First by Ryan Van Meter

"First" describes an experience the author had with his childhood crush, Ben, when they were young.  Both of them are boys. While on a car ride with Ben one night, the author asks Ben to marry him. His mom overhears their conversation, and tells the author that boys don't marry boys. This comes as a blow to the author, and he forces himself to hide his feelings. This essay was intended to share a childhood experience with the reader; in particular, a childhood experience that really changed the author. The car ride was the first time he was told that he shouldn’t feel a certain way. The essay speaks of an important moment in the author's life. This piece was probably written for all teens and adults, as the language was easy to comprehend. The most important rhetorical device used in this essay is ambiguity. For nearly half the essay, the reader thinks is story is just about a normal childhood crush. The essay also employs imagery. When describing the moment the author and Ben are holding hands in the car, Meter says, "I want to see our hands on the rough floor, but they are visible only every block or so when the car passes beneath a streetlight, and then for only a flash" ( Meter 178-179). This strong imagery makes the situation vivid, as if the reader was in the car as well.The author does accomplish his purpose of sharing a defining experience. His story of his first crush is told with breath-taking detail and unspoken emotion. His choice to reveal his gender later in the essay makes the reader question their initial perceptions. Homosexuality has long been a source of controversy. Recently, it was in the Supreme Court. Even as we move towards an age of greater acceptance, there are still many people who oppose it. Today, Ryan Van Meter is openly gay. He received an M.A in creative writing and has written works for many sources. He was awarded residencies by the MacDowell Colony and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and is currently an assistant professor in English at the UCSF.

 

What We Left Behind

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, then loved for who I am not."-Kurt Cobain

Source: http://www.foreverparenting.com/1434/built-in-friends/