Jack A. Hardin
English 1109 at 9:46, W
September 2, 2020
Snapshot One: My Name
Jack is my name. A name that was very common throughout my twelve years of school. In elementary, there were only two Jacks: me and someone else. When I got into middle school, that name was growing. In high school, there were less than twenty Jacks, not including my fellow grads. Every time someone would yell Jack form behind, I would look over and realize that they were talking to another Jack from a different grade. Yet no one would call out my name in the hallways. I was a transparent object in a world that didn’t bother to speak my name.
I got my name from my grandfather: Grandpa Jack. There was one time when over at Grandpa Jack’s and Grandma Lea’s house for vacation. Grandpa Jack was off somewhere in the house when I was sitting in the living room near the kitchen. Grandma Lea then yelled out what Grandpa Jack what he would like for lunch, thinking that he was still around. When she called his name again, a twisted idea emerged from head. I smiled a “Grinch” smile and replied in an old, raggedy voice. She asked what I would like on my sandwich, and I gave her a random answer. Confused, she then asked what kind of chips I would like on the side, and I gave her another random answer. The fact that I wasn’t even trying my best with the imitation made me laugh. I asked her to come to the living room. She came out of the kitchen and was surprised to find me in living room instead of Grandpa Jack. Now I knew what it was like to mess around with someone’s name like a deck of cards shuffled in my favor as dealer.
Jack Hardin is a name you would find on an attendance list, J. Alexander is a name you would find plastered on a restaurant, and Jack Alexander Hardin is a name too long for my own comfort, but Jack A. Hardin is a name you would find on the cover of a book. A name of poetry, a name of meaning and remembrance… some day. Yes. Something like Jack A. Hardin will do.
I like that you got your name from your grandfather! family names are always interesting
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ReplyDeleteEven though you may have common name I think you ran with this so well. I really enjoyed reading the last paragraph where you compared the different ways you arrange your name and I can imagine what you saying. I really liked it.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of jacks that were in my school it is a very common name. I also wasn’t a very talked to in school either not in the hallways unless it was the close close friends I feel how you felt when someone called a different jack. My grandma has my middle name like how your grandfather has your name.
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