Chapter 5:
‘The day agreed upon’ To ‘Glad to see you again’ Recast this meeting from Gatsby’s
perspective.
Include:
Gatsby’s feelings about meeting Daisy
Gatsby’s thoughts about his plan.
Transformation:
It had been pouring with rain all morning and I found myself praying that it would stop as I
paced back and forth in the hallway outside my room. I would have to leave soon to Castle
Rackrent where Nick would be waiting for me. Reciting my plan and the lines I prepared the
night before to say when Daisy arrived, I made one last pace before straitening myself up
and heading out to my car. The rain was still heavy which made me scowl and I found that
the closer I drove to the castle, the more my confidence fell. By the time I reached the front
door of the castle my mind was in a numb panic, and I couldn’t remember anything of the
plan I had conjured up...
“Is everything all right?” I asked Nick when I arrived, anxious to see if my orders and
requests had been delivered and put in place.
“The grass looks fine, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Nick replied, a look of tiredness
on his face.
“What grass?” I asked again, the memory of asking for it to be cut had been completely
removed from my mind and replaced with a dense fog of nerves. I found myself forgetting as
Nick presented all of the other preparations to me, to which a replied in an apprehensively
reassuring tone to each.
It was ten to four and I had been skimming between the economic magazine in my hand and
the window when a wave of dread and regret washed over me.
“I’m going home, nobody’s coming, this was a mistake.” I announced, letting my fear and
nerves drive my body towards the door. If it wasn’t for Nick’s reassurance, I am certain I
would have left in that instance, missing the moment Daisy’s car rolled up to the castle
entirely.
The sight of the car made myself and nick both bounce with surprise and in a sheer panic
and attempt to control my emotions I sprinted out the back door as Nick let her into the
house. It was still raining, not as heavy but enough to make one look like a wet rag. Carefully
ensuring the timing was right, I collected myself at the door, bottling up my nerves and
knocked.
Nick let me in, and I headed straight to the living room. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Act
casual. I told myself as I walked into the living room and perched myself against the
mantelpiece.
Daisy was taken aback, and although I was too and wanted no more than to throw myself at
her or back into my car and run away, I avoided her eyes and poised myself.
“I certainly am glad to see you again.” Daisy stated her voice was insincere as though she
felt panicked by my presence. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go, and I felt my panic
rising.
‘The day agreed upon’ To ‘Glad to see you again’ Recast this meeting from Gatsby’s
perspective.
Include:
Gatsby’s feelings about meeting Daisy
Gatsby’s thoughts about his plan.
Transformation:
It had been pouring with rain all morning and I found myself praying that it would stop as I
paced back and forth in the hallway outside my room. I would have to leave soon to Castle
Rackrent where Nick would be waiting for me. Reciting my plan and the lines I prepared the
night before to say when Daisy arrived, I made one last pace before straitening myself up
and heading out to my car. The rain was still heavy which made me scowl and I found that
the closer I drove to the castle, the more my confidence fell. By the time I reached the front
door of the castle my mind was in a numb panic, and I couldn’t remember anything of the
plan I had conjured up...
“Is everything all right?” I asked Nick when I arrived, anxious to see if my orders and
requests had been delivered and put in place.
“The grass looks fine, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Nick replied, a look of tiredness
on his face.
“What grass?” I asked again, the memory of asking for it to be cut had been completely
removed from my mind and replaced with a dense fog of nerves. I found myself forgetting as
Nick presented all of the other preparations to me, to which a replied in an apprehensively
reassuring tone to each.
It was ten to four and I had been skimming between the economic magazine in my hand and
the window when a wave of dread and regret washed over me.
“I’m going home, nobody’s coming, this was a mistake.” I announced, letting my fear and
nerves drive my body towards the door. If it wasn’t for Nick’s reassurance, I am certain I
would have left in that instance, missing the moment Daisy’s car rolled up to the castle
entirely.
The sight of the car made myself and nick both bounce with surprise and in a sheer panic
and attempt to control my emotions I sprinted out the back door as Nick let her into the
house. It was still raining, not as heavy but enough to make one look like a wet rag. Carefully
ensuring the timing was right, I collected myself at the door, bottling up my nerves and
knocked.
Nick let me in, and I headed straight to the living room. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Act
casual. I told myself as I walked into the living room and perched myself against the
mantelpiece.
Daisy was taken aback, and although I was too and wanted no more than to throw myself at
her or back into my car and run away, I avoided her eyes and poised myself.
“I certainly am glad to see you again.” Daisy stated her voice was insincere as though she
felt panicked by my presence. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go, and I felt my panic
rising.
