Chapter 6 Summary

As Chapter Six opens, Eddie is visiting Coach, because he needs someone to talk to. He feels hopeless and needs guidance. Eddie says that some people in this situation would have "gone to a priest, some priest with pleats of wisdom on his brow" (87). Eddie gives Coach his entire life story and tells Coach about the incident with Mr. Stiles' truck. Coach makes a phone call to Mr. Stiles, who, after speaking with Coach decides to re-hire Eddie. While Coach is on the phone with Mr. Stiles, Samuel and the other punks try to start a fight with Eddie. Coach chases them off and then talks to Eddie about joining the military.

After Eddie leaves from his visit with Coach, he goes home to put on clean clothes and then goes to see the Navy recruiter in Fresno. Eddie is unimpressed by the...