Front Door Phobia

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” draws a parallel to the dangers experienced in our world. In a place known for an abundance of freedoms, teenage girls are especially prone to meeting extremely creepy people on the streets. When adolescent girls try to dress past their age in provocative clothing on a daily basis, it’s pretty much screaming “easy target” for predators.

In this story, Connie is just another girl covering her insecurities and innocence with her outward appearance. This draws the attention of a middle-aged man who covers his age by trying to fit in with the younger crowd. He also seems to know everything about Connie and her family. When he arrived outside her home and she was all alone, I knew Connie was in trouble. As I continued to read, I became more disturbed by Arnold Friend’s actions. My fear came partly from what Arnold was saying, but I think I was more personally jarred because it was all too similar to reality. I believe that was the motive of the author in making the situation familiar to the stories we hear in the news or what is portrayed in the media.

I’ve always lived in apartments, so when I moved to Kentucky, living in a house was a first. After two years, I’ve gotten a bit used to it, but when I’m home alone and it’s pitch black outside, I’ll feel a fear rising in my throat. (Maybe it’s because there was once a shirtless man running around the neighborhood ringing people’s doorbells- that was definitely creepy on many levels). I’m always wary of answering the door when I’m alone because of stories such as these. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” takes a hold of these fears that I and other readers may have and twists our stomachs in a way that makes us sick. Connie is just another materialistic girl, while Arnold (our very close Friend), is just another rapist that we unfortunately have in our society. These similarities make Connie’s experience all too real and familiar to us.

Even the title, in my opinion, sounds like a predator asking a bit too inquisitively about his or her victim’s life and whereabouts…in a very stalker-like way.