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72. Pride
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
Emoni has never considered actually going to Disney On Ice, though she’s seen the commercials for years. She feels giddy as she waits in line with Laura, Angelica, Babygirl, and Malachi. ’Buela declined to join them. When they reach the front of the line and Malachi steps up with the tickets, Angelica quietly asks Emoni how Tyrone took this outing. Emoni says nothing, so Angelica hisses. Emoni says she knows Tyrone dates and has girls around Babygirl, and he can’t stop her from taking Babygirl to Disney On Ice. Laura notices Angelica throw up her hands, but Angelica and Emoni smile big, fake smiles and insist everything is fine. Malachi tells Emoni to smile: he gets the tickets from his aunt, who works here, and they’re about to meet her.
While anyone can enjoy a show like Disney On Ice, Emoni’s excitement about seeing it casts her in a somewhat childish light. This isn’t a negative thing; rather, it reminds readers that Emoni is just a kid, even though she’s also a parent to her own child. However, not all is light and bright and innocent, as Emoni can’t totally escape her more mature responsibilities—which, if one believes Angelica, should’ve entailed letting Tyrone know about Disney On Ice. But Emoni seems to fear that Tyrone would just ruin this night for her, and she’d like to have this moment of happiness for herself.
Themes
