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bridge to terabithia

This is good question for the discussion board.

This novel centers around how the protagonist, Jess, and his best friend Leslie use their imagination to cope with and conquer the "demons" they must deal with on a daily basis - bullies, fears, conflicts with parents, etc. 

One of the conflicts of the story is Jess's feeling of alienation within his own family.  As the only boy, he feels separated and either used or ignored by his mother and his sisters.  He would like a close relationship with his father, but the stressed out Mr. Aarons has little to do with him.  We see that Mr. Aarons does care for Jess, as he is able to comfort Jess after Leslie's death. 

His father sat down on the dirt beside him. "'I don't care. I don't care.' He was crying now, crying so hard he could barely breathe. "His father pulled Jess over on his lap as if he were Joyce Ann. 'There. There," he said, patting his head. 'Shhh. Shhh.'"

But it is only in this crisis that the two are able to connect.

I suggest the invention of a time-stopping device.  If Jess were able to stop time for his father, then his father would be able to be rested and get his work done and have time to spend time talking with Jess and sharing a relationship with him.  This would make Jess feel more accepted in his own family and would give Jess a positive adult relationship that would contribute to helping him mature as a person.