How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Nearly all of his father's presents were given with reservations which hampered their value somewhat. It was good discipline. (1.21)
At this point, Jody knows he's getting a present, but he has no clue that it's a full-on pony. A pony. One thing he knows for sure is that any gift given him by his old man is going to have many life lessons attached.
Quote #2
Jody was glad when they had gone. He took brush and currycomb from the wall, took down the barrier of the box stall and stepped cautiously in. (1.58)
At first, Jody was super amped to show his pony off but after a short while, he just wanted them gone so he could get back to the business of caring for Gabilan. In a quick scene, Jody shows us he can bounce from immature braggart to mature caretaker with lightning speed.
Quote #3
Billy lifted the weak head and made a quick slash with the knife. Jody saw the yellow pus run out. (1.153)
As he's witnessing this, Jody does not throw up or pass out or cry. It's a tough scene to take in but if he can do it, maybe that means he's more of a man than we thought. Shmoop would be cry-barfing in the corner.
Quote #4
As he went back toward the house, Jody knew one thing more sharply than he had ever known anything. He must never tell anyone about the rapier. It would be a dreadful thing to tell anyone about it, for it would destroy some fragile structure of truth. It was a truth that might be shattered by division. (2.152)
Okay, Jody, it's just a sword. No need to get all worked up. We wonder if he wants to keep the rapier a secret because his parents might think it's dangerous, or if he just wants to share something with a stranger. Either way, it's clear he's forging new bonds, and breaking some old ones.
Quote #5
A longing caressed him, and it was so sharp that he wanted to cry to get it out of his breast. He lay down in the green grass near the round tub at the brush line. He covered his eyes with his crossed arms and lay there a long time, and he was full of a nameless sorrow. (2.173)
From these lines, it's clear that Jody isn't your average happy-go-lucky kid. He's got deep thoughts and feelings that are worthy of a grown man.
Quote #6
And in the house, after listening to his mother's despair over boys who filled their lunch pails with slimy, suffocated reptiles, and bugs, he promised never to do it again. Indeed, Jody felt that all such foolishness was lost in the past. He was far too grown up ever to put horny-toads in his lunch pail any more. (3.38)
So one second Jody's playing practical jokes on his mom, and the next he's far too grown up for that? What happened in the span of just a few minutes? Oh, that's right—his father promised him a new baby colt. That means Jody's gotta buckle down and get to growing up.
Quote #7
The warm morning sun shone on Jody's back so sweetly that he was forced to take a serious stiff-legged hop now and then in spite of his maturity. (3.49)
Admit it, Shmoopers. No matter how old we are, we're all tempted to skip in the sunshine now and then. Jody's no different. He just gets away with it a little more easily than the rest of us.
Quote #8
Jody sighed deeply. "It's a long time, isn't it?"
"And then it'll be about two years more before you can ride."
Jody cried out in despair, "I'll be grown up."
"Yep, you'll be an old man," said Billy. (3.69-3.72)
Sure, Billy's just teasing Jody here, but he does have a point. Two years is a long time in the life of a kid. What's interesting here is that he seems to think that when he's grown, he won't be able to enjoy the horse as much. But why?
Quote #9
A race of giants had lived then, fearless men, men of staunchness unknown in this day. (4.113)
Jody's obviously not one of these guys. But he totally wants to be when he grows up. The problem is, these men don't exist anymore. So what sort of man will Jody be when he's no longer a kid?
Quote #10
Jody felt very sad. "If you'd like a glass of lemonade I could make it for you." (4.165)
The fact that he gets his Gramps a glass of lemonade, and doesn't want one himself tells us that, in this moment at least, Jody's acting like a mature and empathetic kid. Of course there's no telling what he'll do next.