Emotional Reaction

“ ‘Are you fuckin’ with me?’ I shouted I snapped the knife open and stepped toward him. ‘Jim, I’m your brother, ‘ he said. ‘If you weren’t my fuckin’ brother, there would be no talk! And you know this! You know what I’m fuckin’ doin’ out there, and you steal my fuckin’ dope?’”(249). 

This occurred right after Jimmy’s parents visited and met up with his brother Joe. After his parents went back home in New Jersey he decided to go over to Joe’s apartment. The first time Jimmy went to Joe’s apartment he left a needle full of heroin under the sink. Jimmy came back to Joe’s house a second time to find out that his needle full of heroin was gone. Jimmy then started looking for his drugs and became very suspicious of Joe. Jimmy suspected that Joe, his brother, might have stolen it. Jimmy starts getting infuriated then pulls a knife on his own brother. This seemed to shock me because Joe was his own brother and I wouldn’t think that he would turn on his brother just because of some missing drugs. In the beginning of the book it showed how when Jimmy was younger his own brother tormented him. Jimmy never really stood up to Joe and let him walk all over him: “One of the reasons I was so quick to play along with his nonsense was that I knew that is we did argue—if he started pinching and pushing me, shouting ‘fat boy’ in my face—and I had to call my mom, she wouldn’t be able to control him”(11). After being involved with actual convicts and being on the street he had changed. Jimmy had felt superior to his brother, felt as if he were better. This shows how Jimmy would no longer condone Joe’s teasing or taunting anymore. Jimmy would no longer rely on his mother to face Joe but only himself. Jimmy had become brave which is shown when he stands up to his brother. Gaining bravery is a great thing but to threaten someone with a knife over drugs is uncalled for. It was surprising how someone could pull a knife out on another person just because of drugs but to pull a knife on someone you’ve known your whole life, someone who is a part of you’re family is outrageous.

Word Count without quote:  339