PART+FOUR

Near the end of the school year, Bill invited Charlie to come over to his town house and spend the day with him and his girlfriend. When Charlie went there, he was planning on discussing the book __The Fountainhead__, but there were many other things that were talked about. As they were sitting and eating, Bill said to Charlie, "Charlie, you're one of the most gifted people I've ever known. And I don't mean in terms of my other students. I mean in terms of anyone I've ever met. That's why I gave you the extra work. I was wondering if you were aware of that?" .... "Charlie. Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable. I just want you to know that you're very special...and the only reason I'm telling you is that I don't know if anyone else ever has" (181). This made Charlie feel really good. When he was driving home, he remembered that the last person who called him special was his Aunt Helen and he was very happy to have Bill say that to him because he had forgotten.

<--- This picture represents Craig when cheating on Sam -In this seciton, we find out that Craig has been cheating on Sam for a while. Peter, Mary Elizabeth's boyfriend, knew but he wanted Craig to tell her himself since it wasn't really his place. Craig finally told her after Peter threatened that he would tell her when he found out she thougtht Craig might be "the one" and try to stay with him while she was away at college. Sam was devastated and Charlie said that he never even thought 'oh goood, now I can be with Sam.' He was just sad because he saw how much she was hurting. That's when he realized he truly loved her. He said there was nothing to gain, and it didn't matter.

--Summary Part 4: After Brad's dad found out about him and Patrick he was out of school for awhile. He finally came back and Charlie said that he "looked very different" (149). He wasn't physically abused ot hurt, but he didn't walk down the hallway with the bounce he used to have and doesn't look people in the eye. Charlie then goes on to tell the story of how one Thursday, Patrick went up to Brad during lunch when he was sitting with all his football teammates and Brad ignored him like usual. Charlie sat and watched Patrick get very upset and say something to Brad and turn away. A couple seconds later, "It was loud enough for a few tables to her. The thing that Brad yelled at Patrick. "Faggot!"" (150). Patrick threw a punch and a fight broke out. Brad's buddies started to get involved and that's when Charlie stepped in. He ended up bashing someones knee and swiping at one of their eyes, leaving the kid on the ground clutching his face. Charlie then threatened Brad that he would tell everyone about Patrick and him if he did anything like that again. Brad and Charlie both got a month of detention and during detention Brad said to Charlie, "Thanks. Thanks for stopping them" (152). Later that day Sam picked up Charlie and they talked in the car about how everyone could be friends again and that he did a good job staying away for awhile, but Charlie has to apologize to Mary Elizabeth. Ever since the incident with Brad, Charlie and Patrick started spending a lot of time together because Patrick really needed someone to be there with him. By the end of one day of spending time together they ended up on the eighteenth green of a golf course to watch the sunset. They sat there and told funny stories of people they knew and drank wine. Patrick then drove Charlie home and when he pulled into his driveway they leaned over to hug eachother and Patrick went in for a kiss and Charlie kissed back. Another day Patrick took Charlie to the park at night where men walk around and meet eachother. Patrick walked away with another guy and Charlie took a seat on a bench when a man came to sit next to him. Once he started talking to Charlie he realized it was the sports guy from TV. The man started talking about college football and even mentioned Charlie's brother. Once Charlie made a comment about being on TV the man walked away. Another night whent they went to the park they saw Brad with another guy, which really upset Patrick. That was the night that Patrick started drinking. The school year is ending and all of the seniors are getting ready for prom and graduation, which leaves Charlie with a lot of time to himself. He read the book The Fountainhead and talks about a quote that says, "I would die for you. But I won't live for you" (169). He interprets it as, "...the idea is that every person has to live for his or her own life and then make the choice to share it with other people. Maybe that's what makes people "participate.""(169). This really relates to Charlie because it goes back to Bill telling Charlie that he doesn't participate and over thinks too much. -Brad's father caught Brad and Patrick together, and Brad's father started beating Brad with a belt. That week Patrick didn't see Brad at school at all. Everything going on started to take a toll on Patrick, even Bob said he was in bad shape. Finally one Monday Brad came back and Charlie said he looked different, not in a physical sense. Brad walked through the hall ways with his head down, and this was not like Brad at all.

-Brad's father caught Brad and Patrick together, and Brad's father started beating Brad with a belt. That week Patrick didn't see Brad at school at all. Everything going on started to take a toll on Patrick, even Bob said he was in bad shape. Finally one Monday Brad came back and Charlie said he looked different, not in a physical sense. Brad walked through the hall ways with his head down, and this was not like Brad at all.



Patrick and Charlie: Patrick and Charlie have been very close friends since the beginning of this school year. They have always spent time together. However, the time that is usually spent together is shared with Patrick's sister and Charlie’s love, Sam. Although, towards the end of the schol year Sam occupys a lot of her time with her boyfriend, Craig. This leaves one of Charlie's very good freidns left for him to hang out with. Previously to their time spent together, Patrick had been heartbroken by his ex lover Brad. After Brad's father caught them in bed together, Brad moved on to a girl, and maliciously attacked Patrick during lunch and later throughout the day. One day changed everything when Brad called Patrick a faggot in the cafeteria. Patrick obviously stood up for himself, and threw a punch at Brad. Although Brad hadn't started the fight, himself and four of his friends violently ganged up on Patrick. When Charlie couldn't bear to watch any longer, he stepped in and kicked thier asses. Charlie explains the scence: " I don't really want to go into detail excep to say that by the end of it, Brad and two of his buddies stopped fighting and just started at me. His other two friends were lying on the ground. One was klutchign his knee I bashed in with one of those metal cafeteria chairs. the other boy was holding his face. I kind of swiped at his eyes, but not too bad. I didnt want to be too bad." (150) Even though Charlie was extremely violent, he helped out his friend, and after this point, their friendship only grew stronger. As they hang out more, Patrick talks and talks about the situtation with Brad. Charlie can tell that Patrick is hurting and needs to vent, so he listens. At this point, all Charlie can do for Brad is support him thrugh his difficult time. Patrick is estatic to go off to college because he can be who he truely is and fewer people will judge him. Patrick and Charlie also drink and crack jokes with eachother on occasion as well, and one night the two got "pretty drunk." Then it happened, they shared their first kiss. "He drove me home and pulled up in the driveway. We hugged good night, and when I was jsut about to let go, he held me a little tighter. And he moved his face to mine. And he kissed em. A real kiss. Then, he pulled away real slow. " I'm sorry" " No. That's okay." "Really. I'm sorry." "No, really. It was okay." "So he said "thanks" and hugged me agian. And moved in to kiss me agian. And I just let him. I don't know why. We stayed is his car for along time." (160)

After this one night, the even seems to reccur numerous times, and at this point their realtionship is a bit more than complicated. Charlie explains one night when Patrick took him to a park. A park where you meet when, walk away with men, and then return to your previous activities. That was Charlies first experience at one of these parks, and another time he went, Patrick and himself saw Brad, doing things in the bushes with another man. This really hurt Patrick, and Charlie knew it. Charlie is a very good friend to Patrick in the sense that he truthfully listens to what he has to say. Thier relationship is like no other. They kiss, yet can talk about his complications with other men. And the kisses mean something, not that they love eachother or want to get sexually involved. I believe the kisses between them represent the strength of thier relationship. It represents how they understand one another, and will always be there for eachother, and finally how comfortable the two of them are together.



PROM NIGHT: Chalrie did not attend prom because he is not a senior. However all of his closest freidns and his sister attending. On the night of prom Charlie releases his true feelings baout what he hopes for. " All I hope is that my sister feels beautiful. I hope that Craig dosen't make Sam feel that her prom isn't special just because he's older. I hope the same for Mary Elizabeth with Peter. I hope Brad and Patrick decide to make up and dance in front of the whole school. And that Alice is secretly a lesbian and in love with Brad's girlfriend Nancy (and vice versa), so nobody feels left out. I hope the deejay is as good as everyone said I was last Friday. And i hope everyone's pictures turn out great and never become old photographs and nobody gets in a car accident. That is what I really hope." It is refreshing to hear Charlies honest thoughts about what he wants for all of his friends. And from the looks of it, he only has their best interest in mind. It turns out all of his friends and his sister had an amazing time at the prom, and an even more amazing time at the post prom which was held at a popular night club. Charlie didn't get anything he hoped for, but its the thought that counts.

<--This picture, although kind of disturbing, represents Brad wearing a mask. Brad does not physically wear a mask, but he does mask his true identity each and every day by denying the fact that he is gay, and denying his connection with Patrick. Brad masking his feelings really hurts Patrick, and in time will hurt himself also.

<--The reason for this picture is because both Charlie's brother, and now incoming freshman Sam go to college at Pennsylvania State University. Charlie is upset about Sam leaving, but happy that he can go visit Sam and his brother at the same time. Things will be a lot different with Sam not around.

A LOOK INTO CHARLIE'S MIND: Charlie is a very complicated young man, with a lot of psychological issues. He has an especially hard time because of his best friend Michael's suicide, and his favorite aunt Helen's death. He knows of his aunt Helen being sexually abused by a family friend during her lifetime, which kind of messed her up. Other things that bother Charlie are the relationship with his parents (which does not really exist.) Also, Charlie once saw a boy rape a girl at one of his brother's parties, and saw his sister get hit by her boyfriend and take him back. Charlie hangs out with kids older than him (because he doesn't have friends his age, and never did have any), and Charlie experiments with various drugs as a freshman in high school, such as marijuana and LSD. It sounds to me that Charlie probably is very confused with what is right and wrong because of the things he has seen and done. He needs help; he does not handle his problems very well and gets very emotional at times.