Going Places is a story written by A.R. Barton, and it talks about teenagers and their dreams. During teenage years, it is very common for young people to imagine a life far away from reality, and they often look up to their role models with admiration. In this story, Sophie is a teenager from a lower middle-class family, and she strongly believes in her dreams. Her biggest dream is to own the finest boutique in the city. However, there is no money or proper support that could help her achieve this. On the other hand, her friend Jansie is very practical and fully aware of life’s realities. Therefore, she advises Sophie not to waste time on such fantasies, because opening a boutique requires a lot of money.
Even then, Sophie continues dreaming. She imagines working as a manager in a store so that she can save money and later open her boutique. She is an incorrigible dreamer who also imagines being an actress or a fashion designer. Meanwhile, her hero is Danny Casey, a young football star. Eventually, she even begins to believe that she has actually met him. As a result, her dreams about Danny become the reason for both her hope and her disappointments. Sophie’s father disapproves of her unrealistic dreams. Her elder brother Geoff, who works as an apprentice mechanic, is calm and mysterious. When Sophie tells him that she met Danny Casey by chance, he does not believe her. Even so, she requests Geoff not to tell anyone, especially about Danny asking her to meet him again.
Later, the family watches Danny Casey play in a football match, and he performs exceptionally well. Sophie’s father, Geoff, and Derek celebrate his victory with excitement. Soon after, Sophie is shocked to learn that Jansie knows about her supposed meeting with Danny. Although Sophie tries to avoid the topic, she realizes that Jansie knows nothing about the second meeting. Sophie feels relieved because Geoff had kept her trust. She explains to Jansie that she wanted an autograph, but Danny could not sign since he had no pen or paper. Jansie promises that she can keep the secret.
Afterward, Sophie waits for Danny at her favourite spot along the canal. She tries to balance the hope of his arrival with the fear that he might not come. Gradually, her thoughts make her sad, and she wonders how she will face her family if no one believes her again. Finally, Sophie slips back into her fantasy and imagines meeting Casey at Royces. She becomes overwhelmed by the memories of the football match, which turns out to be the only real moment she had ever seen Danny Casey in her life.
Intro of “going places”
Going Places Summary
Character Sketch of Sophie
Sophie is the central character of the story “Going Places.” She is a teenage girl from a lower middle-class family, but despite her ordinary background, she is filled with big dreams and fantasies. Her dream is to own the finest boutique in the city. But there is no money or means by which she can do it. Her friend and classmate, Jansie, is a practical girl well aware of the realities of life. She asks Sophie not to indulge in such fantasies. In order to have a boutique, one needs a lot of money. Sophie aspires to run a store where she will work as a manager and she will save the money to have her own boutique. She happens to be an incorrigible dreamer.
Character Sketch of Jansie
Jansie is Sophie’s close friend and a complete opposite of her in nature. Jansie, is a practical girl well aware of the realities of life. She asks Sophie not to indulge in such fantasies. Jansie often tries to bring Sophie back to reality by reminding her that running a boutique or meeting a famous football star is not possible for them. She is caring and honest, and she worries that Sophie’s unrealistic dreams may hurt her in the future. Through Jansie, the story highlights the difference between reality and imagination in teenage life.
Character Sketch of Geoff
Geoff is Sophie‘s elder brother and Geoff is an apprentice mechanic and an enigmatic character. He is quiet, reserved, and not very expressive, which makes him seem mysterious in Sophie’s eyes. Unlike their father, Geoff listens to Sophie patiently, even when he does not fully believe her stories. Sophie admires him deeply and feels that he lives in a more exciting world to which she does not have access.. His calm personality, sense of responsibility, and reliability make Geoff an important supporting character in the story.
Important points to remember
Going Places is a story written by A.R. Barton, and it talks about teenagers and their dreams.
These characters show the contrast between dreams and reality in teenage life.
Sophie is the central character of the story. Sophie is a teenager from a lower middle-class family, and she strongly believes in her dreams.
Her dream is to own the finest boutique in the city.
Jansie is practical, sensible, and understands financial limitations.
She tries to bring Sophie back to reality to prevent future disappointment.
Geoff, Sophie’s elder brother, is quiet, mature, and mysterious.
Geoff is an apprentice mechanic and an enigmatic character.
