On Sun, 19 May 1996, Neill Walker wrote:

Mr. the Rutsch[SMTP:jdrutsch@ucdavis.edu] wrote:

I wouldn't say she's acting like a ditz... it's clear from her thoughts 
that she knows EXACTLY what she's doing.

Maybe I'm not making myself clear.  Take #2:

In this story, Kasumi was shown to be intelligent.

In Ranma 1/2, in which this story is set, Kasumi does things stereotypical 
of a ditz.  No matter what your motives, "would the elves like something 
for breakfast?" is saying something stereotypical of a ditz.

I'm asking: why the disparity?  If she's intelligent, why does she 
consistently act like a ditz around the family?  I realize she has 
ulterior motives for specific examples...but I don't see any reason why 
she consistently acts that way.

There's plenty of methods to get what you want done without acting like a 
ditz.  As I mentioned, Kasumi's main value to the family, in this story, 
is as a mother...and being a ditz is neither a necessary nor a positive 
characteristic for a mother.  

Maybe I'm missing out on something that's obvious.  If so, please explain 
what.  

Huh??  It WAS a day in the life... the hair cut and Tofu's mom were 
flashbacks.  The story clearly started in the morning and ended in the 

I re-read the story (again), and I stand by my initial confusion. ^_^

There's the even-odd thing going on, which maybe I should have caught on 
to.  However, much of the story is in flashbacks.  So it's not just "a 
day in the life", it's also "the memoirs of Kasumi."

It's linear in kind of the same way _Slaughter-House 5_ was. ^_^

How better to develop a character than to use typical occasions?  If 
extraordinary circumstances were used, Kasumi probably would be acting 
extraordinarily...  I say, GOOD JOB! 

I agree entirely.  My opinion is that limiting the events of the story to a 
single ordinary, perhaps *boring* day, with *no* flashbacks, would be even 
better, would be even more representative of Kasumi's life.  

I like the vagueness of the hair-intro... it just shows a young woman 
analyzing herself as she gets out of bed... doesn't everybody do that?  

I don't ^_^.  

And it only has more meaning when the haircut flashback is revealed. 

I loved the opening scene.  I really did.  Also, I think a metaphor 
for the family would be a nice addition to the story.  

I wouldn't change a thing.

'Course, as C&C, that's useless...and he asked for C&C.

Jeff

****jdrutsch@ucdavis.edu***********************Jeff Rutsch************* 
"Ranma's not a boy...he's a girl!"
"Akane is MY fiancee!  You TOUCH her, and I'll KILL you!"
"Ranma, change back into a boy while I buy you some time."
"But if I seem to act unkind/it's only me, it's not my mind."
"Ranma [sic],/give your heart to Akane [sic]. /Soon,/right away."
**^_^*****^_^*****^_^*****^_^*****^_^*****^_^*****^_^*****^_^*****^_^**