S.W.A.T. (Post #3)

“‘No!’ Street called, covered his face, and fell to the ground. The assailants showed him no mercy, firing wildly and howling with joy. After all, what could you do in a Super Soaker fight except fight back and die on command? … He was rolling around between kids, making sure they each got a good shot at him, when he heard Beethoven’s Fifth playing against his belt. His beeper! He sat up, dripping, in time to see Sanchez checking her own beeper. Could it be? The very next day after the final? Could it be today?” (166).

In this passage, the main character, Jim Street, has been kicked off S.W.A.T. and now is getting a second chance. His new team had just passed the final and is enjoying a day off at one of the fellow S.W.A.T. member’s daughter’s birthday. I like how the quote starts out. It made me think Street was really getting shot; only to find out it’s a water gun fight. When his beeper goes off, I don’t know what to think. Is this really a call for S.W.A.T. or is the author trying to trick me again?

This passage also makes me think about a S.W.A.T. member’s life. How would it feel to get a call in the middle of the day and have to drop everything to go to work? I think it would be tiring and annoying knowing anything you do could be interrupted on the spot.

I like how the author uses extreme detail in this book. For example, I like the diction of this passage. The author uses words like “wildly” and “howling” to help show the crazed nature of the assailants. I picture these cruel, desperate men running around like madmen. Furthermore, the author uses personification throughout the book to describe certain objects. I like how he makes the vehicles and weapons seem alive.