This Boy's Life Part 4, Chapter 2 Summary

  • Jack picks on Arthur Gayle, a "sissy" from school who Jack likes despite pounding on him.
  • Arthur returns Jack's insult and a fight breaks out. It ends when Jack apologizes to Arthur.
  • Jack's mom fixes up his cuts, and grown-up Toby informs us that she and Dwight came back from their honeymoon two days early. Dwight sleeps on the couch several nights a week.
  • Mom seems depressed—realizing your marriage is a mistake during the honeymoon will do that to you—but eventually rebounds. She joins the PTA and the rifle club, and finds a part-time job waiting tables.
  • Dwight loves the fact that Jack fought Arthur. He advises Jack to keep his guard up, and later tells a delightful story about how he once beat up a kid who mouthed off to him.
  • Jack and Arthur avoid each other, but one day they meet up at the place where they'd fought. Arthur makes a joke about his dog and Jack laughs. They seem to have made up.