Running Loose

“Carter did have a point. He always has a point. He knows exactly what he’s doing all the time. It’s hard for me to figure how he can look so free and easy when I know he calculates every move he makes.”

This quote provides insight into Carter’s character, portraying him as confident and calculated. Louie knows that Carter, despite appearing carefree and relaxed, is always deliberate in his actions, suggesting a level of self-assuredness and strategic thinking.

“Becky was waiting by the gym door when I came out. She walked up and said, ‘Nice game,’ and slipped her arm inside mine. Right there in front of everybody. Made me feel like a star. Boomer saw it, and I knew that later I’d have to hear about the infinite number of times he’d screwed her; but even that couldn’t begin to spoil the moment.”

In this passage, Becky’s approaching Louie and publicly linking arms with him portray her as confident and unafraid of social judgment. She confidently displays affection for Louie, making him feel special and appreciated. On the other hand, Louie portrays Boomer as someone who seeks to undermine others and assert his dominance by lying and spreading rumors.

“Now I don’t want to sound prejudiced; but I played with blacks up at the U, and there’s only one way you can stop them. That’s to hurt ’em. And I’m telling you now, and I don’t want it to leave this room, I want that Washington kid out of the game! Early!”

This quote introduces the theme of Confronting and Challenging Racism. By instructing his team to injure Washington, a talented Black player, Coach Lednecky reveals his racism. His use of “I don’t want to sound prejudiced” before making a racist statement reveals he’s aware of his prejudice but chooses to express it and act on it anyway. This moment is a significant turning point for Louie, who is compelled to take a stand against this injustice.

“I was standing away from Boomer with blood trickling out of my nose and a big gap in the front of my face. My cheek burned, and I hated that scumbag’s guts.

‘Wussy here thinks he’s a damn silver rights leader,’ Boomer said.”

This quote underscores the motif of violence and characterizes Boomer as violent and prejudiced. He uses aggressive, derogatory language and physically attacks Louie, who describes his injuries. The quote also illustrates Boomer’s ignorance: he mispronounces “civil rights” as “silver rights.”

“I was thinking about regular things, too, like whether I’d made such a jerk out of myself that the whole town would stop talking to me. And how it would affect Norm and Brenda. And what Dakota would say. And whether Boomer Cowans would look me up. One thing I was sure about was Becky. The other thing I was sure about was that Lednecky was a turdhead, and nothing could make me go back or say I was sorry. It was too bad Trout was so small and there wasn’t another school I could go to so I’d never have to lay eyes on that scumbag again.”

This quote highlights Louie’s introspection as he contemplates the consequences of his actions. He worries about embarrassing himself and how other people in his life will perceive him. Moreover, his refusal to apologize to Lednecky reflects his stubbornness, strong principles, and moral integrity.

“‘I mean, how can you play for him? Hell, who knows, we probably would have won that game yesterday anyway, but doing it like that, I don’t know, it’s like losing. I just can’t go along with it.’

He stopped soaping the hood. ‘I don’t play for Lednecky, Louie. I play for me. And you guys.”

This exchange between Louie and Carter delves into ethics and morality. The two have differing approaches and beliefs. Louie’s stance reflects his strong principles and refusal to compromise for the sake of victory. In contrast, Carter has a more individualistic perspective and prioritizes himself and his teammates.

“Football’s a good sport. There really are some good things to learn from it, but not that way.”

Madison’s statement conveys the theme of The Role of Sports in Shaping Identity, as he acknowledges the value of sports in teaching important lessons. He also highlights the destructive impact of foul play on the integrity of sports. While sports have the potential to be a positive force, unethical behavior tarnishes them.

“‘Well,’ Jasper said, ‘you saw him at the game Friday. And he was pretty insolent with Coach Lednecky and me earlier this week. We both agreed we can’t have Louie running loose in our school with that kind of attitude.’”

In this quote, Jasper references the title of the novel, Running Loose. This phrase suggests that Louie’s behavior is seen as unruly or out of control. This quote also portrays Jasper as an antagonist lacking in ethics and morality: Even though Louie’s actions were morally justified because he stood up against unfair treatment and discrimination, he is unfairly blamed.

“Carter and I still found time for each other, too. I don’t know what I’d have done without him. He kept me feeling okay about myself without the help of sports.”

This quote emphasizes the significance of Louie and Carter’s relationship. Despite the challenges Louie faces, Carter remains a constant source of support. The quote also underscores the theme of The Role of Sports in Shaping Identity as Louie acknowledges the impact of sports on his well-being.

“It was starting to seem there really was justice in the world. I hadn’t got all the things I thought I wanted, like being a football star and all; but Washington was getting even with Boomer in ways I could never hope to, Jasper’s and Lednecky’s stuff seemed less and less important all the time, and I was out at Becky Sanders’s cabin, getting ready to make love with Becky Sanders. Priorities, as Dakota would say.”

The quote captures a moment of false hope as Louie reflects on the positive aspects of his life. He mentions that justice seems to be prevailing as Washington gets even with Boomer, and he’s about to spend time with Becky. However, there’s an underlying sense of foreboding because present-day Louie has already mentioned that things will go wrong. This contrast between optimism and impending doom creates a sense of tension in the narrative.

“‘The only reason it’s like this now is that it isn’t like this all the time,’ she said. ‘My shrink used to say, “How can you know good if you don’t know what bad is?”’

‘God,’ I said, ‘I hate it.’

She kissed me and said, ‘I love it.’”

This passage adds to Becky’s characterization. Her reference to her psychologist indicates that she actively seeks self-improvement, showcasing her maturity. She reveals her depth of thought and introspection by sharing the therapist’s wisdom. Her affectionate response to Louie’s frustration demonstrates her supportive nature.

“I looked through the branches and past the moon and right up at heaven and I said God, I don’t get this, and it just isn’t acceptable. I didn’t do anything to deserve it. Nothin’. If there’s a good reason, then you owe me an explanation, so let’s have it.”

Louie is dealing with his grief after Becky’s death, conveying the theme of Coping with Grief and Loss. Despite not being religious, Louie addresses God in a moment of desperation. His plea reflects his emotional turmoil and his need to make sense of the unfairness he perceives in the world.

“‘Louie,’ he said, ‘you’re the first person I thought of. I’ve been around long enough to see death—stupid, senseless death—but I don’t think I could have handled it at your age. Not with someone I loved.’

‘I got no choice.’”

Becky’s dad acknowledges the profound challenge of Coping with Grief and Loss. His admission that he couldn’t have managed such a loss at Louie’s age emphasizes the magnitude of the situation. Louie’s response underscores the reality that individuals must confront loss even if they’re not ready. This exchange also highlights the positive relationship between Becky’s dad and Louie.

“Monday, the day of the funeral, was clear and even warm for that time of year. I wanted the weather to be crappy; but the Farmer’s Almanac said there would be high pressure with a warming trend, and by God, there was high pressure with a warming trend.”

The beautiful weather on the day of Becky’s funeral starkly contrasts with the emotional gravity of the occasion. Louie wishes for gloomy weather to match his somber mood, but reality contradicts this wish. The clear and warm weather seems out of place, creating a dissonance between external conditions and Louie’s feelings.

“The reason I went so willingly was hearing the kindness in Boomer’s voice. I don’t know where it came from, and I don’t imagine it stayed long; but it was the real thing.”

This passage shows a different side to Boomer, adding complexity to his character. Louie acknowledges the unexpected kindness in Boomer’s voice, which is in contrast to his usual aggression. This moment of genuine kindness shows that Boomer is more than a bully.

“Boy, that Norm is always there. I can just see him figuring a way to get me out of school and away from Trout for a little while.”

In this quote, Louie acknowledges his father’s unwavering support. Referring to him by his first name, “Norm,” implies an informal relationship between them. Louie recognizes Norm’s efforts to help him cope with grief and loss, suggesting that his father plays a significant role in his life during this challenging time.

“It’s amazing to me how fast time smooths things over. By Saturday evening, when we’d hauled the last load, I still missed Becky like crazy, and I’ve had plenty of hard times since; but the really vicious, almost unbearable edge was gone.”

In this quote, Louie reflects on the passage of time and its effect on his grief. He describes how time has alleviated the intensity of his pain following Becky’s death. Despite still missing her deeply, the initial overwhelming despair has softened. This observation suggests that, with time, the sharpness of grief can diminish.

“‘If I hadn’t had something physical to concentrate on, I’d have gone nuts,’ he said. ‘Absolutely nuts. Certifiable. You’re going to need some of that now, and I’ve got the perfect thing. The two-mile.’”

Coach Madison emphasizes the importance of sports as a coping mechanism for dealing with grief. He reflects on his own experience, suggesting that without a physical outlet for concentration, he would have struggled mentally. This conveys the theme of The Role of Sports in Shaping Identity, highlighting sports’ significance beyond physical fitness and competition. It also adds depth to Coach Madison’s character, portraying him as empathetic and understanding.

“‘You have to draw the line somewhere,’ he said. ‘A man’s position only allows him so much room. After he uses it all and grabs for more, it has to be brought to someone’s attention.’”

Coach Madison’s statement shows his commitment to ethics and morality. By standing up for what’s right, he demonstrates integrity and responsibility. He recognizes Jasper’s abuse of power and intends to hold him accountable.

“I thought you should know that before it happens. I like to treat people fair, let them know where they stand.”

Jasper’s statement is ironic, considering his treatment of Louie, which has been anything but fair. His claim to treat people fairly contrasts with his own actions, exposing the hypocrisy in his character and highlighting his lack of ethics and morality.

“I wanted to talk to her, tell her how I was doing. I wanted somehow to go back, to be standing there as her car plunged into the water, so I could stop it. Or save her. Or go with her. But the river just ran quietly under the bridge, and the sun sank lower and lower behind the mountain, and I got cold. So I jogged back home.”

In this passage, Louie grapples with the desire to reach out to Becky to somehow change the tragic events of her death. This underscores the depth of his grief and his inability to accept her loss. However, he eventually reaches a moment of acceptance, acknowledging the permanence of Becky’s absence as he decides to jog back home.

“‘I wish they wouldn’t keep trying to remember Becky the way I know they’re going to. It always seems like they miss the point.’

‘What was the point, Louie?’

‘I don’t know, but it wasn’t that she was going to be valedictorian or that she was a cheerleader or in Honor Society or any of that.’”

Louie, frustrated with how others remember Becky, feels they miss the complexity of who she was. This moment reveals his ongoing struggle with grief and his annoyance at others’ superficiality. His insistence that Becky was more than her academic achievements or extracurricular activities highlights his love for her and his desire for others to recognize her true essence.

“On Friday, I felt like I could beat the world. Unfortunately there were three other guys who could also beat the world—and me. I finished fourth; the world, fifth. Only the top three places go on to state, so that wrapped up my high school track career.”

This passage exemplifies the ironic tone typical of Louie’s narration. Initially, he feels invincible, as though he could “beat the world.” However, his confidence is undermined when he finishes fourth, missing the opportunity to advance to the state competition. His humor, with a touch of self-deprecation, highlights his ability to find levity even in disappointment.