CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Summary

What happens to the two boys one night isn't clear and probably never will be, but by the time it's over, Lafeyette is wet, hurting, and unusually angry at the police while Pharoah is confused and disappointed in himself for not doing more to help his brother. On this rainy night, Pharoah and Lafeyette decide to go to the Chicago Blackhawks game. They want to earn some extra money by offering to watch patrons' cars from any damage. They sincerely plan to do just that. They never give their real names to anyone who pays them, and Pharoah, because he's small and non-threatening, can often pick up extra tickets from the patrons.

The stadium is a source of stress for the people who live in Horner. The Wirtz family who owns it has been threatening to tear down Horner to make room for parking, and when there are games, the area is flooded with police. This angers the residents, because it takes crowds of white people to bring protection into their neighborhood. These questions are never......

Notes

This chapter serves as a history lesson as to why the residents of Horner don't trust the police. Lafeyette's incident with the police officer who knocked him down is minor compared to some of the past experiences that involved the deaths of four young black men at the hands of the police.

The chapter also emphasizes the tragedy of Paul Rivers, the children's father. His dependence on........

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