Fish Out of Water: The Turbulent Life of Antwone Fisher's Childhood
Finding Fish: A Memoir, is the tumultuous journey of Antwone Quenton Fisher's fairly disturbing life story, as particularly exemplified by the former part of his existence in which he subsisted in a foster home with a rather decidedly dearth of love, affection, and positive attention which is so important to the cultivation of a prosperous life. Despite a neglectful, abusive childhood and early adolescence in such desolate conditions, Fisher was able to rally his self-respect and self-esteem shortly after leaving this foster home, which was largely organized and operated under the auspices of one Mizz Pickett, whereby Fisher was able to eventually enlist in the United States Armed Forces. It was there that he regained much of the rectitude which was conspicuously absent from his early life, and was eventually able to parley that experience, along with his own innate prowess for creativity and the written word, to a successful career as a screen writer.
The most interesting aspect of this non-fiction tale, of course, lies in the treatment which the youngster endured at the hands of Mizz Pickett and the environment which she provided for Fisher as well as for the other foster children who were under her care, and which included at one point another child named Dwight as well as a young girl by the name of Florence. There are a number of cultural aspects which distinguish this particular foster...
Pickett, from that of other families. One of the most salient of these aspects which immediately makes its presence known to the reader is the lack of affection bestowed upon the children by Mizz Picket, particularly in the face of occasions which are supposed to be joyful, such as those involving national holidays. Early on in his narration, Fisher recounts an episode which occurred the day after Halloween, in which he had happily procured a surfeit of candy which he and the rest of the foster children had been eagerly anticipating sampling the next day. However, the following quotation in which Mizz Pickett is codifying the candy by type, illustrates how unreasonably stringent her treatment of the foster children is.
"…she has finished sorting every last lollipop, peppermint, chocolate kiss, Hershey's bar, gumdrop, licorice stick, piece of bubble gum, PayDay Jujubes, you name it. Then, wiping her hands together first, Mizz Pickett slams the lid shut on the metal box and slaps on a Master lock…she ain't gonna let us have none (p.54)." This quotation illustrated the spiteful nature of Mizz Pickett, who would rather entice her foster children by showcasing all of the candy which she will not permit them to have than simply allow them to partake in a tradition of the eating of candy after a holiday such as Halloween. Another cultural aspect which definitely separates Mizz Pickett's foster family…
