We begin the story with the death of a character, Lila. At first, we can assume that this is a normal family, with the death of a loved one. Later on in the story, the writer places the reader in an awkward situation. After the funeral, at the wake we are introduced to a character that we are yet to forget. “My sister and I sat down on the couch, pressed against each other, watching our father cry all over his friend, our mother’s lover”(2). We can see early on that the father character is obviously a good friend of this man, but the question is, does the f

On the other hand, people may take this relationship as something completely unacceptable, and maybe even a sin. However, Bloom’s talent lies making these surprising twists on typical relationships seen normal, and indefinitely acceptable in the circumstances that we find them. In this case, the married couple needed another partner to be truly content. As Lila said, “when the two of them are in the room together and you two girls are with us, I know that I am living in a state of grace”(18). Another example, would be when once again Lila, explains to Lizzie how much she loved them individually. “And she said that the three of them loved each other, each differently, and that they were both amazing men, each special, each deserving love and appreciation”(18). The Lila, Dan, and Mr. DeCuervo situation may not seem like an everyday typical next-door neighborhood family. It is safe to assume with the examples in mind that a little flexible structuring in life may lead to happiness more easily, than what is blindly anticipated when you follow what is expected of you.

In this story, some might believe that Bloom exemplifies alternative lifestyles to satisfy human needs more fully than a traditional family. Like for example, when Ellen walks into her parents bedroom at the cabin only to find her mother sandwiched between two men. “I pushed open the creaky door and saw my mother spooned up against my father’s back, as she always was, and Mr. DeCuervo spooned up against her, his arm over the covers, his other hand resting on the top of her head”(15). In this case, because Ellen was at such a young age she sees her mother as having some sort of relationship, but is confused about what is really going on. Later she explains to Lizzie that although she was aware of

Some topics in this essay:
John Wescott, Lila DeCuervo, Bloom Lila, Decuervo Daddy’s, Dan DeCuervo, , example ellen, safe assume, “love pie”, normal family, normal response, explains lizzie, ellen’s mother,