Part II

AJ 53-56:
2 days before signing day and AJ still doesn't know which college he shoul choose. Everyody makes a big deal about his decision (newspaper, TV, college recruiters).
AJ want to know Ruthies opinion. I think he asks her because she is the only person who can be honest to him even if it would be hard. She doesn't treat him like a king like everybody else. He hasn't to work hard to be accepted in a college just because he is a football "star".

Ruthie will tutor elementary kids and she tells him that she picked Anthony. He is angry about that because she always thinks she knows everything better. She is smart in everything and behaves like he is just a stupid football player. I think both are arrogant and both do think that they are sth better than the other one. She tells him that he should choose a college not because of the football and that he should be more interested in school because it's very possible that he wouldn't be a pro in football.
I think he is angry because he knows that she's right but he won't believe it.


Ronell 57:
He is a dopeman and a friend of France, a dopeman too.
Is Franco AJ's brother????


AJ 58-62:
AJ and his friends celebrate in his house because they have chosen a college.


Ruthie 63-67:
Ruthie is happy about being a finalist which means she has a good chance for a college scholarship.
AJ is cold in front of Ruthie because she refused to admires him like everyone else.
Ruthie meets Anthony because she will tutor him.


Erika 68-70:
Erika is happy because she got to lead the school musical Porgy and Bess. But she is angry that she have share this with Shanice, a black and her enemy. She thinks Shanice has a better chance because she is black and her chor teacher too.
I think Shanice is better but Erika is too egoistic to recognize it.


AJ 71-74:
Ruthie and Anthony are reading a book in his house when he came in; he must remember his mum.
AJ becomes angry because he thinks Ruthie will try to give him charity with buying him books and ice cream. He feels like she is threatening him.
He treats her very ugly.
She tries to explain him that she just wanted to help his brother in reading and things like books he is interested in and ice cream would motivate him.
I don't know why AJ behaves like a stupid.... maybe he can't accept help from other persons. He always has helped his brother and now Ruthie and her organization think that he hasn't done his job well. He feels insulted.

But later on he understands and feels stupid.
So Ruthie and Anthony went for an ice cream.



Ruthie 75-82:
She doens't like that AJ critizies her the whole time but she likes to spend time with Anthony and Anthony doas she like her too. He tells Ruthie that his mother killed herself. Ruthie has to think about AJ like his mother's death would explain his behaviour.

AJ and Ruthie have a big fight. They can't stand each other anymore. AJ tries to hurt her and wants her to become mad. After having told him that Anthony has told Ruthie that she knows about his mother's suicide, AJ's behaviour gets worse. Now Ruthie is afraid that he will hurt Anthony.

(look at the text text passage I've posted; under the headline)


I think this textpassage is a very important part of the book. Ruthies and AJs conversation shows us their character!
AJ still hasn't overcome the pain of his mothers death, so he reacts very aggressive when Ruthie talks with him about his mum. He doesn't want anybody to get too close to him. Ruthie isn't shy, she knows how to handle the situation and she thinks she is superior. She is understanding and not resentful as he tries to hits her in front of the teacher. She protects him and would like to help him with his depression by showing him not to keep everything inside.



AJ 83-92:
He won't talk about his mother because he doesn't want Ruthie to know everything about him even if she already knows a lot.
- AJ fills a roll as a parent to Anthony
- He behaves like a yerk when he gets attention for football
- He tries to hide sth.
- He and his brother don't look like they get along

AJ tries to piss her off like she pisses him off with her know-it-all. He tries to hurt her. He talks about Christian and about being black and her identity problems which is really a problem of her.
She handles the situation much cooler than AJ because she can talk about her feelings... not like AJ.

Then they have a deep conversation. Ruthie recognized the loving and caring person in AJ when she saw him with Anthony. AJ has to tell Ruthie about his mum, he couldn't stop it. It is the first time he told about that.I think he had a big stone to carry...
Ruthie takes his hand in hers while he is telling his story. Sweet :-)
AJ begins to trust her and I think he already likes her...

At home he hears from Anthony that Franco involves his little brother in his dope-business.
AJ decides to wait for Franco and to force him to stay away from Anthony which ends in a fight. Franco tries to choke his brother but when Anthony cries about his mum he let go. He also has to wear the pain of their mothers death...


Both are hurt, they hate each other, AJ runs away.