Summary

The second part of the book is titled “Choices and Second Chances.” It opens with Moore visiting Wes in prison, and wishing him a happy birthday. Wes was born on Independence Day. Moore reflected on the other visitations going on around him. They made him thankful for his freedom. He felt sympathy for those incarcerated, but did not forgive them for their sins. To him, they “squandered the few opportunities they’d had” (67).

The conversations between Moore and Wes had changed over time. In the beginning, they were very general, telling the other very safe things. Now, they had become a joint therapy session. Wes asked Moore when did he first become a man. It made Moore think, and inspired the next few chapters. Moore declared, without any real detail, that adulthood was: “When I first cared that my actions mattered to...