Structure

The short story “Waiting for Her” by Amina Henry follows a teenage character-narrator before and shortly after her mother’s release from prison. The short story is character-focused looking at how the narrator perceives growing up with a mother in jail, being the daughter of drug addicts, preparing for her mother’s return from jail, and welcoming her mother back h…

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Beginning

The story begins directly with the narrative hook “This is what I remember.” (l. 1) and continues with the exposition. Here, the narrator introduces herself: “There is this girl. Me. My name is Victory Barnes and I hate it.” (l.3)

Giving readers a backstory on her name, the narrator also includes details about the characters’ background: “My mother told me that she …

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Middle

The middle of the short story focuses on Victory’s feelings and reactions with regards to her mother’s return: “I don't know how to feel about the whole thing, so I decide not to feel anything at all.” (ll. 21-22)

The rising action narrates the day before the mother’s release, combining backstories with tension points.

For example, from a backstory about the mother, we find out that both Victory’s parents were drug addicts: “My mother is a heroine addict who got sent to prison for selling drugs in school yards. My father was a heroine addict, too, but he's dead now.” (ll. 28-30…

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Ending

The story has a closed resolution as it marks a return to a previous emotional state for the narrator. After she hugs her mother and feels happy for a moment, the narrator cannot help but hate her mother again and feel frustrated about the fact that she grew up without her: “We've …