Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

This is a creepy story of a young girl growing up in a hurry. This story was one of absolute horror. Fifteen year old Connie seems to be not unlike any other teenage girl. She is consumed by her vanity. This character is vain and thinks of nothing but her own needs. "to glance into mirrors, or checking other people's faces to make sure her own was all right" page 509. Connie's mother was hard on her it is understood from this story. "You think you're so pretty?" page 509. I sense Connie's mother was just overly worried about her daughter's well being. Unfortunately all the negative feed back and no positive feed back leads Connie to have horrible wishes regarding her mother "Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over" page 511. Be careful for what you wish for. Connie being young and naive thought her looks would be her life "she knew she was pretty and that was everything" page 509.
The first sense of horror in this story is on page 511 with the line "Gonna get you, baby". This first introduction of the devil in disguise, Arnold Friend, is hair raising. The character Connie seemed to blow it off but the reader feels something chilling in the air. I could somehow sense once Connie's family left for the barbecue that something awful was going to happen. I could hear myself telling Connie she should have gone with her family. Arnold Friend the evil tries so hard to get Connie to come out of the house. The more he tries and the more impatient he becomes the more horrified Connie becomes in her realization of what is happening. I as the reader almost feel as if she is being punished for something. I feel as though the character may be stuck in a bad dream and can't wake up. The ending left me as the reader wondering what truly happens to poor young Connie? Maybe she wakes up from the horrible nightmare a new person. I would much rather imagine that way.

JenN