Chapter 19

Today I saw another video on YouTube that fits very well to the whole book and especially to this chapter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO0kRE5OTZI
The friendly and calm Tran, just having a peaceful breakfast, is suddenly bombarded with false pretences. Wasn’t it the same with Matt? The policemen came and hauled him off, when he and his friends were working unsuspecting at the role play. Not only did the officers question him so intensely, that he wanted to scream (video 5:22), but also the other students were almost having a competition, in who knew the more exciting and stunning rumours.
And this is where we come to chapter 19: I got the impression that this day was virtually a copy of the afternoon he was taken into custody. I would like to compare to rumours, one of chapter 19 and one of chapter 5:
“He was cuffed? Matt was cuffed?—Not his ankles, though. So he could walk” (p.32, l.3)
“They’re suing? The Donaghys? --- They’re suing Mar. Parrish, and the school, and the school district, and the Brewers. For twenty of thirty million dollars, I heard” (p.131, l.21)

Looking at the comparison, you clearly see the same pattern used in both chapters, almost making it a bit too excessive I think... But the message is definitely clear: “Look at this attention seeking and egoistic society!” A point, you should think about... Are we really so obsessed with being special? Isn’t it possible, to be just yourself? Doesn’t that make you special and unique enough? These rumours are like an auction; only the highest bidder wins... But which price do you have to pay for this primacy? In our book it’s the reputation and the personality of a joyful and happy young boy... There are always two sides of looking at things.