Significance of Henry's Glove

Henry's glove, which bears the name "Zero," is an obvious symbol of Henry's excellence as a ballplayer: "When he came home from Little League games, his mother would ask how many errors he'd made. 'Zero!' he'd crow, popping the pocket of his beloved glove with a balled-up fist" (8). Zero accompanies Henry to Westish, and thus also symbolizes Henry's long history of low-key excellence as a ballplayer. Yet first when Henry's error-free streak is broken, and then when Henry breaks down completely, the name of Henry's beloved glove begins to seem more like a taunting reminder of a glorious, abandoned past.