Bystander

Griffin’s group shuns Eric after his talk with David Hallenback. On the playground, Eric sees Chantel Williams crying. Mary tells him that a cruel girl named Alexis and her friends went through with their prank, the headline of their website reading, “Ten reasons why Chantel Williams is a fat...” (125). Mary admits to informing the school resource officer, Officer Goldsworthy, of the prank and is now standing alone.

Eric hangs out with a group of boys—including Drew P., Sinjay, Will, and Hakeem—and wonders why people stand around and don’t try to stop bullying. Drew P. dismisses the question: “There’s always going to be some guys who take a pounding. That’s life. What do they call it in science? Natural selection” (129).

Eric runs into Griffin, who tells him that he listened to his CD and that it was nothing special. He refers to Eric’s father as “a freak” (130). When Eric reacts with a clenched fist, Griffin suggests that Eric wants to punch his father, not him.

David Hallenback leads Eric to the pet cemetery, saying he has something to show him. Eric fears that Hallenback possesses a knife or gun, reflecting on how some targets of bullying lash out with violence. Upon reaching the pet cemetery, Hallenback shows Eric a tombstone that reads, “CHECKERS, 1951-62, NIXON” (136). The tombstone marks the gravesite of former President Richard Nixon’s dog.

Suddenly, Griffin’s group appears. Hallenback looks at Eric with “unabashed disgust” and says, “You stupid idiot. You think he’s after me, don’t you?” (137).

Eric realizes that David Hallenback aligned himself with Griffin and set a trap for him. An angry Cody tells Eric that he knows he called him a weasel (as Griffin told on him).

Cody physically assaults Eric. Eric tries to fight back, but his one punch misses. Cody uses karate to pummel Eric, leaving him on the ground and spitting up blood.

While Eric is lying on the ground, Hallenback says, “You think you are so much better than me, don’t you? […] Now you know what it’s like!” (142) and kicks him in the stomach with his hiking boot. Cody tells Hallenback to stop because Eric’s already down.

Eric seeks emotional refuge in his guitar and writes a letter to his father. He tells his father about the fight and his once friends, apologizes for not talking to him on the phone the last time he called, and says that he listens to his CDs. After finishing the letter, a dissatisfied Eric decides to tear it up.

Although Eric tries to downplay the fight, his mother calls the school. The school counselor, Mr. Floyd, calls Eric and Cody into his office. He tells them that he cannot impose any punishment because the fight happened off school grounds but says he will be watching them. He demands that they end their conflict now.

Eric apologizes to Cody for calling him a weasel. Cody admits he was angry when he heard what Eric said, and that the other boys urged him to do something about it. Eric tells Cody that Griffin used him, but Cody rejects this idea, insisting that he fights his own battles. He regards the incident as a “fair fight” (157) between him and Eric.

However, Cody calls out David Hallenback for kicking Eric when he was down. The two agree to a truce and shake hands.

In the cafeteria, Eric notices that David Hallenback is now sitting with those who bullied him. Mary asks to sit next to Eric and tells him that she is now considered “a traitor” (160) for telling the school resource officer who was behind Chantel’s bullying: “It’s like the Island of Misfit Toys over here” (160). When Eric says that other students will talk about the two of them sitting together, Mary responds, “Let ’em. […] I’m so tired of what other people think” (161).

Lunch aide Mrs. Rosen asks Eric to walk her dog while she is in Florida, indicating that she no longer trusts Griffin (whom she used to hire). Eric accepts the job.

Griffin confronts Eric after the latter’s conversation with Mrs. Rosen. He is upset that Eric and his mother almost got him in trouble; he also makes it clear that he is displeased about losing his dog-walking job. Griffin vows to get back at Eric.