problem noun: a difficult question,
situation, person;
problematic adjective: Gracie Faltrain
The problem with Gracie Faltrain is that she needs to make an effort with her looks. I mean, on the soccer field she sort of glides. I noticed that the first time I saw her play. She looks a bit ordinary when I talk to her at school, though, you know? None of the guys in our year have gone out with her. Word is, she doesn’t even like guys. I bet I can change that, though. If I wanted to, that is.
What’s the problem with Gracie Faltrain? That’s easy – she thinks she’s so good. She’s so loud. She thinks just because she can play soccer Nick will be interested in her. I’ve liked Nick since he arrived. I don’t see why Gracie Faltrain should get him just because she wants to. Why shouldn’t I get something that I want?
I don’t know what the problem with Gracie Faltrain is, Mrs Wilson. She just doesn’t want to work with me.
The problem with Faltrain is that she plays for herself. She kicks for goal from the side when she should cross to the centre and let someone else score once in a while. She doesn’t listen when I tell her to pass. ‘What’s your problem, Martin?’ she asks. ‘I made the shot.’ Yeah, Faltrain, but you practically knocked out one of our players to do it. That’s my problem.
And mine.
That’s everyone’s problem.
The problem with you, Gracie Faltrain, is that you kill all the plants, even the weeds. You think I don’t notice that you only water half the plants every night. It’s easier to do it myself after you’ve gone home. If you don’t listen to me carefully we’ll be out of business.
The problem with Gracie is that she loves too fiercely. She sees the world in black and white, when it’s grey and blurred at the edges. ‘People do things we don’t like, honey,’ I say, but she doesn’t understand. If life isn’t exactly as she wants it to be then she shuts it off.
That’s like throwing away a breeze, warm and sweetened with jasmine, just because there’s a storm forecast for the end of the day. Just think of what you’re missing out on by staying inside. I’m worried she’ll throw away all her good memories when she realises that I’ve let her down. The last thing in the world I want to do is hurt her, but I’m going to; I know I am.
The problem with Mum is that she worries too much. We could do the work in half the time at the nursery if she’d listen to my plan to speed everything up. If we just watered half of the plants every night then we wouldn’t have to be there for so long. I figure what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. She’ll have some time to herself. I can have a kick before dinner. Now missing soccer, that’s a problem.