Jake, Reinvented

Rick arrives early at the courthouse to organize the other students who he thinks will show up to support Jake. He waits anxiously, but nobody shows up. Rick thinks that all the students are “bastards” for taking advantage of Jake’s hospitality and then bailing on him when it really matters.

Just as Rick resigns himself to being Jake’s only supporter, Dipsy arrives. Dipsy is as stunned as Rick that so many people would take Jake’s free beer and free food and trash his home, but not care enough to come to the courthouse. Dipsy, like Rick, is there to support Jake.

When Dipsy, as is his habit, starts quoting nature documentaries, Rick gets mad, telling him to be more serious. Dipsy responds that he is like a remora, attaching himself to bigger fish and feeding off the scraps. From this response, Rick realizes that Dipsy has made it through high school by letting the popular kids—like Todd and the other football players—pick on him, and in exchange they let him attend their parties and have a social life that he otherwise would be denied. Rick thinks that everyone has bad things they must tolerate in high school but realizes that these things are all temporary.

The hearing itself is subdued, not at all like the court scenes from television shows that Rick has seen. When the hearing quickly moves to Jake’s sentencing for striking Nelson, Rick interrupts to say that it was really Didi who committed the crime. For this, Rick is kicked out of the courtroom. He waits outside helplessly until the hearing ends.

Jake emerges from the courthouse and tells Rick that he agreed to a suspended sentence. As part of the agreement, Jake must leave town and live with his mother in Texas. He is devastated to learn that Didi didn’t support him during the hearing. He hands over a notecard with his Texas address on it for Rick to give to Didi.

As they hug goodbye, Rick tells Jake that he’s “worth more than the lot of them put together” (144). Over Jake’s shoulder, Rick spots Jennifer, who appears to have secretly attended the hearing as well. He thinks that she must have a shred of conscience after all. Jake says that he will miss Rick and then leaves with his father.

The football team is in an unpleasant mood as they prepare for their next game. Their best player, Nelson, is still in the hospital. Their long-snapper, Jake, is gone, and Dipsy—supposedly their biggest fan—decides not to come to the game. Rick is furious with Todd and tries to quit the team but can’t because that would make him fail physical education and be unable to graduate.

Just as the team prepares to take the field, a college scout from Eastern Illinois State comes into the locker room. Todd is elated that a scout is there, just as he predicted all year. The scout, however, doesn’t care about Todd. The scout is only there for Jake, having not heard that Jake left the school. Jake was such a good long-snapper that the scout was considering recruiting him for his college team. Rick revels in Todd’s frustration and embarrassment at thinking that the scout was there for him.

Their team loses the game badly. Rick doesn’t care, and he leaves the field with a clear conscience.

Suddenly, an apple hits Rick on the back of the head. Turning, he sees Jennifer, who says that she owes him an apple-picking date. She reveals to Rick that Todd ruined their original date two years ago by telling her a lie about Rick kissing another girl from their school. Rick and Jennifer clear the air and decide to be a couple.

Jennifer asks Rick what will happen to Jake. He says that Jake will be miserable but eventually realize that losing Didi isn’t the end of the world. Jennifer wonders if Jake will be the “old Jake” or “new Jake” at his new school, to which Rick replies that “there’s only one Jake” (153). Rick and Jennifer depart the school together, holding hands.