I wondered if this story may have been about Aimee in a way or maybe someone she knew. I really saw this child as carrying alot of wait on his shoulders. He had no one to relate to. He didn't fit in and he was an outcast in his own family. Needing to be normal or at least as normal as his own family must have been a huge burden on him. The first thought that went through my head when I read he had died was he had killed himself. The family of pumpkin heads were different but at least they had each other to turn to. Iron head had inatimate objects; made up friends that's all.
This to me was quite a sad story, but in the end I think it sent a positive message to a degree. At the end a teapot head is born. It said life would be somewhat easier for tea pothead because he doesn't have the same weight to bare. I think this is a message saying people have passed and it's sad but some have passed and made life easier for newer generations and we shouldn't forget that. Iron head passed away but because of what he endured the family might know how to be there for Tea pothead and understand what he is going through. This would make a little less weight for Teapot head to carry.
Thomas Moss (post 11)
I have no idea whether or not this story was inspired by something that happened to Bender personally, though we can see from her body of work that she does have a fantastic imagination. Whether it is inspired by real life events or not, what is important to consider is the emotional impact the work makes on us. And it seems as though this story did make an impact on you. Great meditation on how the story is potentially hopeful with the introduction of the teapothead character who may have it easier because the family now knows what ironhead went through.
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