In “An American Childhood” Annie Dillard gives a glimpse into her childhood and growing up as a girl who liked playing sports and doing things typically boys would do. In this particular exert, the author talks about her experience of playing with her neighbors and throwing snowballs at passing cars. In the experience Dillard talks about one incident where, “a snowball hits the driver’s side windshield directly in the driver’s face.” (24) In the next few sentences the author gives you a feeling of adrenaline rush and excitement as the driver of the car stops and gets out and starts chasing the children. As the driver continues to run after them, you get a sense of dread. As the author sets out with one of her friends the driver chooses to