Read BOTH passages. Then answer the question that follows.

I Don’t Want To Go

Emily zipped up her suitcase, sighed loudly, and then lugged it out to the Family Utility Vehicle. “Why do I have to go?” she asked.

“This is a family vacation,” replied her dad. Sure it was, she thought. The idea of spending three entire days and nights sleeping in a tent out in the wilderness that was named after the explorer Daniel Boone did not appeal to her girly side.

“Mom, can we stay…?” Before she could finish, Emily’s younger brother came bolting out the door, his suitcase overflowing, and his momentum almost knocking her to the ground. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Emily climbed into the backseat, her MP3 player blasting loudly; at least she had some piece of civilization left. As they drove for what seemed like forever, Emily enjoyed peering out the window. As they got farther and farther away from the city, she began to catch glimpses of rabbits, squirrels, and various birds that she wasn’t used to seeing. The tall buildings and annoying noises of the city began to be replaced by a peaceful quiet. She turned her music off, but kept the ear buds in place, as she didn’t want anyone to know that she was enjoying the ride. Finally, she saw the sign: Welcome to the Daniel Boone National Forest.

“Can we hike to the falls?” her brother asked.

She exited the vehicle, declared that she was ready for a walk. She had heard about Cumberland Falls but had never actually seen them. Some of her classmates had mentioned that they were smaller, but a lot like Niagara Falls. She had no desire to let the others know she was excited, but she hoped that her dad would say that they could go exploring.

Looking around her, she saw huge mountains that seemed to tower above the river below. This was much different from the small subdivision that she called home. Just maybe the next three days wouldn’t be so bad. As she removed her earbuds, she smiled, as a small deer crossed the pathway several hundred feet in the distance. The first live deer that she had ever seen was when she was twelve. “ Wow, this is really amazing! Let’s take that walk, Dad.”

“Really?” he asked.

Passage 2

Jasmine nervously left the car. She and her parents had been riding for what seemed like days, but after ten hours, they were finally here. She carefully studied the old farmhouse.

“Are you ready?” her dad asked. Jasmine only shrugged. She had talked with her “G”, as she the kind lady had referred to herself, a few times on the phone, but at the age of eight, she had never actually met her grandma. It seemed that work, school, or illness had kept her away.

Jasmine’s parents had told her stories about her “G” and that she had met her when she was only a few months old, but in Jasmine’s mind this was the first time. She exited the car and was greeted by a petite, black-haired lady, standing in the doorway. Her smile looked familiar. It seemed to be a combination of her own and the warm smile that her dad seldom showed, but that warmed her heart, over and over.

Her “G” had scooped her up. “Come on in here, Jasmine.”

Jasmine felt a bit nervous, but she walked into the house with her grandmother’s arms still around her. I bet you are tired of sitting. “How long have you had my beautiful granddaughter cooped up in that car?” asked her “G”.

Jasmine’s dad replied, “It has been a while.”

“Come on, honey. There is so much that I want to show you.”Her grandma cooed. Jasmine followed her grandmother through the house. It seemed that they exited one doorway, only to enter another. “Here is a surprise for you.” her grandma stated. Looking down, Jasmine saw the most beautiful locket. She picked it up, nervously. “I have been saving this for you. It was your great granny’s…my mom’s.”

Jasmine pulled it closer for a better view.

“Let me put it on you, you beautiful girl.”

How are the themes in these passages related?