The short story, "The Red Convertible" has a very straightforward theme. This theme is that certain situations can lead to life-altering changes. This is shown very intensely in this story. It was so strong that it even caused the end of a life.
             Two brothers, who are very close, bought a red convertible together. They shared this car for a few years and then one of the boys, Henry, bought out the other boy's, share by committing suicide, no less.
             Henry was drafted into the army, so he wanted to give the car to Lyman. Lyman would not take the car because he knew that it was his way of saying he probably wouldn't return. Lyman used the car every once in a while when he needed it, but for the most part it just sat and waited for Henry to return home. Lyman also fixed the car up for Henry. When the war was over, Henry returned home, but the Henry who came back was not the same Henry who had left. The war seemed to have changed Henry's personality. He was not as happy as he used to be. He was just not happy at all.
             This was very difficult for Lyman to handle, because before Henry left they used to have a lot of fun together. Everything had changed. Lyman, one day, thought that if he tore up Henry's car it would help Henry return to normal because he would have something to work for.
             Henry did, indeed, work on the car and fix it up to almost perfect condition. This helped keep him occupied and happy for a short while. After the car was completely restored, Henry and Lyman went driving. Henry decided that he wanted to drive up to Red River. The water was really high at that time of the year, so he said he wanted to see it. This was his excuse to go there. They were having a really great time and Henry was back to his old self again, or so it seemed. Then, unexpectedly, Henry jumped into the river and drowned. When Lyman saw what he did, Lyman drove the red convertible into the r...