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And then the thrashing of the wind against the house and…

“And then the thrashing of the wind against the house and then what might have been a volley of pistol shots, and then a sound like something slowly spilling from a great height. Jacob pulled his knees up into his arms and whimpered. Annie, dramatically, put her arms around her father’s neck…” quote by Alice McDermott
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““And then the thrashing of the wind against the house and then what might have been a volley of pistol shots, and then a sound like something slowly spilling from a great height. Jacob pulled his knees up into his arms and whimpered. Annie, dramatically, put her arms around her father’s neck. “There went the tree,” he said.””

Alice McDermott

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A chaotic scene of wind, gunfire, and a falling tree triggers fear and protective instinct.

In simple terms: A frightening moment leads to comfort.

Key Takeaway

Seek calm amid chaos.

Themes

fear protection family

Mood

anxious protective

Type

narrative emotional

When to use this quote

  • war zones
  • stormy nights
  • family crises

Key Concepts

psychology trauma comfort

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we protect loved ones in crisis?
  • What calms fear?
A Different Perspective

Comfort may be temporary and not resolve underlying danger.

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