How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
[Bill] made tea, and I felt like a grown-up. (3.4.2)
Charlie's relationship with Bill is pretty complex if you think about it. We mean, really, have you ever had an English teacher with whom you shared your deepest secrets? (Shmoop doesn't count.) But their interactions—tea included—help Charlie feel mature, which in turn helps him become more mature.
Quote #5
My sister was counting on me, and this was the first time anyone ever counted on me for anything. (3.8.8)
That role reversal—going from counting on others to being counted on—Is a major part of growing up. Do other characters count on Charlie in Perks? Or does he still mostly play the part of the kid?
Quote #6
My father came in and sat on the edge of my bed. He lit a cigarette and started telling me about sex. He gave me this talk a few years before, but it was more biological then. (3.9.17)
Part of Charlie's transition involves learning about the social and psychological aspects of sex—not just the birds and the bees and what goes where.