How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I don't want to be a nuisance to you, but I wish you could tell me how. (19.2)
A vital part of the coming of age story is the hero's mentor. The mentor is the older and wiser one (like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Gandalf) who teaches, guides, and advises the young one. Leigh's got two in this story: Mr. Fridley and Mr. Henshaw. Leigh's not afraid to ask for advice, which is a huge advantage for him. He's not a know-it-all.
Quote #2
If I eat my lunch on the way to school, I get hungry in the afternoon. (21.2)
Self-reflection is something that happens as people grow up. Leigh tries to solve his lunch-thief problem one way, realizes it's not working, and then has to figure out a different approach.
Quote #3
Dad should be phoning any day now. When I said that at supper […] Mom said for me not to get my hopes up, but I know Dad will remember this time. (27.4)
At this point in the story, Leigh still has complete faith in Dad, even though he's been pretty unreliable about phoning. As the story progresses, he gets more realistic about Dad.
Quote #4
Sometimes I lie awake listening to the gas station pinging, and I worry because something might happen to Mom. She is so little compared to most moms, and she works so hard. I don't think Dad is that much interested in me. (30.4)
What deep and sad thoughts for a kid. Definitely not the way it should be in an ideal world, and definitely the kind of situation to make a kid grow up, maybe before he's supposed to.
Quote #5
The worst part of all was I knew if Dad took someone to a pizza place for dinner, he wouldn't have phoned me at all, no matter what he said. He would have too much fun playing video games. (39.2)
Leigh is moving past the point where he believes unequivocally that his dad will come through for him. Even though his dad says one thing, Leigh uses past experiences to figure out his dad's behavior patterns and predict future behavior. Not only is this very grown-up reasoning, but his rock-solid belief in his dad is crumbling.
Quote #6
Now Mom went on. "I didn't think playing pinball machines in a tavern on Saturday night was fun anymore. Maybe I grew up and your father didn't." (39.13)
This isn't Mom's or Dad's coming of age story, but what Mom says here gives some insight into Dad. He's an example of what happens when someone doesn't grow up: he shirks responsibilities, doesn't follow through on his promises, and values playing games over his wife and kid.
Quote #7
"Go ahead and tell the principal," I said. "See if I care."
"Maybe you don't," he said, "but I do. […] I don't want to see a boy like you get into trouble, and that's where you're headed." (40.6-7, 9)
Mr. Fridley, Leigh's other mentor, calls it like he sees it. He genuinely cares about the kids and wants to see them succeed in every way. In this part of the story, he's helping Leigh learn to make mature decisions. Thinking about the future consequences of your actions is big-time mature.
Quote #8
When I asked if I had to write and thank Dad, Mom gave me a funny look and said, "That's up to you." (43.7)
Up to this point, Mom has told Leigh what to do: answer Mr. Henshaw's questions, clean the house, and don't hang out at the gas station. She's tried to explain things about his dad and mediate everything, but this time she doesn't. She stands back and doesn't tell Leigh what to do, instead giving him space to make his own decision about how to respond to his dad.
Quote #9
Then Dad surprised me. He asked, "Do you ever miss your old Dad?"
I had to think a minute. I missed him all right, but I couldn't seem to get the words out. My silence must have bothered him because he asked, "Are you still there?"
"Sure, Dad, I miss you," I told him. It was true, but not as true as it had been a couple of months ago. I still wanted him to pull up in front of the house in his big rig, but now I knew I couldn't count on it. (52.7-9)
This passage is jam packed with signs of Leigh's maturity. First, he's able to reflect on his own feeling of surprise. Then, he reflects on his behavior: he can't get the words out. Next, he's able to guess what Dad must be feeling—he's bothered that Leigh didn't answer him. Finally, we see that Leigh has given up his childish, wishful hoping; now, he's accepting the reality about Dad. And to top it off, he's writing this dialogue in his diary and including all the details and reflections. It adds up to a very interesting and emotional part of the story.