nfortunately for Leroy, Norma Jean has moved on with her life, much likefriends who move on after high school graduation. Leroy would like for things to be theway they were, but Norma Jean has chosen a different course in her life that doesn’tinvolve Leroy. She works at the Rexall Drug Store, loves to play music, and is takingclasses in composition at Paducah Community College. Bobbie Ann Mason uses literarydevices in her story to tell of the impending divorce of Leroy and Norma Jean. The use ofsymbolism and foreshadowing are both used to clue the reader into the eventual fate of theMoffitt’s marriage:Sitting in his Paducah, Kentucky home, Leroy stares towards the backyard wherehis rig is parked. He says it looks “like a gigantic bird that has flown home to roost”(Mason 46). This quote symbolizes that the leader of the home has returned, but sadly,Leroy is misinformed. In fact, he is scared of what the future holds. To pass the time hebuilds models from kits, including log cabins, hardly a productive activity. Sitting on thecouch he realizes that “in all the years he as on the road he never took time to examineanything” (Mason 46). He’s speaking about the scenery on the road but I can deduct thatin addition to scenery, Leroy neglected to examine his marriage. At this point, Leroy’smarriage is in a irreconcilable state. The only connection Leroy can forge with his wife iswhen she starts talking about cosmetics (creams, toners, moisturizers). He also thinksabout petroleum products - axle grease and diesel fuel. Don’t get me wrong, Leroy feelsguilty about his long absences, but now that he’s home, he wishes that his wife wouldcelebrate his permanent homecoming more happily. This foreshadows her relativedisappointment with the marriage and its impending end. Leroy even observes that they“sometimes feel awkward around each other” (Mason 47). This shouldn...
