Peter and the Letter

Author’s note: This essay is about when Peter Driscal got the letter from Cole Matthews asking him to come out to the island with him. I as the writer am informing the reader on my prediction on how I think it went after he read the letter.

In the novel Touching Spirit Bear by: Ben Mikaelsen, a local boy Cole Matthews robs a small store in town. Well, he made the bad decision of bragging about it to people and Peter Driscal was the brave one who snitched. When Cole found out Peter told them he wasn’t very happy. At the end of school that day Cole ran up to Peter and started beating him pretty badly.

Cole had two choices, to go to jail or go to an island off the cost of Alaska. He obviously thought that the island would be pretty easy but when he gets there he realizes it’s going to get pretty hard. After awhile he gets beat by his spirit bear and has to go to the hospital for awhile. After the hospital he agrees to go back to the island and then he finally starts getting scared of what he might become so he starts to change his ways. He finds out that Peter tried to commit suicide two times and luckily failed, so he invites him to the island to meet peace with each other.

I am making the prediction that after Peter read the letter that Cole had sent him he most likely freaked out at first and said “No!”. Then his parents had to try and convince him to go, and eventually he would end up saying yes. Here is how I think the scene would be.

“Dear Peter,

I have been on this island for almost a year and a half now, and I have finally come to peace with myself and finally met my spirit bear. I am writing this letter to ask you if you wanted to come to the island with me to try and meet your spirit bear. I know what I did to you will never be forgotten and you will probably never forgive me, or ever regain my trust. All I’m asking is that you give it a chance.

Sincerely,

Cole Matthews”

“So what do you say son?” Mr. Driscal asked. “I say, No!” Peter answered. “Your father, Garvey, and I will be with you until you are comfortable by yourself.” Mrs. Driscal said. “I will never feel comfortable with that monster!” Peter quickly replied. “Look, you’re going and that’s final. There is nothing you can say to change my mind. Mr, Driscal said. “Fine, but until then I am no longer speaking to anyone in this household.” Peter yelled at his father. “Thank you for coming out here and trying to help. We really appreciate it.” Mrs. Driscal says.

I made this prediction because whenever Peter was around Cole at the spiritual meetings the author described Peter as really shaky and scared. I also made this certain prediction because in one of the last spiritual meetings when it was Peter’s turn they gave him the talking stick and he said, “I think that someone should smash Cole’s head into the sidewalk so he knows how it feels.” After he said that the crowd was silent the whole time besides for the people who were talking. What Peter said basically showed how scared he was and how much he hated Cole Matthews. That’s why I feel that it would’ve taken awhile for his parents to get him to go.