ASP 8&9

"I could hardly believe it, but it was too plainly printed in the closed expression on his face to mistake... Phineas was shocked at the idea of my leaving. In some way, he needed me. He needed me, I was the least trustworthy person he had ever met... I had even told him... But there was no mistaking the shield of remoteness in his face and voice. He wanted me around. The war then passed... and dreams of enlistment... lost their meaning for me." (108)

This is an important turning point for Gene where he realizes that Phineas still trusts him like a best friend, even like a brother. It's so important that he finally sees that Finny has put the past behind him and forgiven him because it kind of lets him go back to the friendship he used to have, without the envy. When Gene understands that Finny still sees him as a best friend and still trusts him, even though Gene knows he's not trustworthy, he starts allowing himself, I believe, to forgive himself a little for what he did. I think Finny trusts Gene because he knows him so well. Like, they were so close, and Finny's the kind of person who wouldn't want that closeness to go away.

What is Finny thinking when he's friendly with Gene? It's not easy to forgive someone so nonchalantly for something like shattering your leg and crippling you for life.


"There isn't any Devon Winter Carnival and never has been."
"There is now. We'll have it in that park next to the Nagaumsett. The main attraction will be sports, naturally, featuring I expect a ski jump-"
"A ski jump! That park's flat as a pancake."
"-and some slalom races, and I think a little track. But we've got to have some snow statues, too, and a little music, and something to eat. Now, which committee do you want to head?"
I have him a wintry smile. "The snow statues committee." (129)

I find this to be the most important line in the book because I love Finny random enthusiasm here! He's trying to incorporate himself into the school that he loves, because he can't be a part of it like he used to. And I also love how Gene's just going along with it all, at first thinking Finny's crazy, but ends up kinda getting into it. Right here is where Finny's character really shines through, like a ray of sun in the gray weather of the winter.

Why did the teachers let them get away with this?