Summary

Chapter 14 begins with Tom giving Corey a ride home. Tom is aware of Corey’s recent delinquent behavior. Tom does not chastise him, but Corey feels remorse as the conversation unfolds. Tom admits he had a strained relationship with his father. Later, Corey walks past a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym, Bestway, and walks in; he expresses interest in joining the gym. Corey apologizes to his old boss who fired him for lying on his timesheets. Chapter 15 depicts Corey’s growing commitment to Bestway, where “people’s jobs and identities off the mat mattered little; the only thing that counted was their skill” (178). Meanwhile, Gloria’s condition continues to deteriorate, as evidenced by depictions of her struggling to commute to work. Corey’s junior year ends and he fails his finals. He gets a landscaping job for the summer...