How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
I think that's why us Madmen loathed [Gratz]. Switching back and forth between this-is-the-way-the-world-is, my-way-or-the-highway tough, and remorseful big-wuvvy-teddy-bear-sweet, was what a lot of us saw at home—the behavior of a father who beats his kids or f***s them. (2.100)
Yikes. Having a teacher who emotionally behaves much the same way as your abusive parents do would probably mess you up pretty badly. For the Madmen, school should be an escape, and yet Gratz gives them a glimpse of the thing they're trying to get away from.
Quote #5
I couldn't quit the team. It was a big deal to Dad. He saved the stories from the Lightsburg Lighthouse—they did a "preseason" about us, a story about each game, and a "postseason," where Coach Stuckey mentioned me in a list of about ten guys he was expecting more from next year. Dad put yellow Hi-Liter on my name; that and the honor roll were the only times I appeared in the paper while he was alive. (4.13)
Ever do something for absolutely no reason other than that it would make your parents happy? The pressure to do that under normal circumstances is pretty big, but throw a parent dying of cancer on top of that and it just makes things worse. It doesn't seem to matter that Karl isn't a star player on the team or is barely anybody of note; his dad is still proud and impressed.
Quote #6
He looked right into my eyes. Nice a guy as old Philbin usually was, he had some of that closed mind that Lightsburg turned out like soybeans and corn. I knew what he wanted to ask. Are you okay with the way she f***s around? Is she ever sober at night? Does she let Neil hit you? Should I call the cops about anything? I knew he wanted me to nark on Mom. I gave him a slack face, hoping I looked like I was thinking about hitting him, afraid I looked like I was about to cry, probably just looking like I was real dumb. (6.38)
The entire community of Lightsburg seems to live under this unspoken creed that family business is family business and you don't get involved with that … even if people have been talking, and you know for a fact that the situation is dire.