Hope's Boy 3

It appears Hope is not as good with as Andy as her mother is. Her lifestyle is not something that Andy is used to. After living with his mother he begins to realize that life is different now compared to when he was living with his grandmother. "lived with my mother for only nine months, but had already discerned that she was different from other mothers. Barely twenty-four, she was likely the youngest of any parent and certainly the least cooperative when it came to domestic chores"(Bridge 66). He is beginning to notice how Hope doesn't behave like his grandmother. She doesn't do things for Andy as readily because she is still adapting her life to his arrival. When he is told that he needs his mom to tailor a bunny suit for an upcoming school play he feels she won't do it. "The chances of my mother sitting in the evening and stitching together a four-foot-three-inch, blue felt bunny were about as flimsy as the tracing paper on which the patterns were drawn"(Bridge 66). He knows that it is unlike his mom to do something like this and doesn't think she will do it. He is beginning to know his mother and he thinks that this is something she won't do.
Andy's mother is trying to do her best for Andy but it is just not enough. She is not used to living with a child who she has to take care of. She used to look out for herself only but now she has to watch over her son. She forgets to make the bunny suit and as the play approaches she is reminded by Andy. "Perplexed, she stared at the instructions, then muttered, "Shit" She looked up at me and saw that my eyes had already begun to redden. "Oh, sweetheart, don't worry. Mom will take care of it, I promise"(Bridge 69). He reaction to the instructions obviously means she forgot. She is desperately trying to come up with a solution as she reassures Andy. She doesn't want him to feel bad. She eventually buys a suit so when Andy is on stage he stands out. The suit is too big so he is moving around randomly and not following the steps. "Silence persisted, hanging heavy among the parents. Then came the hoots and hollers of two audience members, girls more than women, who loved me"(Bridge 73). Despite his performance Hope and her friend cheer widly for Andy. He obviously did the steps wrong but his mom is trying her best to try and make him feel less embarrased. She is trying to comfort him. His mom is trying to treat him well but she just hasn't had the proper experiences in her life.