How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Please let me go," I begged, more afraid than I'd ever been in my life.
"Stop blubbering," Sweyn ordered me, "or I'll tell Papa you acted like a coward and disgraced the name of Fitzgerald before all these kids." (3.35-36)
You'd think J.D. was being held captive by bandits rather than learning to swim, right? To be fair, we doubt Tom and Sweyn are using a YMCA-approved swim training curriculum.
Quote #2
"Are you afraid?" Papa asked.
"Heck, no," Tom said as if becoming impatient with Papa. (3.159-160)
Afraid of the dark, scary cave? Nope. Afraid of losing his investment in the Jensen brothers and their dog? You betcha.
Quote #3
I wasn't the least bit scared. Maybe it was my confidence in my brother's great brain. Maybe it was my confidence in my dog. I felt no fear at all as I watched Uncle Mark enter the passageway to the cave. (3.164)
Here's a thought for you, J.D.: Maybe you don't feel afraid because you're just waiting outside the cave, taking no personal risk at all. Ever think about it that way?
Quote #4
Sweyn shook his head when I finished. "Old T.D. sure has courage," he said. "I wouldn't venture into that cave for anything." (3.174)
What Tom has is motivation. If he doesn't bring Lady and her owners out of the cave, he's out a couple of dollars, at least. If there's one thing Tom would risk life and limb for, it's a couple of dollars.
Quote #5
He looked steadily at Mr. Kokovinis. "Basil is no coward or cry baby," he said. "He fought Sammy Leeds. He got whipped because he doesn't know beans about fighting."
I thought Mr. Kokovinis would be angry. Instead he looked pleased. "I knew my son was no coward," he said. "Now this Sammy Leeds, you told me you could beat him. Can you teach my son how to fight so he can beat this boy?" (5.157-158)
Are these boys mountain goats or something? Does a new member of the herd have to fight everyone to prove he belongs? Apparently, the answers to those questions are yes and yes.
Quote #6
I put my arm around Tom's shoulders. "Old S.D. certainly has courage," I said. "He didn't even cry."
"That was an act put on for Mamma and Papa," Tom said. "As soon as the train gets around the bend he will need that extra handkerchief Mamma put in his pocket." (7.7-8)
Tom doesn't think a lot of his brothers in the courage department—or in the brains department. Or maybe he's just trying to show that he's not upset by S.D.'s departure. We bet he's going straight home to see if Sweyn left anything in his piggy bank.
Quote #7
"I have something to say to one boy in this room," Mr. Standish said. "I didn't have an opportunity to thank that boy last night. Regardless of what that boy did to me, he more than made up for it with his courage and kindness in coming to my defense." (7.200)
Tom lives a charmed life. Mr. Standish has every right to be furious with him, and instead he's thanking him. What? Where were these teachers when we were in school? Not that we were ever as terrible to our teachers as Tom is to Mr. Standish. Though, then again, our teachers never whipped us, either.