Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered

“I didn’t know I was in love until it was all over, and it was too late to do anything about it” (73), reflects the protagonist at the opening of Chapter 10. The protagonist’s love story begins at a dance on a Saturday night. Even after a few trips into town, he still feels out of place at the beer hall, and while Harris is off wrestling with the other boys, the protagonist grabs an orange pop and sits down to wait for the movie. Having seen it many times by now, he chooses to watch the kids instead. He spots a beautiful blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl who is watching him intently, and he is instantly in love. Bashful and embarrassed, he sneaks away, and to his surprise, the girl follows him out and introduces herself as Elaine Peterson. The protagonist manages to get a few short words out through his nervousness, the movie ends, and Harris comes out and sits down with him. Despite the protagonist’s signals for Harris to go away, he stays and talks to Elaine. Harris decides to ruin the protagonist’s chances and makes up a lie that he is not “right in the head” (75).