Furthermore, Charlie, who is a 16-year-old boy, is unfortunate and is a unbelievable runner is given brand new and shiny boots by Dolly and Squizzy, 'Slowly she opened the lid and removed a pair of shiny black boots' which is a symbol to determine Charlie’s state of mind. The boots identify who he is by running for the unsafe and unnoticeable gangster Squizzy Taylor. Charlie wore the shoes when accomplishing 'grog' runs with Nostrils and gathering money for Squizzy Taylor. The protagonist places on his father's boots. to restore the new boots so his mother cannot notice him working with Mr Taylor and not to forget his father's passing, which is the only element he left behind' He had given me the boots as I sat for the last time on his bed and listened to the wheeze and crackle in his chest. After all those years, that was all he had to give'. The main character determines to work for the illegal gangster in order to create money for his poverty suffering and impoverished family. Besides Charlie resigned from working with Squizzy Taylor 'My days running for Squizzy Taylor were over now I was running for me.' due to it was dangerous, he …show more content…
Charlie was trained by Mr. Redmond 'Mr Redmond ‘ere’s ‘ad me rabbitin’down at Yarra Park. Been runnin’ in the sand as well. Ya know, fer speed.' Running is a symbol to determine Charlie’s state of mind in a way that it puts his mind of things that happens in his life such as being poor and his father's death. 'Running was all I had now. At least no one could spoil that. Running belonged to me.' Charlie, however, won the Ballarat Mile which he got rewarded, while Mr Redmond was congratulating him 'ya just won the mile, Charlie! Ya just won the mile!' he was proudly wearing the boots for the final run . Everyone thought he couldn't win it but he proved them wrong and