jkwsquirrel

Brett was in the hospital for about a week. In that week, I helped Dr. Reilly get the living room ready for Brett. She borrowed a hospital bed for him so he could keep his leg up. He wouldn’t be allowed to put any weight on it until April. Then he’d be in rehab. The doctors were optimistic that he’d be able to go back to school by mid-April. He’d be on crutches, but he would be able to be there to graduate. At least he’d be home for his birthday. Jen and I didn’t talk much about the deal

Joey is far too afraid of his father to try anything like that.

How dare you, sir! I may be sneaky and a bastard, but being called a "rat" is highly offensive to the squirrel community! Some folks call us rats with bushy tails!

Yeah, I might have been too dismissive of Joey's emotional abuse. I've made the case that Brett and Dustin were both neglected by their parents. They've adjusted well, mostly because they found other role models. Particularly, Brett had George and Paula and Dustin had Miss Winston and his coaches and therapists (and later his sister who took him in for a year). Joey hasn't had that interested adult in his life, and so his response to his pain is to seek relief from drugs.

Billy is definitely discovering just how petty and small his little town is. I think many of us eventually come to see our childhood community as a place that we must break away from in order to grow. I also think people see what they want to see. Lots of people look alike. We see all the clues because Billy sees them. Someone else in that community would have no reason to be looking for a family resemblance between two relatively unconnected friends. Jack has lived in the community for years. Dr. Reilly moved in when Brett was eight. Even though they went to the same college, how many people in town even remember that Jack was away for a few years? In a small town, inertia is king. Jack "always" lived there. Dr. Reilly moved in years after her son was born.

I've thought of Jack as an adult version of Brett without the redeeming qualities. Brett can be manipulative too, but Jack has had more practice. And his earlier treatment of Dustin reveals how vicious he can be to someone he doesn't like. Jack is a bully. Joey learned his boorish behavior by example.

I saw her initial sending away of Billy as more of a heat of the moment thing. She was angry and didn't feel like having Billy hanging around, and there really was nothing he could have done at that point and it was better that he get some rest. I think the heart of the story is about finding one's own way, even when one's parents or society tries to make you conform to their way. It's not a perfect journey by any means.

We haven't heard the last of the bribe. As for the next chapter, I think it's a little more the adult reaction to these crazy kids than the kids themselves. "Boy, those kids aren't alright!"

We'll explore Jenny and Jack's "relationship" in a future chapter. But there is a hint of what Jen thinks about Jack waaaaaaaay back in chapter 2.7 when Brett describes the conversation Jenny had with her sister: “You said he hurt you! He used you! He ruined your life! I heard you say those exact words!” Brett thought she was talking about her boyfriend then, but now we know who she was really talking about.

I hate to do this, because it started a good discussion, but I meant for that line to come from Jen, not Jack. Entirely my fault, as I wasn't as clear as I needed to be. I've edited it to clarify it better.

True. There's not a single person in this story who thinks what they are doing is wrong.

Of course, Billy could use the speech to ask Jack to give the internship to the son he loves the most, but he'll be screwed out of valedictorian before he gets the chance anyway, right? But anyway, yes, you may be on the right track in thinking that Joey knows. The funny thing is, that if he does know it just proves how right he is about his father. After all, Jack and Jen are going through so much trouble to keep Billy quiet, yet it never occurs to them that Joey could have possibly figured it out.

I agree. Joey is every bad thing that everyone has said about him. His life, while tough, isn't nearly as horrible as Dustin's. Yes, his father is a manipulative, pompous, and emotionally abusive scum bag, but he's not exactly Frank Smith. Joey gets a lecture for making his father look bad. Dustin gets beaten if he swings at a bad pitch. And yet, Dustin worked his behind off to get better while Joey retreated to substance abuse and taking out his frustrations on others. But at least know we know why he's such a dick. The drugs are a symptom of a bigger issue.

Billy has never been good in pressure situations. Jen and Jack knew exactly how to play Billy: Complement him on how smart he is, call his bluff, and force him to make a life-changing decision very quickly under pressure. These aren't kids Billy is dealing with. They're pros, and they've had much more practice than Billy in manipulation. Billy can talk a good game, but he's always been easily manipulated. I disagree - I think this was the best opportunity he was going to get. Now that window has closed. I wouldn't go that far. Billy didn't accept Joey's apology. He only ate lunch with him because he sees Joey's resemblance to Brett. Maybe he's hoping that Joey will come to resemble his brother in his attitude and heart as well. Life hasn't punished Joey for his sins quite yet.

What's the story description for this book? "Billy must conquer his fears or risk losing everyone he loves" or something like that? Yes he does. He's sinking further into the mud with them. How will he escape? I killed off the one good parent in the story. That's what I was going for here. I think you're in the same boat as Billy. I wanted to call it The Empire Strikes Back but that title was already taken! That's certainly the case in WAR land!

It's hard to register differences of opinion on the internet and gauge the feelings of the sender and recipient. It was a good conversation. I appreciated it because it helped me to see that I couldn't just let Billy forgive Joey easily for everything he did. Billy doesn't move very much in regards to Joey in this chapter, he just proves that he's able to have an adult conversation with his enemy without acting like a jerk, and he's able to do that because he sees some resemblance of Brett in Joey.

Wouldn't it have been nice to know what Joey and Brett were talking about before Billy walked back into that room? Might have been interesting.

Yes he is!

Fear has always been Billy's weakness. He had the golden opportunity to tell Brett everything, and he blew it. I think he'll regret it.

I think Billy is still a bit naïve when he deals with adults he's respected in the past. Jack and Jen are using their knowledge of Billy to manipulate him. Desperate people do desperate things.

It does seem that way, but what keeps him from telling the truth himself? Fear of his father? Love for his mother? A little of both?

Thanks DQ! This was Billy's best chance to tell the truth. Instead, he crapped himself. He may regret it later.

I've been calling you Wesley all this time! Why didn't someone tell me?!? lol Thanks for the comment! Going to be exciting to see where we end up!

I agree!

It was about noon when Brett opened his eyes again. “Billy?” he called. “Yeah, I’m here,” I said. I cast aside the newspaper I’d bought at the gift shop while Brett was asleep and knelt at his side. “Billy, I think something’s wrong…” “Are you sick or something? Do you feel okay?” I asked urgently. “No… I… I think I broke my leg…” Brett said with a sly smile. “Smart ass,” I laughed.