Student Question
Why might the author of Seedfolks have Kim think of her father in the vacant lot?
Quick answer:
Kim thinks of her father in the vacant lot because he was a farmer, and it is just after the anniversary of his death. Her father died before she was born, leaving her longing for a connection with him. In the vacant lot, Kim hopes that by planting seeds, her father will recognize her as his daughter. This act symbolizes her desire to establish a bond through shared farming heritage.
The vacant lot probably makes Kim think of her father because he was a farmer and because it is the day after the anniversary of his death.
Kim's father has been dead for ten years; he died before he ever got the chance to know her. She's only nine. When the story opens, it's the morning after the anniversary of his death. The candle and incense on the altar have burned away.
Kim takes seeds, water, and a spoon and walks to the vacant lot. There, she thinks about her father. She's jealous of the memories her family has of him and jealous of the fact that he knew them. Even though their apartment has no yard, she thinks, in the vacant lot, maybe her father can see her. Kim believes that if he sees her farming, he'll see that she is his daughter.
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