How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
I was so embarrassed I hid my face in my arm, but I couldn't stop the tears from coming.
The guys were really nice to me, though. They patted me on the back.
"You're okay, dude. It's okay," they said.
"You're one brave little dude, you know that?" said Amos, putting his arm around my shoulders. And when I kept on crying, he put both his arms around me like my dad would have done and let me cry. (8.Voices in the Dark.52-55)
The bigger, physically stronger kids are comforting Auggie. They are first shoring him up in a shaky moment, and then just being there for him, giving him a hug as he cries.
Quote #8
"Okay, said Amos, "but, little dude, don't walk around here alone again, okay? If you need to go somewhere, tell us and we'll go with you." (8.The Emperor's Guard.11)
No one has asked them to, but the boys are seriously looking out for Auggie now and they're not going to let any harm come to him. They've finally accepted him as one of their own.
Quote #9
Here Mr. Tushman looked up at the audience. "Kinder than is necessary," he repeated. "What a marvelous line, isn't it? Kinder than is necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. Why I love that line, that concept, is that it reminds me that we carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness." (8.A Simple Thing.14)
Which characters are "kinder than is necessary," and how does it make a difference? We want to note here that we've been kinder than necessary about Tushman's name this whole time—we haven't made a single butt joke.