Bystander

David Hallenback asks Griffin about his black eye. Cody and another group member named Drew P. taunt Hallenback for having his mother pick him up from school.

Griffin tells Cody and Drew P. to leave Hallenback alone. He then tells Hallenback about a game called “Pretzel” and invites him to a remote part of the playground, where he yanks the other boy’s wrist and shoves him to the ground. The abuse stops when a playground attendant shows up.

When the playground attendant checks on Hallenback, he responds that they were “just playing” (81). Eric calls out Griffin, and the latter tells him, “Shut up, Eric. Or maybe next time it will be you” (82).

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).