Question

How does Benito's conversation with Camila, the camp director, at the end of his first work day act as foreshadowing?

Answer 1

In “Whistling my troubles away”, Benito has no previous experience with children. After his first day acting as counselor in a camp for kids, he realizes his attempt to make the kids focus is a disaster. Benito is afraid he might not be able to come up with a play that the kids will actually want to perform.

By the end of his first day, Camila, the camp director, thanks Benito for his help and lets him know a representative from a foundation is coming to watch the kids’ play in order to decide if the camp’s drama program deserves funding. Camila does tell Benito that the representative will not be expecting a big production, but he still gets nervous about it. Because of his nervousness, Benito starts whistling.

This part of the narrative acts as foreshadowing because whistling is precisely what is going to save Benito and the play at the end of the story. He is not able to control or teach the kids anything until the last day when, done trying, he effortlessly whistles and one of the little girls asks him to teach her. He ends up teaching all of the kids and that becomes the skit they perform. The representative is pleased by it and Benito is offered the job as counselor permanently.