My Dog Skip

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This is a paper I wrote about how Willie, the main character in the movie My Dog Skip, came to realize he was a person of worth and how he became accepted by the other boys at his school.

While growing up, children need to feel accepted and not feel left out. Kids who grow up without many friends and who don't feel accepted have a really hard time growing up and realizing that they aren't worthless people. In the movie My Dog Skip, Willie Morris, the main character, has trouble realizing he isn't completely worthless. All the guys his own age that live around him are mean to him and he always feels left out, until one thing happens to Willie - his mother gives him a dog. This event, along with the support of his parents, especially his mother, and his only friend, Dink, help Willie recognize himself as a person of worth.

As was stated, while growing up, nine-year-old Willie is made fun of by the other boys and doesn't fit in at all. He has only one friend, his next-door neighbor, the high school-age town baseball star, Dink. Dink really tries hard to include Willie in different activities he does with the kids Willie's age. For example, there is one scene where the neighborhood boys are throwing a football around with Dink and they are making fun of Willie, but Dink stands up for Willie and includes him in their activity.

Although Dink is the only "kid" who is nice to him, Willie has a good family to go home to. As an only child, Willie gets plenty of attention and acceptance from his parents, and he needs this. If it weren't for this love from his parents, it would probably be even rougher for him because everywhere he would go, he would feel lonely and worthless because no one at all loved him. Willie's mother can tell that he doesn't have many friends since he spends a lot of time at home, so, for his ninth birthday, she gives him a dog which he names Skip. Soon afterwards, Dink goes off to fight in World War II, and Willie feels lonely. Fortunately for Willie, Skip acts as a friend for him - they do everything together. Like most dogs, Skip is loyal to Willie and always accepts him - no matter what Willie is going through.

One time, Willie's mother, when she goes to pick him up from school, makes the dog look like he is driving the car. All the kids at school see this and start to notice Willie more. They like Skip and all the tricks he can do and pay more and more attention to Willie. Skip's outgoing nature helps Willie to be more outgoing and to try things he normally wouldn't try. With Skip's help, Willie makes more friends and begins to feel more accepted. He learns to play football and baseball with his friends and gets pretty good at both of them.

Furthermore, one day when Willie is in the local hardware store, one of the prettiest girls in Willie's school walks into the store. Skip starts acting all funny to bring attention to himself, which makes the girl notice Willie. Willie and the girl, named Rivers, become friends.

Now that Willie has begun to feel accepted and eventually becomes "one of the guys," he is able to help others. When his old friend, Dirk, comes back from the war a drunkard, Willie is able to help Dirk return to his old self.

Willie continues to grow up with many friends, no longer left out by others, and with a realization that he is actually a person of worth. With Skip's help, Willie is able to "be somebody," and he eventually goes on to college and writes a book about his childhood experiences.

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