Arnold Friend: Still Relevant To Today's Generations

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Connie’s story and the topics presented in it are still relevant to today’s generations. Despite the many changes seen throughout the years in generations and society itself, rebellion and stranger danger is still very much seen today, if not more than before. Connie is the prime example of what a young teenager is capable of doing to rebel and what influences one to do so. Arnold Friend is an example of stranger danger and is just one of the many situations that could be brought upon oneself from being too liberal or carefree. Connie is referred to in the beginning as being two-sided. At home, Connie seems immature, but away from home, she aims to look mature, and seductive. Connie is unjustly compared to her twenty-four-year-old sister by her parents and is constantly judged for everything she does. Her dad works a lot, so he isn’t much of an influence, and her mom lets her go out with her friend simply because June, Connie’s sister, goes out with friends as well. Here we have a motive and then an opportunity. Connie rebelled by sneaking across the highway, from a shopping plaza to a drive-in restaurant to meet boys when she went out with her friend. This kind of activity repeats itself throughout the summer, but one night, a man, Arnold Friend, wags his finger at Connie and says …show more content…
One day, her parents and June leave her at home alone while they go to a family barbecue. At one point, Arnold Friend pulls up to her driveway and begins talking to her. The man grins and begins talking to her. Arnold asks Connie to get in the car, but Connie refuses to do so. He tries to gain her trust by naming her friends and family members, but Connie doesn’t budge. Connie tells Arnold he should leave, but he insists on taking her for a ride. Later on, Connie gives in to her fear and rushes for the phone to call for help, but is too terrified. Then Arnold convinces her to put the phone on the hook and to go with