Chapter 5: Summary

The boys also visit Mike who is upset with his father’s visit and tells them that he would prefer to have died. His statement affects Bryon. He soon goes along to meet Cathy with whom he has not spoken since their date at the school dance. Cathy is on a break, so she has time to spare. Bryon genuinely likes Cathy as she is intelligent, candid, and always speaks her mind. Cathy tells him that Ponyboy Curtis had asked her out. Bryon is jealous but is relieved when she tells him that she refused Curtis as she was busy. Bryon then asks her out on a date for Friday.

Bryon needs money for his date and borrows five dollars from M&M. Along with Mark, he goes to Charlie’s bar to see if there are any prospects for hustling. They find Charlie in a good mood. He has been rejected by the army because of his police records and will not have to leave. He directs the boys to two Texans but also warns them against hustling. Charlie’s warning, yet again, is ignored. At the game Bryon and Mark make an impressive show of losing the first game. Thereafter, Bryon seems to be on a winning streak. When they leave the bar, they are accosted by the Texans in a dark alley, and they are armed with a gun and brass knuckles. Bryon shakes with fear in anticipation of what could befall them. However, just as Dirty Dave, one of the Texans, approaches Bryon, Charlie appears at the other end of the alley with a shotgun and asks the Texans to drop theirs. Mark and Bryon walk away with Charlie, but one of the Texans grabs his gun and shoots. Charlie pushes Bryon and Mark to the ground. Mark grabs the gun and fires back but the Texans escape. They realize that Charlie was shot in the head and is dead.

Chapter 6: Summary

Mark and Bryon testify at the trial of the two Texans who shot Charlie. The Texans are eventually sentenced to life in prison. Both Mark and Bryon suddenly become very popular in school because of their involvement in the trial. However, they are both devastated by Charlie’s death and do not reveal much.

Bryon’s mother has been discharged from the hospital but needs time to recover. Meanwhile, Bryon begins to look for a job. Charlie’s death affects Bryon and leads him to be introspective. Charlie had once told him that he should ask himself why he was facing difficulties in getting employed. Bryon realizes he needs to change his attitude. He cuts his hair short, dresses neatly and begins to look for a job. Mark, though sad about Charlie’s death, is not as profoundly affected. He does tell Bryon that he too would try and find a job because he did not want to be a “sponge.”

Cathy and Bryon meet often. Bryon does not really know how Mark keeps himself occupied during the time he is out with Cathy. Cathy tells Bryon that her father has been giving M&M a tough time at home and, because of the constant criticism, M&M has started hanging out away from home and has also begun smoking marijuana. Cathy is worried that her brother might fall into bad company and start consuming even more dangerous things like LSD.

One day Cathy and Bryon pick up Mark and M&M and drive along the Ribbon, a stretch of road which was full of shops and street vendors. During the ride they encounter a group of boys who say obscene things to Cathy. Mark loses his temper and punches one of them. Bryon drives away before things can escalate. Cathy does not approve of Mark’s impulsive behavior, and it is evident that neither she nor Mark are fond of each other. At a food counter, Mark sees his friend Terry and goes to hang out with him. M&M, too, requests Bryon to drive past a hot-dog counter. As he gets out of the car, he announces that he has no intention of returning home. Bryon has no choice but to drive away because the cars behind him begin to honk. Later when he and Cathy come back to the spot again, they find no trace of M&M. A worried Cathy begins to cry.

Chapters 5 and 6: Analysis

In these two chapters we are increasingly aware of the mature relationship that Cathy and Bryon share. It is evident that Charlie’s death, a significant turning point, has led Bryon to question the status quo and to change himself for the better. He feels responsible for his actions and realizes that if things must change, he must change himself. Cathy is someone to whom he can relate. It is important to note that the Bryon we meet earlier in the novel talks about women in an insensitive and brazen manner. He was the same boy who had said (in Chapter 1) “Chicks crying bore me.” And here he was, feeling sympathetic towards a sobbing Cathy.

Mark is sad about Charlie’s death, but he does not really change his ways. He does not self analyze much and accepts Charlie’s death as an unfortunate thing that happened. He also feels insecure about the changes he witnesses in Bryon and the fact that his friend now spends more time with Cathy. Cathy does not approve of his reckless ways and he, too, does not like her. It is now clear that Charlie’s death is a turning point in the book and the two friends have now embarked on divergent paths.