Is jealous of Steven and disapproving of Alices' behaviour
At the start of the story the old man locks up his favourite pigeon, rather than let it fly
Alice
Alice has tears on her face, as she stares at her
grandfather. But we do not know if they are for her
grandfather, for Steven or for herself and we do not
know if they are tears of joy or sadness.
Lucy
The old man complains to Alices mother Lucy about
about Alicse behaviour
Steven
Steven, gives him a present of a new pigeon. This helps the old
man accept what is going to happen.
Plot
An unnamed old man who keeps
pigeons, worries about his
granddaughter, Alice. The end of
the story is ambiguous.
Theme
Leaving home and becoming independent are things which most people face
sooner or later. They can be alarming, but they are natural and almost inevitable.
Sometimes this kind of story is described in the phrase “rites of passage” - which
fits narratives about growing up, moving on and life-changes.