Bystander

Eric witnesses many more David Hallenback-related incidents. Students play a game called “I Dare You!” (84) involving humiliating dares. Eric describes Hallenback as the “perfect pawn” for the game, as he is willing to do anything for acceptance: “That was the carrot Griffin so expertly dangled: acceptance” (84).

Eric tries to be friendly toward Hallenback by waving, but this causes the latter to flinch in fear. While Eric never actively participates in pranks, he realizes that through his inaction, he is “just as bad as the rest of them” (86).

Griffin visits Eric’s house unannounced. He comments about not seeing Eric much: “It feels like things got weird between us after Hallenback got hurt at recess” (90). Eric responds, “He didn’t get hurt. […] You hurt him. There’s a difference” (90).

Griffin admits he doesn’t know why he hurt Hallenback, and that his father is the one who knocked his tooth (from the souvenir collection) out.

Eric reflects on Hallenback’s annoying nature but realizes it doesn’t excuse Griffin’s bullying. Griffin tells Eric that the weak like Hallenback are destined to be picked on: “It’s the law of the jungle. Only the strong survive” (93).

After Griffin leaves, Eric discovers one of his CDs and twenty-seven dollars from his brother Rudy’s baseball bank missing.

While walking a golden retriever as part of his dog-walking business, Eric runs into Mary O’Malley. She invites him to hang out at a dog park.

Mary shows Eric a photo sent to her—that of a pig’s head photoshopped to a human girl’s body. Mary explains that the girl is Chantel Williams, who is “guilty” of flirting with the wrong boy. Some of Mary’s friends are planning to create a fake website about her. They tried to recruit Mary, but she wants no part of the prank. Eric invites Mary out for pizza.

Mr. Floyd, a school counselor, visits Eric’s science class and presents a workshop titled “Bullying: Rumors and Gossip” (105). He reads a definition for bullying: “Bullying is whenever someone uses his or her power unfairly or repeatedly to hurt someone” (106). He also identifies four types of bullying: verbal, physical, intimidation, and indirect bullying. The presentation elicits mixed reactions.

During the hands-on portion of the workshop, Eric’s group produces a list of strategies for creating a bully-free zone: “respect, tell an adult, don’t spread rumors, don’t encourage a bully, stand up for a friend, walk away, don’t be a bystander, help victims, say ‘stop it!’ don’t laugh at bully’s jokes, be nice to target” (109).

Mr. Scofield, Eric’s English teacher, is displeased when he hears some of the boys joking about Mr. Floyd’s bullying presentation. He presents one of his own, writing on the board: “WE DO WHAT WE’RE TOLD” (112). He tells the story of Stanley Milgram, a Yale professor who wondered how ordinary people could have allowed the Holocaust to happen during World War II.

The Milgram Experiment comprised volunteers administering electrical shocks to an accountant (an actor) if he answered questions incorrectly. Electrical shocks were not actually involved, but the volunteers were none the wiser: “As the experiment progressed, the accountant began to moan in pain, then scream, then frantically pound the walls” (114). 14 out of 40 volunteers refused to continue, but 26 of them “ignored the cries and completed the experiment” (114).

Mr. Scofield summarizes the experiment’s lesson as “Think for yourself […] In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” (115-16).