Midterm Essay “The First Day” What idea does the author develop about how an important event can change your perspective? In the short story “The First Day” by Edward P. Jones talks about a little girl's perspective on people on her first day. His mother gave him an unusual breakfast and clothes for his new school Seaton Elementary all along New Jersey Avenue. At the Walker-Jones school, a significant event happens to him. She learns a vital fact about her mother's past and the way she acts. The daughter sees that the mother doesn't seem to like the teacher in her daughter's new class. A significant event can change the way you saw people, moving from your old understanding to another understanding completely different from how you saw them before. She had a usual day for her first day of school, she was fed generally unhealthy oatmeal with brown sugar along with brand new clothes too. The mother thought her first appearances at school would be important. They lived on 1227 New Jersey Avenue where Seaton Elementary School is located, right across the street from their home. Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, its parent church is directly across the street from the school. The girl's mother always told her that she would go to the elementary school across the street from her church even though she wasn't born yet. A woman at the entrance said "wrong school, we should be at Walker-Jones." The mother said she wanted her to attend that school and asked for a reason why she couldn't go. She sees that her mother only wants her to appear at this elementary school. Mt. Carmel Baptist is the mother church and she would feel separated from her connection with God if she did not attend school. T...... middle of paper ......that she doesn't force what she told her daughter about looking at others. She looked and looked at the teacher twice, which would demonstrate that the mother doesn't like something about her. “Her lips are trembling,” the girl said, showing that her mother was trembling when she spoke to her. They touch and press their lips like in an old game, but instead the mother put her hand to the side, which indicated that this was not part of the old game, but it was different. The mother was putting on her shoes as she walked down the hall with her daughter and the teacher was making a very loud noise. Singing and talking in the classroom as they walked to the room still wasn't loud enough to take off his mother's shoes while walking down the hall. Here the mother shows emotions that she does not approve of towards the teacher, such as in her actions and taking loud steps in the hallway..