Chapters 9 to 11 - Questions 13 to 17

13- Which clues should have indicated to Bryon that Mark was selling drugs?

First of all, Mark didn't stop bringing money at home, even if he was passing more and more time away from home.  Their mother doesn't understand where he take the money, but Bryon though that he was playing poker or gambling for it.  Also, after M&M had left the house, Mark told Bryon that he knew exactly where M&M could be. They whent toguether, and Mark seemed to know the place well, which means that he used to go there sometimes, or I would say, many times.  When Bryon and Cathy went there by themselves to look again for M&M, they found him, shaking, under drugs effects, with other kids, smoking pot, but also taking hard drugs, even acid or LSD.  I understand that Mark was maybe going there for the simple reason of selling drugs to the kids.  The hippie house knew Mark, as he knew it.  I think that Bryon should have understood that Mark was a pusher earlier, than just when he found the pills  when he was looking for cigarette in Mark's room.

14- In your opinion, why did Bryon call the cops on Mark?

Bryon is changing. He becomes mature, and he cares about the others now.  He loves Cathy, and M&M became his girlfriend brother, his place for Bryon is more important than in the past, even if he was protecting him with Mark, from getting beaten by other gangs. Bryon realised that Mark was not helping M&M anymore. M&M is in the hospital, nobody knows if he will survive after taking these drugs, and Mark was one of the person selling this stuff to the people at the hippie house.  I think that Bryon called the cops, because he thinks that Mark sold the drug to M&M personnaly, but also for what he could do to other kids who would buy his drugs.

15- In your opinion, why did Bryon and Cathy’s relationship end?

I think their relationship end, because Bryon didn’t used to juge what he said last to Cathy. He asked her if she was glad about what he did to Mark, because she didn’t like him very much.  I think that Bryon is now mixed up, he worries a lot about the decision he did about Mark getting arrested by the cops. He stopped caring about people for this moment, because he realised that maybe he was taking hard decisions just because he was caring a lot about M&M and Cathy, in this context. I think that Cathy and Bryon had to live on their own what happened in their family.  Mark had pass throught this with his mother, just as Cathy with her parents, and brother and sisters.  I think they both had to stop and think about what happened.

16- What did you think of the ending? Was it predictable? What part of the story foreshadowed

such an ending?

I think that the ending was a little predictable, but I liked it.  I imagined that Mark would have followed sort of a dark side, by selling drugs, because he was not caring about the rules, even the others, he seemed to be the type of boy who would have sometimes troubles, and illegal activities, like smoking, taking drugs and drinking. Bryon and Mark became quite different in this book, Bryon changed and became someone who cared about the others, not like Mark. I used to think about this kind of ending when the two brothers were talking about Charlie’s death. Their feelings were different at this moment of the book, and it didn’t really changed after that.  What I wasn’t expecting, is that Cathy would go with Curtis. I thought she would stay with Marc, or being single for a while, because of the drama that her family had to pass throught.

17- In your opinion, did Bryon do the right thing by calling the police on Mark? Explain.

First, I think that Bryon took the right decision by calling the police, because what Mark did was something illegal, and I could have bad effects on other kids like M&M, and that’s not even better.  On the other hand, I think that Bryon should have talk to this to Mark, first, instead of calling the police. I think that Mark wasn’t really thinking about was he was doing by selling drugs, that I used to do it for the family, to bring money home.  Bryon was taking care about the others, but I think in this decision, he would have been taking care of his brother because he also needed help, to stop selling pills, to become a great kid. I think that he should have waited before to call the police, because he was on a hysterical moment, when he found the pills and associated them to the messed up life of M&M, at the hospital.

Chapters 7 & 8 - Questions 9-10-11-12

9- When Bryon talks to M&M’s dad, he thinks about how his own mother raises them: “I could have told him that Mom never worried about Mark and me –she loved us but let us run our own lives”. What do you think about the way Bryon’s mother raises the boys? Do you think it has consequences on their lives? What are the consequences?

I think that Bryon's mother raised them in a way that they became indenpendant of themselves younger than other kids.  She is taking care of them, she let them live their own lives, without showing so much worries about them, but I think she was, really, inside, because every mother does. I think the way she raised them in this way to let them face the reality, the danger, and to let them have their autonomy et a young age.  For sure this is bringing consequences on their lives, because they used to do whataver they wanted at anytime, they go drinking, or smoking, or taking drugs, sometimes thwy don't even come back home before the few nexts days. For sure, they live a different life than other kids of their age who had been raised with rules, but the society is also contribuing on the way they are being, because they are influence by everything they see, everyday.

10- In chapter 7, Mark says: “So are we [just kids]. Nothing bad happens to you when you’re a kid. Or haven’t you realized that?” Do you agree with Mark? Do you think Mark’s opinion is going to change? Why?

I don't agree with Mark on this statement, because he is talking without considerating his «luck», for all the times that he went out late, at a young age, and that nothing happened.  I think he tries to be a real man saying that, to prove nothing could happen to him, because he has always been safed by other people (for example Charlie who saved them from being shot).  I would hope that he would change, because for example, in chapter 8, no one really knows where is M&M, maybe something bad happened to him, but I don't think he will change, because he always thinks that everything seems ok. Comparing to Bryon, he seems to change, to take real responsabilities, for example he seems really worried about M&M.  Mark is just living his life without thinking of what could happen, and he won't change.

11- In chapter 7, how does Mark’s previous statement from chapter 2 (“That is one stupid guy. [… ] if anybody ever hurt me like that, I’d hate them for the rest of my life.”) become prophetic?

I think that what Mark said in chapter two stays here because he is not changing, not like Bryon is changing.  Mark realized that, and he doesn't understand why Bryon become more worried about life, for example about M&M.  This previous statement become more prophetic because when Bryon doesn't want to smoke pot, in chapter 8, he said it because he wanted to respect the law.  Mark was laughing to Bryon, telling him that he was judging, that he didn't want to smoke because he was worried.  He also talked about the hippie they beat up a hippie kid in a park, he says that he is just a real punk but not a dumb. We can understand that Mark is always influence by the differences, that he only thinks about appearance, and gangs. He didn't change, but Bryon did.

12- In your opinion, why does Mark know where to hunt for M&M in this chapter?

I think that Mark brought Bryon somewhere M&M wouldn't be because he doesn't like the way Bryon is changing.  Bryon become a better person, who worries about people, who has real feelings about Cathy, and I think that Mark, is living in the past, he want his brother back, with how he used to do the same things, play the same games. Now, Mark is just looking for chicks and places to go drinking and smoking drugs, and he want Bryon to come back with him doing the things they used to do before Bryon became to change. Mark wanted to spend time with Bryon, to bring him back in that world, and trying to forget all the worries, because for him, nothing bad happen to children, never. 

Questions: Chapters 5 & 6

6-   Were you surprised by Charlie’s death in chapter 5? Why/Why not?  In your opinion, what will be the consequences of this death for Bryon and Mark?

My first impression about  Charlie's death was that I was surprised, because I didn't expected that at the beginning, but when I think further, I'm not surprised about it for many reasons. First, Charlie was working in a bar, his business, where many different people were going to. Bars are not the safest place to work in, sometimes fights happened in there, because the clients are not controlling everything they do, because of alcool, but also drugs where the story takes place. Charlie was taking a risk everyday by going to work, it is also mentionned that he was keeping a shotgun handy for this reason.  Also, Charlie was a generous person, taking Bryon's and Mark's responsability as something really important. He was taking risks by letting the two boys coming to his bar, but he was feeling really responsible about them, that's why he wanted to protect them from the Texans who were trying to kill them. Charlie put is life in danger to help the two kids.  I think that after Charlies's death, Mark and Bryon will be more carefull about going to bars, even that now they don't have anybody to take care of them there.  Maybe they will think twice before doing things that are reserved to older people, because they lived something really troubling, seeing their friend killed by a shotgun.  I think they will priorise their security.

7-   In chapter 6, Cathy and Mark’s relationship evolves.  How do they feel about one another?  What events prove that?

In chapter six, we can see that the situation between Mark and Cathy changes. At the beginning, they feel happy to see each other, Mark seems funny, and Cathy seems to appreciate it. When the chapter goes on, we can see that their relation is changing, they don't appreciate each other as they used to do at the beginning, I could even say that they don't like each other very much at this point.  Everything started when Bryon, Cathy, Mark and M&M were driving to the Ribbon. Mark suddendly went out of the car, and hit someone outside.  Cathy was not impressed about it, she was not considerating Mark as a hero, like he seemed to do himself.  We see that Mark is someone who think in the simple way '' Leave me or take me'', he doesn't like to be analyzed. Cathy is someone more serious who analize, who seems to tolerate less things.  When Bryon tell her about the story of the cops beating Bryon because he was drunk and running, she react like a mother who would punished his son. Mark is speaking like if every teenager was innocent, that it was normal. At this point, like Bryon mentionned, it was impossible for Cathy and Mark to become friends!

8-   Chapter 6 ends with M&M running away.  What do you think makes M&M choose to do that?

I think M&M was not happy anymore at his house, we know that he got grief fir his hair and his ideas, but I think it's more than that.  If M&M runned away it's because he was not feeling good about staying home with his family, but also with his friends. I think that M&M feels alone.  Before, he used to pass more time with Mark and Bryon, but now, when Bryon goes to his house, it is to pick up and see his sister Cathy. I think he feels a little rejected of his friends, but also he tries to find his real identity, between all the different people. Cathy thinks he started smoking marijuana, he seems to be anywhere with people that nobody knows, that he pretend them to be his friends, with long hair, etc. I think M&M is discovering who he is, and that he left the house, because  the people he liked are rejecting his ideas. 

Questions: Chapters 3 & 4

1-   In chapter 3, many different (sometimes little) events give us some insight about Mark and Bryon’s relationship.

Identify the elements that give us that insight on the boys’ relationship.

For each event that you list, explain what it says about their relationship.

When Bryon told Mark that he was dating Cathy, he remembered that Mark told him that Angela was  not a great girl, but Bryon hadn't pay any attention about that, that he wanted to prove things to himself instead of listening to Mark. I think that Bryon feels like he has to prove himself to Mark, because he doesn't accept that his friend knows things before him.  Mark seems to be someone Bryon can count on, because he could advice Bryon, and stay understanding  about Bryon's feelings.  Their relationship is based on complicity.  When Mark told Bryon about his jealousy  about Curtis, Bryon was quite laughing, because  Mark knows him pretty well.  Also, when Mark came with Charlie's car at Bryon's house, I could figure that there is a lot of humour in their relationship, they are irritating a bit each other, but it turns to funny stuff.  Bryon consider their friendship as being lucky to have each other, I think that's because of the simplicity of Mark.  When Cathy said how Mark was beautiful, Bryon was feeling mad.  Even if there seems to be competition between the two friends, Bryon consider friendship has the most important thing, he couldn't imagine to hate Mark.  This feeling about their friendship  was more represented at the end of the chapter, when Mark has been found beaten up in the parking. Bryon stayed with him and went to the hospital with him, before they came back home.  That shows they want to take care about each other, but also, that they are like real brothers, because  Mark doesn't have any family, but Bryon's place is the most important in his life.

2-   After reading chapter 4, explain the relevance and the meaning of the title of the book. Include two quotes from chapter 4 to illustrate your opinion.

The title of the book, That was then, this is now, means many things about the two characters, Mark and Bryon, and the story.  It represents a period of time that Mark and Bryon have to cross over, the time when they were kids.  Being teenagers, they are constantly changing, and the time they pass toguether with their gang, is not the same, they have to face up their own life, with their personnality.  They have to accept the fact that life is changing, now that they grew up, like Mark said '' Do you ever get the feeling that the whole thing is changin'? Like somethin' is coming to an end because somethin' else is beginning? '' (p. 68)  More further, I analysed in a complete different way that quote from Bryon '' It's kind of a good thing too, '' I said, '' when you know your own personality so you don't need the one the gang makes for you. '' (p. 69) I think it means that they will pay less attention about the ''difference'' which is a main theme of the novel.  If they build their own personnality, I think that they will see the gangs and the races differently, like being a part of life, and not a ''difference''.  That was then, this was now, could means that times are changing, I think It will represent the society that will change mind, and open her mind to the difference (the blacks), without going back, but face the truth, that before was someting, and now it's something new. 

Questions: Chapters 1 & 2

1-      In chapter 1, when Mark and Bryon save M&M from Curly Sheppard’s gang and afterwards want to beat up on another innocent by-stander, M&M says:

“You make me sick!  You just rescued me from some guys who were going to beat me up because I’m different from them, and now you’re going to beat up someone because he’s different from you.  You think I’m weird – well, you’re the weird ones.”

·         Discuss difference in Mark and Bryon’s world.  What does it mean and what does it cause? 

·         What does that event enable you to infer or predict about what will happen in the story? 

I think that for Mark and Bryon, the difference make people act negatively. They are fighting against people that are different from them, because everyone is doing it. I think the difference in Mark and Bryon World is based on the social classes, gangs and races.  They recued M&M because he is their friend, but they are going to fight against people even if their friend was the victim of a battle.  I imagine that they think the difference is bad, that the people that are not like you are even not good people, because of their appearance that seems maybe different, not like them.  I think that this event will make Mark, but mostly Bryon think about what they do.  Mark seems to be someone who cares less about people than Bryon (Bryon feels bad about stealing a little further in these chapters).  Maybe that what said M&M will influence Bryon about not beat other people and gang because they are different.

2-      In chapter 2, Mike’s story ends with the girl saying “kill the white bastard”.  Why do you think she said that? Explain from the context.

First, she said that to a man at her house, which seems violent, and manipulative. I think she wanted to protect herself, because this man saw her being in Mike’s car.  In the context of the story, the difference between people, and mostly races, separate the others, and create problems, mostly between the black and white people. I think that to stay at her house, she has to think like the others living with her, and be provocative against the white people. She prefers to «lie» and invent something negative about Mike to keep her place there, than to be fighting between the two men, because I think she is afraid, and for now, in the society she lives, it is «better» to stay with your gang, or your race.

3-      At the end of chapter 2, Mike says:

“I still don’t hate Negroes, least of all Connie.  I mean I can almost see why she did it. Almost.”

Mark later says about Mike:

“That is one stupid guy.  [… ] if anybody ever hurt me like that, I’d hate them for the rest of my life.”

What does that comment allow you to foreshadow about Mark?

I think that what Mark says allows to foreshadow that Mark is racist.  He thinks that because one person of different race beat you, you need to hate all people of this race. I think that into the society he lives, he thinks something which is normal for all, because there is something very important with the difference.  I think that Mike, which doesn’t hate all blacks even if the man beat him, has an advanced thinking compare to Mark and the major part of people.  Mark is more generalist, and that relates to his personality, of beating people that are different of you, like mentioned in the question one.  He is influence by the general idea his society shows.