When Brother Jacques says the word environment, all the boys in the class get up and jig. This is a Vigil assignment and it has been going on for over a week. Obie, who has been involved in many assignments--including helping The Goober with Room 19--wonders how they are able to get away with it all.
As Obie think about how tiring it is becoming, getting up and jogging every
time Jacques says environment, he realizes Archie anonymously tipped the
teacher off. Jacques is now using the word on purpose.
Here we see how Archie is not only out to get the teachers, he is out
to entertain himself He enjoys chaos.
Two students, Kevin and Danny are on the phone talking about how Jerry Renault has the right idea; they are sick of selling chocolates.
Two other students, Howie and Richy, discuss the same topic; they think Jerry has the right idea as well. Howie, who is also the president of the junior class, as well as an excellent student and athlete, says he will not sell them any longer either. Ricky is shocked.
Obie leaves a note for Archie to meet him in the gym. Obie tells him that
Jerry is still not selling the chocolates. Obie convinces Archie that
Jerry is defying The Vigils by refusing to sell the chocolates. Archie
tells Obie to get Jerry to appear in front of the group. When Obie reminds
Archie that he promised Leon that The Vigils would help in the sale, Archie
says he will handle Leon.
The purpose of this chapter is to show how Jerry's refusal to sell the
chocolates is affecting the whole school. In a sense, his actions are
competing with the powers of The Vigils because they are so influential.
The Vigils must remain in control; for this reason Archie becomes involved.
Brian Cochran is startled by how poorly the chocolate sale is going.
Brother Leon has stopped checking the totals daily, but on this particularly
bad day, Brother Leon appears. Leon makes Brian read off how many boxes
each boy has sold. When Brian reads Jerry's name, Leon grows angry. He
says the boys have become infected by apathy and Renault is the carrier
of the disease.
This chapter is a turning point of the novel. Leon is now blaming Jerry
for the poor progress of the entire chocolate sale. This is the first
time Leon shows he believes Renault is a real threat.
The Goober tells Jerry that he wants to quit the football team. He tells
Jerry that he heard Brother Eugene had a nervous breakdown. The Goober
believes there is something evil in the school. The Goober says that he
will not play football because it is a personal stance. It is because
of what they are doing to them, to Eugene, to Jerry, to The Goober. Jerry
says to think of it as a game. He thinks The Goober should play football.
The Goober says he will not give anything else to Trinity.
In this chapter we see that The Goober is taking his own stand. Much like Jerry, The Goober senses something is wrong. Unlike Jerry, The Goober seems more certain of what he is rebelling against.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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