Where Your Treasure Is: Being the Personal Narrative of Ross Sidney, Diver

by Holman Day

"Where Your Treasure Is: Being the Personal Narrative of Ross Sidney, Diver by Day" by Holman Day is a fictional narrative written in the early 20th century. The story follows the coming-of-age journey of Ross Sidney, a young man who grapples with his aspirations, family dynamics, and the quest for adventure beneath the sea. The opening establishes Ross's reflections on his relationship with money, childhood experiences, and his unrequited feelings for Celene Kingsley, which sets the tone for his personal struggles and aspirations. At the start of the narrative, Ross recalls his childhood memories of earning his first quarter, his mother's insistence on practical virtues, and his burgeoning desire for greatness, symbolized by a mysterious 'treasure' he finds in a box. He soon finds himself caught up in the complexities of adolescence, navigating peer pressures and the weight of familial expectations. The opening portion deftly portrays Ross's struggles with identity and morality, serving as a prelude to his adventurous aspirations as a diver. The blend of nostalgia, humor, and poignancy in Ross's personal reflections invites readers into his world, hinting at the deeper themes of treasure—both literal and metaphorical—that will emerge throughout the story.