Slam Choices Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

I looked at her. Had? I had a future? Where was it now? I wanted her to tell me that everything was going to be all right. I wanted her to say that she'd survived, so I could too. But she wasn't telling me that. She was telling me that I didn't have a future anymore. (9.264)

His mom tells him he has no future, and Sam gets upset (if only in his mind). He feels like everyone thinks he's erased all of his choices in life, even though he doesn't think this is true. Hmm… we can't help but wonder whether Sam's mom is right. Has he taken away his future, or can is still be however he wants?

Quote #5

"So you don't know what you think yet, do you? You can't possibly know whether you want to keep it or not."

"Oh, I know that," said Alicia. "I'm not killing my baby." (9.298-299)

Quick to make decisions, Alicia knows what she wants. She knows an abortion is not right for her and tells everyone as much right away. We can see the difference between Sam (who runs away and then wonders why everyone is freaking out) and Alicia (who researches her decision online and then sticks to her guns) in how they make choices.

Quote #6

The important bit was that their plans for Alicia had gone up in smoke. I don't really think they had any actual plans, to be honest, but whatever plans they had didn't involve a baby. People like them didn't have a pregnant daughter, and they couldn't get their heads around it, you could see that. (11.3)

It doesn't matter whether Alicia's parents had concrete plans or not. The fact is—according to them—her future is gone. Part of why they are so angry with Sam is because they feel he took away Alicia's choices in life. They want her to get to decide what she'll do instead of having someone else decide for her.