Chapter Two Summary

Gunnar recalls living in Santa Monica, playing with white friends, and having fun at the beach. Sometimes Gunnar gets into trouble with the police at the beach for pranks and gets escorted home, so Gunnar's mother makes him join the Cub Scouts. Gunnar gets kicked out after three meetings.

After days spent playing at the beach Gunnar likes to go home, listen to the radio and read. Even at a young age Gunnar is an avid reader and enjoys reading about a variety of topics, especially World War II aviation. Gunnar is known among his friends for his sense of humor and his ability to keep a straight face regardless of how outrageous the joke. He is known as the "funny, cool black guy."

Gunnar's elementary school is sensitive to multicultural issues to the point of absurdity. Despite being nearly an...