Junior is speaking to the
reader about his encounter with Rowdy that ended their friendship. Junior has
just been abandoned and punched hard by his best friend, Rowdy, after a stiff
conversation about changing schools. Junior told Rowdy he’s transferring to
Reardan, and that he wants Rowdy to come with him to the school. Rowdy replies
in an angry manner, and at first even thinks that Junior is joking. After he is
punched, Junior sits on the ground for a while, feeling the aftershock, and
hoping that time wouldn’t move when he realizes what has become of his and
Rowdy’s friendship in just a few moments. “But I had to stand eventually, and
when I did, I knew that my best friend had become my worst enemy” (Alexie, 53).
This quote illustrates how Junior is reflecting on how his and Rowdy’s
friendship has just crumbled to the dust before his eyes. This quote also shows
that Rowdy and Junior have flopped extremes: they were the best of friends and
relied on each other very much in many different ways, and now they are the
worst of enemies. If Junior hadn’t told Rowdy he’s planning on switching
schools, and Rowdy hadn’t reacted so strongly, they would have been perfectly
happy together, and would have continued to stick up for and comfort each other.
I agree Fiona. After this encounter, Junior must feel more alone than ever and because he has just ended his friendship with Rowdy he also ended the protection and support that Rowdy had provided for him. As an inference, I think that when Junior moves to Reardan, there will be a higher chance of him getting bullied, and so not having a friend to stick up for him will most definitely be a challenge.
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