dancing Birds Online
Authors: Auburn McCanta
Lillie Claire seems to enjoy very different relationships with each of her children. Is it reasonable to expect that the dynamics of mother/adult child complexities would create different responses in the way Lillie Claire interacts with the characters of Bryan and Allison? Does the immature sibling rivalry that has continued into adulthood obscure and stunt the ability to recognize their mother’s shifting behavior?
After Lillie Claire’s memory craters in a failed attempt to cook a simple dinner, her son, Bryan, takes her to a doctor for evaluation. Why do you think her son, and not the daughter to whom Lillie Claire seems closer, would be the person to address his mother’s health?
When Lillie Claire receives her initial diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease, her response is to cheer up Bryan by stopping afterward for ice cream. Do you find this a reasonable response? Why do you think Bryan is visibly upset, while Lillie Claire appears to more easily accept such a tragic diagnosis?
Lillie Claire writes poems and letters to her children and keeps them hidden in a box in her closet. Why do you think she doesn’t share her writings with Bryan and Allison? Do you think it is possible for a person with Alzheimer’s disease to be able to continue to write and read?
When Lillie Claire’s forgetfulness ruins a planned vacation, Allison’s response is overwhelming anger. Do you think there may be a deeper issue guiding Allison’s protracted lack of forgiveness? What is the catalyst then that prompts Allison to see Lillie Claire through a different lens, finally allowing for understanding and a mending of their relationship?
When the children bring a full-time caregiver for their mother, how does the character of Jewell provide a tempering and calming influence in the home? Does Lillie Claire benefit from remaining in her home with a private caregiver, or would she be better cared for in a nursing facility? Why do you think Bryan and Allison give in to their mother’s wish to remain in her home?
As Lillie Claire begins to struggle with language skills, she invites Jewell to read aloud her private writings. Does this change the way Lillie Claire responds to her memories and ultimately to herself?
As she deteriorates, Lillie Claire anguishes over her diminished function as a mother. She laments this loss and, in a fit of regret, decides to burn all her letters and poems. Why would Lillie Claire consider destroying works she has labored so hard over and has dedicated as the final gift to her children?
Lillie Claire is often soothed by her cat, John Milton, and amused by the birds who visit her patio each day. Why do you think Lillie Claire responds so positively to the presence of her cat and to the little birds that she believes perform choreographed dances across her patio?
As Lillie Claire declines and her language turns more deeply inward, are you surprised that her interior dialogue is more intact than she can display to others? Could this understanding influence how one might navigate a conversation with someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease?
When Jewell breaks down and asks Bryan and Allison for more help, do you think the children should have then moved their mother to a care facility with round-the-clock care? What option would you choose?
All the Dancing Birds
is ultimately a story of profound love and enduring acceptance. How did the characters mature as the story progressed? What possibilities might the future hold for Bryan and Allison?
Table of Contents