All the Broken Pieces Essay

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Homer Gere English – Motland 7-3 2/26/13 All the Broken Pieces Essay In the book, All The Broken Pieces, Rob Brennan and Matt Pin were very different, yet in many ways were the same. They both had brothers who were lost because of the war. Matt left his brother Huu Hein in order to start a new life in America. Rob lost his brother who passed away fighting for the United States in Vietnam. They both had very different experiences of loss, but each was as traumatic as the other. In the beginning of their relationship, Rob is filled with prejudice towards Matt, but after the blindfold exercise, they built a mutual respect. Their shared experiences are what make them better friends, and ultimately what helps Matt put together all the broken pieces. Although they were on separate sides of the Vietnamese War, and had different experiences they both had to experience loss of a loved one. In Matt Pin’s case his little brother, Huu Hein, followed him out of the house one day. Unfortunately, three year olds do not know how to be careful. Huu Hein stepped on a mine placed by one of the American soldiers. As Matt says to Rob during the bandana exercise in the book, I told my brother to wait inside. I told him I’d be right back. But he followed me. He followed me everywhere. Just be careful, I said. But three-year-olds don’t know how to be careful. It was quiet outside. everything smelled of spoiled eggs and smoke. The heat was pressing down. It was hard to breathe. I knew it would start to rain soon. I wanted to look for things before the water washed everything away He wandered away from me, and before I knew what was happening, he was screaming. there was blood everywhere. The rain started slamming down. I lifted him up and carried him home. He was so heavy that it took a long time. When I got there, she was waiting.
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