Boys

The structure of this story is very unusual. Every sentence includes "boys enter the house," except the last sentence of the story which is "boys, no longer boys, exit the house." Because of this, I didn't really see it as an actual story, but more flowing like poetry or something. I really enjoyed reading this unusual structure...it seemed to read really well.

Obviously, the repetition of the boys entering the house is important. I think it is supposed to represent all boys, as a whole, who are growing up. It is the most general action...boys entering the house. Throughout the whole story, these boys are doing normal boy things...fighting with each other, tormenting their sister, playing sports, showing their interest in girls. When the sister has cancer, the boys enter the house less and less, until, finally, "boys, no longer boys exit." As they enter the house less and less, they are growing up more and more. After the death of their father, the boys have grown up. I guess it's their turn to be the men, to be grown up and responsible, and no longer the boys who just enter the house.