Describe what you get to know about Orion and the situation he is in.

Explain the relationship Orion has with each of his parents.

Focus on

• what Orion and his mother say and do,

• what Orion and his father say and do.

You have a choice here. Choose one of the following tasks.

Do only ONE of them!

a) Orion’s father tells him, “Focus on what you need to be focussing on” (ll. 34/35).

Comment on Orion’s father’s statement that the competition is more important than other things.

Include the following aspects:

• reasons why Orion should concentrate on the race

• situations in which you have to decide between two important options

• things in life which you think should always come first

or

b) Orion doesn’t win the competition. His parents talk to him about this at the dinner table that evening.

Write a continuation of the story.

Include the following aspects:

• possible reasons for not winning the competition

• his mother’s and his father’s reactions

• Orion’s reaction to what his parents say

You can start like this:

When we sit down for dinner, my dad asks me, “Would you like to talk about today’s race?” …

Orion is a teenage boy who is about to swim in an important competition. His parents are with him in the seating area, giving him support before his race. His dad even wears a stopwatch so he can time Orion’s swimming, which shows how serious the race is and how involved his parents are in his sport.

Orion is nervous but also excited. He has five to fifteen minutes before warm-ups, and his coach-style dad gives him a pep talk to help him focus. The talk shows that Orion is competitive and skilled at swimming. His dad reminds him that his only real competition is his own best time, especially in the 100m butterfly race, which tells us Orion is a talented swimmer.

At the same time, Orion is distracted because he has recently met a girl named Ray, whom he really likes. He keeps looking at photos of her on his phone and is “starry-eyed,” showing that he has a new crush. His mum has already noticed, and both parents tease him about it. Although Orion tries to act calm, it’s obvious that Ray is on his mind a lot.

This creates a contrast in the situation: Orion is supposed to focus on his race, but his feelings for Ray keep pulling his attention away.

Orion’s relationship with his mother is warm, playful and open. She notices that he keeps looking at photos, and she gently teases him about being “starry-eyed” (l. 1). Orion first tries to hide the photos and act like nothing is going on, which suggests a normal teenage reaction, but he eventually admits he likes Ray. This shows he trusts his mum enough to tell her the truth.

His mum jokes with him and even pinches his cheek. Orion pretends to push her hand away, but it is clear he enjoys the affection. She takes an interest in his love life, wants to meet Ray, and has a “funny grin” (l. 9), showing she is curious and supportive. When Orion goes off to warm up for his race, he hugs his mum and bends down for her kiss on the left cheek, which shows a familiar family routine and emotional closeness. Her encouragement — “Swim fast and pretty, baby” (l. 52) — shows that she is loving and supportive without being strict.

Overall, the mother-son relationship is affectionate, relaxed, and emotionally close.

Orion’s relationship with his father is more focused on discipline, motivation and sport. His father interrupts the conversation about the girl because he wants Orion to stay focused on the race. He wears a stopwatch to time Orion’s events, which shows he is heavily involved in his swimming and takes it seriously.

Before warm-ups, his father turns him around and gives him a strong pep talk. Their speech becomes almost like a ritual: the father asks, “Who is your competition?” (l. 39) and Orion answers loudly, “My fastest time” (l. 40). This shows that Orion respects his father and listens to his coaching. The repeated questions and answers build confidence and help Orion get into a competitive mindset.

There is also physical affection in a more masculine way: his dad “boxes” (l. 49) his shoulder instead of giving a kiss. It is encouraging, but not emotional like his mum. His father’s role is to help Orion stay focused and perform well.

To conclude, the father-son relationship is motivational, respectful and built around sport, discipline and encouragement. Nonetheless, Orion appears to have a close relationship with both his parents.

a)

Orion’s father wants him to “focus on what you need to be focussing on” (ll. 34/35), because right now the swimming competition is the most important thing. Orion only has a few minutes before warm-ups, and he has trained for a long time for this race. To swim well, he needs a clear mind, good concentration and confidence. If he keeps looking at photos of Ray or thinking about her, he might lose focus and not reach his best time. His father knows that Orion has worked hard and wants him to use this chance and not waste his effort because he is distracted. It does not mean that Ray is unimportant – it only means that the race needs his full attention at this moment.

In real life, we often have to choose between two things that both feel important. For example, someone might have to choose between meeting friends and studying for a test, or between sports training and a family birthday. Both options matter, but sometimes one has a deadline or affects our future more strongly, so we need to decide what to do first. Learning to choose priorities is something everyone has to practice, just like Orion does now.

Still, even if goals and success are important, some things in life should always come first. Health, family, close friends and emotional well-being are more important than winning a medal or getting a good grade. These relationships and our happiness last longer than one competition or one school result. So, Orion’s father is right that today the race should be Orion’s main focus, but in the bigger picture, love, family and well-being are the things that should always stay most important.

b)

When we sit down for dinner, my dad asks me, “Would you like to talk about today’s race?”

I look at my plate and sigh. “Sure,” I say. I already know I didn’t win, so talking about it won’t make things worse.

My dad says calmly, “You swam well, but you didn’t look fully focused. Any idea why?”

I shrug. “I was nervous, and I didn’t sleep much. And I think I started too fast. And… maybe I kept thinking about other things.” I don’t say Ray’s name, but my parents know.

My mum reaches for my hand. “It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to win every race. You still did your best, and you learned something today.”

Her words make me feel better. She never makes me feel like a failure.

My dad nods. “Winning is nice, but learning from mistakes matters more. Your body was ready, but your mind was somewhere else. Next time, try to control your thoughts before the race.”

I breathe out slowly. “I know. I tried to focus, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about other things.”

My mum smiles. “You worked hard all season. One bad race doesn’t define you.”

I feel relieved that neither of them is disappointed. “Thanks,” I say. “I just need to find a better balance.”

My dad pats my shoulder. “Exactly. And there will be more races. Keep learning and keep swimming.”

Even though losing hurts, I feel calmer. With my parents on my side, it already feels less like a failure.