Table 3.

Sub-plots

Michael
Abstract: what the story is about	Obviously I was, you know, worried, very worried, and first, when he told me that I had the condition, I was devastated.
Orientation: establishes situation, context	Originally, the one specialist, I was very tense with. When he told me the point I had glaucoma it hit me like a tornado and he stressed how bad the condition was.
Complication: main account of events and how these are made sense of by the narrator	He was quite abrupt, as he was under the impression that I would have been aware about the eyes from the time, you know, that I first noticed it was going blurred. But, as I say, I wasn’t aware of glaucoma and my sight problems. Because the type of work that I do, I have regular eye checks. But, there’s two types of eye checks, and after I do my research I find that they don’t check pressures in your eyes. The type of eye test I was getting from work was by a nurse that was coming in just to check your eyesight. So when I had that I was given the all clear, I was fine. So when I went to the optician and given a more detailed eye test, and says there were high pressures in my eyes, that’s when I start to worry.
Evaluation: highlights the point of the story	Then, when he told, me, the first consultant, that I had glaucoma, you know, quite abrupt, he stressed how worse the condition, the actual state, the damage level of the optic nerve in both eyes. It was quite frightening to hear that.
Resolution: outcome, what finally happened	But when they referred me to (the specialist) who specialises in glaucoma in Afro-Caribbean people I was very, very comfortable because he assured me that he would do everything he can.
Nathan
Abstract: what the story is about	Well, it started I had an appointment.
Orientation: establishes situation, context	Then he said the pressure in my eye was fifty, which is extremely high. And he said, “Well, we’re going to have to operate to get the pressure down, otherwise I will go blind, within a few months.
Complication: main account of events and how these are made sense of by the narrator	So he asked me would I prefer to have an operation, rather than the eye drops. ’Cos obviously the eye drops are going to take longer to take down the pressure. So it was a three-way decision really. It was me, my Mom and the doctors all agreeing at the same time.
Evaluation: highlights the point of the story	Yeah, I was in total control really, ’cos if I didn’t want to have the operation, then, I wouldn’t have it.
Resolution: outcome, what finally happened	It’s kind of important because, obviously, I mean if I’m not in total control and the doctor’s saying, obviously I need to operate, and obviously, I’m not saying you need to operate then there’s no comparison, there’s no bond where the doctor is getting on with the patient.
Coda: indicating closure	’Cos it’s like a rocky road, actually. You never know what’s going to be at the end, you never know what’s going to happen half way in between. You’ve got to keep that bond between you and the specialist at all times.
Selwyn
Abstract: what the story is about	Well I could see that me eyes wasn’t working as good as it was before, but I put I down to age, so I says “Oh I got to get the glasses.” So I been to the optician and him, he tells me that he thinks there is glaucoma in the eyes and, he refers me back to my doctor.
Orientation: establishes situation, context	Then my doctor sends me to the hospital and straight away they tell me that I had glaucoma.
Complication: main account of events and how these are made sense of by the narrator	I didn’t feel any way, because when you’re getting old things does happen and I know that it was in my family. I am not really the worrying type. I don’t care how bad it is and I can train myself for that, because when you worry it doesn’t make it any better. I said to him (surgeon) “Is that what it is?” I says “Well, what will we do then?” He says, “Well you’ll have an operation.” I says, “Well, what suppose I don’t want an operation?” He says, “Well, you’ll get blinded.” (Laughs)
Evaluation: highlights the point of the story	I was worried about getting blind, that’s the only thing I was really worried about. Because when he said, “There is a chance that you will be able to see properly if it works alright, but if you don’t, you will blind anyway.” So, it was a bit worrying but not too much.
Resolution: outcome, what finally happened	So I says, “Alright then, I’ll have an operation!” So we did the operation, and I didn’t think anything could go any better.