Through the tunnel, by Dorris Lessing

Setting
Time: During summer.
Place: At the beach.

Plot
The story is about a young English boy,11-years old Jerry and his widowed mother are on holiday at a beach they usually come to many times in years past. Though the beach location is not stated in the story, it is said to be in a country that is foreign to them both. This story tells of Jerry's determination to prove himself that he can do the impossible,which is to swim down where the older boys swim.Initially,he feels unsure and isolated and he becomes even more emergence of the group of boys, who frequent the beach. Not only do they make him feel unwelcome at first, but already formed an exclusive group and are not willing to add another member.Despite his feelings of isolation and the feeling that he is being judged,he wants more than anything to be part of the group. When the boys see him and identify Jerry as a stranger, they "proceed to forget him." Despite the boys avoiding Jerry,"he was happy" because "he was with them." On the second day,looking back to the shore,Jerry sees the boys strip off their clothes.As they begin to dive,Jerry decided to join in,he was so proud of himself each time he dives.He is not sure if he could make it and the boys keeps a distance from him and speaking a language he did not understand.He prepared,and dives accordingly,he tried swimming and felt some changes.He kept swimming and counting seconds and then after,he reached the darkness uphead and no more oxygen left in his system.He then saw the light in the distance to the surface and decide to swim and accomplish his mission.Jerry finally achieves his goal,there is no congratulation,just a quiet celebration within himself knowing that he succeded.

Main character
Jerry,11-years old boy is the main character in the story,