Tex

Tex’s youthful recklessness, illustrated in the motorcycle jump over the creek, becomes more dangerous as the story progresses. The incident with the hitchhiker reveals Tex’s bravery, but also demonstrates a naivete about danger and consequences. When Mason asks Tex, “[y]ou don’t think you could ever turn out like that?” (123), Tex hesitates. He finally concludes, “[w]ell, I don’t think so. But then nothing really bad has ever happened to me” (124). There is a dawning realization that his reckless behavior could lead to serious consequences. Ultimately, Tex is startled to find that the hitchhiker reminds him of himself.

This is coupled with his maturing in other areas. Tex’s burgeoning crush on Jamie and his newfound concern over his appearance marks a turning point in his coming-of-age story. He moves from setting fire to a pile of toothpicks in art class to worrying about his relative attractiveness and contemplating what marriage would be like. His self-awareness, in general, is growing. He must worry about Mason—not just about his health, the ulcer diagnosis, but also about whether Mason will go to college, thus leaving Tex behind. He shows introspection when they take their trip to the city, wondering about the experiences of others. He asks his brother, “did you ever think that all those people in those cars have a whole separate story to them, that it’s just as important to them as our stuff is to us” (90). His consideration for the wider world grows.

The city also plays a significant role in Tex’s narrative. His experience there is both disorienting and satisfying, and it compels him to think about what he wants and who he is. First, he feels out of place in the city mall: “Maybe this was why Mason hated going into stores, they made you feel dumb” (93). Then, he becomes a literal object of suspicion in the shoplifting incident: He innocently puts a piece of merchandise in his pocket, fully intending to pay for it, but the store clerk could not be aware of his intentions. Ironically, the object was a fishing lure and Tex is figuratively a fish out of a water. This reverberates with the fortune teller’s prediction that Tex will stay where he is, rather than leaving—the way Mason desperately wants to—and that it might serve him better to heed that advice.