How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
I said, "Look, I know they're screwed up, but they're the friends I have. And I'm so pissed that I'd like to kill Paul, but if any s***head lays a finger on him I'd be there with the bat, like Squid says, to explain 'don't be an asshole' in terms anyone can understand. It might be f***ing crazy—in fact I know it—but those guys are pretty much all the family I want to admit to. Even Paul. Especially Paul." (20.41)
This is a big leap to make for a guy who was plotting to abandon the Madmen in the very opening sentences of this book. Regardless of that, Karl learns to accept not only his station in the hierarchy of high school life but also to accept his friends for who they are.
Quote #8
"It was just kind of an idea we came up with after you and Cheryl left, at Denny's, last night," Bonny said. "Marti said everybody really knows who the therapy kids are anyway. I mean we know who's in the other groups, you know? And we all get teased sometimes, and Gratz practically announces it in class every other day. So Marti said, why not just be friends in public? So here we are." (21.73)
The Madmen have a bond that's based on more solid trust than probably any group of friends in their school—and yet they've been embarrassed to associate with each other until now. It's Marti's defiance of her critics, her parents, and her circumstances that inspires them to stop the charade.
Quote #9
"I hope this doesn't sound too weird, but when Gratz yelled at me, I felt good, because I knew it was going to be Madman f***ing legend, the maddest tale of the Madmen ever, all of us walking out on Gratz. Even Darla did, you know?" (21.94)
A huge part of the Madman Underground is their mythology—Paul, like Darla, Squid, and the rest of the gang, wants to have a good story, and rebelling once and for all against Gratz's abuse is the chance to get what he wants.