Characters - Children Have to Grow Up: "Careful he might hear you" by Sumner Lock Elliot

Sumner Lock Elliot's novel "Careful he might hear you" introduces to the reader part of the journey made by a six-year old boy named PS, on his way to adulthood. It illustrates also the notion that growing up is a multifaceted activity, requiring not only a physical maturation, but an emotional advancement as well. He suggests that people other than children need to grow up (as indeed they do). The adults most responsible for moulding …

…behaviour of the adults untilthat point. "That's all I have to say" concludes Vanessa, verbally bidding goodbye to her own inadequacies. As a result of this advancement of Vanessa's, PS is now aware that "there was really only him. Bill." He, at age seven, has come to a conclusion man adolescents and young adults have difficulty in reaching- and has been forced to do so alone because there had ben no-one capable of assisting him.