Post B

Post B
“I need some serious mental help” (Going, 23). Troy says this at the beginning of chapter nine. He then follows up with admitting he lied about being in a band with the homeless guy he brings home. He then later criticizes himself for trying to lie to his father. This is because it should be obvious to his father whether or not he is actually able to play an instrument. In general the main character is tough on himself. He basically wants to die. So in the quote by him saying he needs mental help, a part of him really believes this. He does many things to hurt himself and thus needing mental help might not be a good idea. Examples of him hurting himself are: he eats excessively, and has negative/suicidal thoughts. He failed at his first suicide attempt, which was jumping in front of a train, but then tried again. His second plan involved jumping off of the fire escape. He also is so severely over weight that walking can be a challenge. At one point as he was walking in school he could not fit into the door entering the building. He often ends the chapters by talking in third person. He designs newspaper titles, off of these embarrassing thought and moments. At times, these seem comical, but other times, one ends up feeling bad for them. Especially as he dreams of having cool friends, as he is very only. His only friend is Curt MacCrae. He was the one who saved troy from his first suicide attack. Later, we see that Curt is not the greatest of friends.