How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
We lost a few adult soldiers on our side and my friends Musa and Josiah. Musa, the storyteller, was gone. There was no one around to tell us stories and make us laugh at times when we needed it. (13.15)
This is another example of how losing stories is a loss of the past. Stories were Ishmael's brief periods of escape from his horrible present.
Quote #8
I sternly asked, "Why did you get me this Walkman and cassette if we are not friends? And how did you know that I like rap music?"
"Please sit down," she said, taking the package from me, putting the battery and cassette in the Walkman, and handing it to me. I put the headphones on and there was Run-D.M.C.: "It's like that, and that the way it is…" coming through the headphones. I began to shake my head, then Esther lifted the headphones off my ears and said, "I have to examine you while you listen to the music." I agreed, and took off my shirt, stood on a scale, and she checked my tongue, used a flash-light to look into my eyes… I didn't care because the song had taken hold of me, and I listened closely to every word. (17.17-18)
Esther is a pretty smart lady. Ishmael actually mentioned on one of his little questionnaires that he likes rap music, so Esther goes out and buys him some. A reintroduction to the songs from his childhood is exactly what this child soldier needs to heal.
Quote #9
Most of the facilitators worked for NGOs, but there was a short white woman with long dark hair and bright eyes who said, "I am a storyteller." I was surprised at this and gave her all my attention. She used elaborate gestures and spoke very clearly, enunciating every word. She said her name was Laura Simms. She introduced her co-facilitator, Therese Plair, who was light-skinned, had African features, and held a drum. Before Laura finished talking, I had already decided that I would take her workshop. She said she would teach us how to tell our stories in a more compelling way. I was curious to find out how this white woman, born in New York City, had become a storyteller. (20.14)
Ishmael is instantly drawn to Laura because she says she's a storyteller—just like him and his family. It seems like fate that she would end up becoming his adoptive mom in the end.