Chapter 3: Summary

In the third chapter, Bryon, who is still on the quest to find employment, approaches Charlie for a job. Charlie refuses and tells him that he will know the reason if he gives it some thought. Bryon then thinks of asking Charlie if he could borrow his car for a date with Cathy on Saturday. When he asks him, Charlie agrees. Bryon is elated and says that he will pick up the car on Saturday.

Cathy agrees to go on a date when Bryon asks her. Once he is home, he also asks Mark if he wants to join them on a double date. Mark refuses, telling him that he has plans to attend the school dance with his friend Ponyboy Curtis. Bryon does not like Curtis because his former girlfriend, Angela Shepard, had left him because she was interested in Curtis. Later, she was spurned by Curtis.

On Saturday, when Bryon is trying to put together an outfit for his date with Cathy, Mark gives him a shirt. Bryon realizes that he had stolen the shirt, but he accepts it and wears it gladly. He goes to pick up Cathy and chats with her parents while he waits for her. He observes that the atmosphere at their house is better than what he had witnessed at Angela’s. As he and Cathy head to the school dance in Charlie’s car, Cathy reveals that she is worried about her father resenting her brother, M&M for his long hair and for failing in mathematics and gym.

At the dance while Bryon and Cathy have a good time, Mark and Ponyboy Curtis are attacked. Bryon finds a badly wounded Mark in the parking lot and sees that Angela’s friend has been arrested. Curtis tells Bryon that both were in the car when he was attacked. Mark tried to defend him and was hurt in the process. Bryon vows to take revenge on Angela, who had clearly instigated the attack because she was rejected by Curtis. Bryon for the time being focusses on Mark and accompanies him to the hospital. Later, Cathy and Curtis bring back Charlie’s car to Bryon. At the hospital Mark is overwhelmed with emotions and tells Bryon that he is a brother to him.

Chapter 4: Summary

The next day Bryon visits Charlie to return his car and finds that he is upset because he has received his draft notice. Mark has not recovered yet and is suffering from pain. Bryon attends to him and together they look back at the days gone by. They reminisce about the times when they would shoot water pistols at cops from the roof of a mall; a time when they were caught sneaking into a drive-in movie; they talked about their dates and parties. They admit that they loved gang fights. Their gang would often pick a fight with the elite ‘Socs.’ Bryon, however, mentions that while he used to love the fights earlier, now he finds them a tad boring. Mark asks Bryon if he feels things are changing and Bryon says he does. When Mark wonders what exactly has changed, Bryon simply answers, “That was then, this is now.”

At school, everyone asks Bryon about the fight, and he tells them what had transpired that evening. They all seem to be empathetic towards Curtis and angry with Angela. However, Bryon feels he can see through them and is sure that they will believe what they want to. He notices that there are several cliques in the school. Bryon, in fact, knows many of the elite ‘Socs’ because he performs well in his classes. But Bryon thinks this is just an attempt on their part to appear inclusive and “hip” by socializing with the “poor white” boy. He resents their so-called liberal attitude. Bryon’s epiphany seems to last just one day. The very next day, he thinks he can no longer see through everyone and seems to be quite happy with things the way they are.

In some time, Mark, too, returns to school. One day, their friend Terry Jones rushes into the house and tells Bryon that Mark has been caught hot-wiring the principal’s car. He reassures Bryon that Mark escaped punishment. He had explained to the principal that he had been borrowing the car often to attend his meetings with the probation officer. Mark had told the principal that he needed the car as no bus was available at that time. The principal had been amused. Mark soon returns home and tries to apologize. Bryon is not convinced that Mark’s apology is sincere. Nevertheless, Bryon is relieved that Mark is safe and tells him that he can manage to get away with anything. Smiling like an “innocent lion,” Mark concurs.

Chapters 3 and 4: Analysis

In the third chapter we witness Charlie as someone who is a guardian and role model for Bryon. When Charlie agrees to let Bryon borrow his car on the weekend, it is quite apparent that he trusts Bryon—a fact that even shocks Bryon.

At the school dance, the fight in the parking lot underscores just how normal violence is in their world. The issues are petty, and fights are frequent. One violent act leads to another, and it all is a part of a vicious cycle. Bryon realizes this later in the novel, but for now his affection for Mark takes over. Seeing his best friend hurt, he swears revenge on Angela.

In the fourth chapter as Bryon and Mark walk down memory lane, the reader has an insight that petty crimes, breaking the law and violence have been a part of their lives from a rather young age. In the way Bryon thinks about his privileged co-students, we do find that he is perceptive and observant.

Later, we find Bryon consumed with worry when he learns that Mark has been caught hot-wiring the principal’s car. He thinks that Mark will be punished and feels protective. However, on learning that Mark, the charming smooth-talker, has managed to escape punishment by offering an amusing explanation to the principal, Bryon is relieved but also a bit resentful. He tells Mark that he can “get away with anything.” Mark replies, “I guess so.” However, Mark’s confidence at the end of the chapter strikes an ironic note as Mark will soon reach a point where he will not be able to escape the consequences of his actions.