I remember this story from an abnormal psych lit class in high school. It is a difficult thing to eloquently and imaginatively express the pressures of growing-up in a dysfunctional family, especially with such brevity. Lawrence never sounds trivial as he tells us a story suitable for an early twilight zone episode. If he had gone a different route and abandoned the elements of fantasy it would not have been as effective. Lawrence by corrupting a common children’s toy, really shows Paul’s desperation. While the rocking horse visually parallels horse racing. Further, the boy’s illness reminds the reader that gambling is an illness.

The idea of luck is used by the mother as an excuse and by her son as an obsession. Lawrence speaks of an unhappy upbringing in the tone of a children's tale, evoking the perspective of the child, this is more provocative than a solemn mature tone would have been. Another element of innocence and fantasy, is the way in which the house itself whispers of their never having enough money. This theme of greed and insecurity is repeated constantly throughout, providing enough build up to make the boy’s death seem plausible. However, for me the opening paragraph is the most disturbing, when we find out of the mother’s inability to love her children. Sadly, she wants to but she is simply unable to. Her maternal instincts do come out, but unfortunately not soon enough.

The sentences themselves vary from short and clear to long and informative series style sentences.