Quote 1
Cole felt a sudden rush of anger and jerked away. Why did everybody always have to touch him? He didn't need anyone's help. What he needed was for the world to butt out. "Aren't you guys ever leaving?" he snapped. (2.41)
Edwin and Garvey are the first people who are truly nice to Cole, but instead of appreciating it, he pushes them away. It totally weirds him out that they're invested in his well-being.
Quote 2
On Christmas Eve, Cole sat alone in front of his twisted little tree as the wind outside moaned through the treetops. Did anyone anywhere miss him at this moment? He went to bed early that night, not knowing the answer to that question.
The next time Edwin visited, Cole said to him, "Christmas was really lonely. I feel like the whole world has forgotten about me." (24.27-28)
Cole's gotten somewhat used to being alone on the island, but spending Christmas all alone is still pretty depressing. Even cutting down his own Christmas tree and making ornaments out of foil doesn't raise his spirits.
Quote 3
Cole turned to face the wall. "He drinks until he turns into a monster. Mom just gets drunk and pretends nothing has happened. It's like a bad dream I can't wake up from." (3.17)
There's no lost love between Cole and his parents. When Garvey asks about them, he tells him the truth: They've never been there to support and love him, and they've always been a negative force in his life.
Quote 4
Cole tried to be calm, but his voice shook and his face felt hot. "We aren't supposed to lie when we hold the feather, but my father just lied. My parents don't have the time of day for me. I'm just in their way, especially since they split up. I bet my dad can't even tell you when my birthday is." (6.11)
No matter what his parents say to other people, Cole sees right through their lies. He knows that his father is just saying all of these supportive things because he's trying to save his own face. He doesn't actually care about being a good parent.
Quote 5
"You'll wear them inside out for the first two weeks of your banishment to show humility and shame," Edwin said, his voice hard as stone. Then he turned and shuffled up the dock toward his old rusty pickup. (1.6)
Cole won't take responsibility for his actions, so Edwin and Garvey force him to do so. If he won't feel guilty or bad about beating up Peter, they'll make him wear his clothes inside out in order to show his shame and humility.
Quote 6
Cole figured he wouldn't even be here if Peter Driscal had known how to fight back. Instead, Peter was hospitalized. Doctors' reports warned he might suffer permanent damage. "Serves him right," Cole mumbled when he was first told of Peter's condition. (1.24)
Even being confronted with Peter Driscal's horrible injuries—and the fact that he might have permanent damage—doesn't make Cole feel guilty or responsible. Instead, he blames the whole thing on Peter for antagonizing him in the first place.
Quote 7
Cole felt no anger, but he was tired of trying to prove himself to Edwin. He was tired of trying to prove himself to the world. "There are two choices," he said. "Give Peter the same chance I've had here on the island, or give up and watch him commit suicide. Which would you pick?" (25.9)
Cole's been working super hard to change himself, but not everyone is convinced of his progress. He knows that he's going to have to do more—especially for Peter—if he's going to make things right.
Quote 8
This Spirit Bear didn't have any right to stare at him. It didn't have pride, dignity, and honor like Edwin had said. It was just a mangy animal. Cole flung the rock, even though the bear was nearly a quarter mile away. "Keep staring, I'll kill you," he shouted. (5.17)
Instead of being in awe of Spirit Bear or respecting the creature's sanctity, Cole just sees it as another obstacle in his life to destroy. He tries to kill Spirit Bear, which is why it lashes out at him, almost killing him.
Quote 9
"I deserved to die," he said. "They didn't. But that was the first time I was really scared that I might die. That was when I first started thinking about my life and cared about something besides myself. And that was when Edwin and Garvey found me." (25.33)
Cole's near-death experience is actually something he now treasures instead of regrets. By almost dying, he was able to reexamine his life and make some meaningful changes toward being a better person.
Quote 10
"Peter needs to soak in the pond and carry the ancestor rock. He needs to learn how to be invisible and to dance and to carve his totem. He needs to see the Spirit Bear." (25.5)
Being on the island and engaging in all of these spiritual activities has helped Cole so much that he wants the same thing for Peter. Even though he knows Peter doesn't want anything to do with him, Cole still wants to help him.
Quote 11
Each time he got in trouble, he was warned to shape up because this was his last chance. Even the day he left for the island, several of those who gathered to see him off, including his parents, had warned him, "Don't screw up. This is your last chance." Cole braced himself for the next big wave. Whatever happened, he could always count on having one more last chance. (1.16)
Cole has no incentive to actually change for the better because he's always gotten away with his bad behavior in the past. Sure, he's received a slap on the wrist…but he's never gone to jail forever.
Quote 12
"I started making a canoe, but I knew that was wrong, so I cut this deep groove so I couldn't try again. When I started carving the eagle, I finally slept good." Cole ended by telling about the eagle dance and what he had learned. "Are you mad at me?" he asked. (21.37)
Even though Cole was tempted to run away, he's still changed considerably, especially since he's willing to tell the truth and admit his mistakes to Edwin. He's not trying to cover up his bad parts anymore.
Quote 13
"I never told him he was worthless," Cole argued.
"Smashing his head on a sidewalk is a funny way of telling Peter he's valuable." (23.41-42)
All this time, Cole's had a hard time understanding exactly how his actions have impacted Peter's life. When he hears about Peter's suicide attempt, he realizes that beating the kid up has serious long-term consequences.
Quote 14
"I don't care if he forgives me."
Garvey rubbed the back of his neck, then glanced up toward the ceiling. "How come everything is always about you? This forgiveness isn't for you. Until Peter forgives you, he won't heal." 3.60-61)
The thing about accepting what he's done and seeking forgiveness from Peter is that it won't just benefit Cole—it's actually a way to help Peter heal, too. He also has to move on from this terrible incident.
Quote 15
When waves from the splash reached shore, he called into the darkness, "I'm sorry!" He screamed louder, "Please forgive me! I didn't mean to hurt Peter!" (23.21)
It takes Cole a while to admit what he's done to Peter and even longer to ask for forgiveness. For starters, he has to beg for forgiveness when no one else is there, yelling it out to the whole empty island.
Quote 16
"You two are the only ones who ever cared about me," he blurted. "It's not like I don't appreciate what you're doing. But I screwed everything up. I'm going to jail—can't you see that? Why don't you just leave me alone now and quit wasting your time?" (15.56)
Cole just doesn't get why Edwin and Garvey try so hard with him. He feels like a lost cause—so why do these two men believe in him so much? Why do they want to help him?