Shadows
by Judy MacFarlane.

What are they? Who are they? Do they belong to someone? I have seen many shadows. On nice sunny days you can see your shadow while outside walking. Shadows in the lake showing the trees, and hills that surround the lake. You can make shadows on the wall, by using a lamp for light, and your hands to make the shadows look like animals. It is possible to make these shadows move by moving your fingers. But, what about the shadows that appear in your mind? Shadows that seem to hold a secret. Secrets of the past, some of these shadows are very thick like a storm cloud. These are the ones that stay in the mind. Causing a tidal wave in my body. Then there are the shadows that are very light and fluffy, but shaded. These ones seem to have a face from the past. But the faces won't focus. Are these shadows a part of me? Are they a part of my past? Will they ever identify themselves? 

Background Information

This story is about two kinds of shadows. The kind you see when the light hits something or someone and the kind that you might find inside yourself. Talk about both kinds of shadows. Which shadows are easier to describe?

Questions

1. What can you see on a sunny day?

2. How do you make shadows on the wall?

3. What is a shadow?

4. Why do you think Judy likes shadows?

5. What is another word for fingers?

6. What kind of shadow do you think can appear in your mind?

7. What does Judy say inside shadows may look like?

8. What is a tidal wave?

9. What do you think Judy's light and fluffy shadows might be?

10. Do you think these inside shadows are part of Judy's past? Why?