Skinnybones

“Anyway, as it turned out, she was laughing so hard, she forgot to punish me for lying.

I knew getting her to laugh would work.”

Alex’s smug statement in this passage reflects his constant reliance on humor to evade responsibility. By Using Humor to Cope With Conflict in this particular scenario, Alex successfully maneuvers his mom into overlooking his outright lies, and while the scene is largely intended to be humorous and harmless, Park also uses the moment to foreshadow Alex’s imminent troubles with The Consequences of Lying.

“I had to admit, making people laugh was a lot more fun than sitting quietly at my desk.

From then on, I began to use Show and Tell to tell the class funny things that had happened to me. When I ran out of true things to tell, I started making them up.”

Throughout the novel, Park incorporates an array of strategic flashbacks from Alex’s first-person perspective, using these interludes as crucial exposition to relate the protagonist’s reasons for indulging in zany humor at inappropriate moments. In this quote, Alex recalls the first time he reveled in making people laugh, and his memories of past antics during kindergarten show and tell demonstrate that he has always had a natural comedic talent. Alex’s recollection also illustrates his choice to begin lying for the sake of comedy—a habit that gets him into considerable trouble as the story unfolds.

“Two people didn’t laugh at all, though.

One was T.J. Stoner.

The other was Mrs. Henderson.

I sat down and shut up.

I may be funny. But I’m not totally stupid.”

The abrupt syntax and standalone sentences of his passage serve a uniquely comedic function, indicating that Alex himself has essentially been brough up short by the failure of his antics. The author’s strategic use of shorter statements reflects Alex’s move to rein himself in and fade into the background to avoid further trouble, and the overall effect conveys his internal anxiety when the more dominant people in the room fail to appreciate Alex’s humor.

“But over the past six years, I’ve noticed that none of the really outstanding players ever gets the Most Improved Player award. And the reason is simple. The outstanding players are already so outstanding that they can’t improve much. Let’s face it, the only players on a team who can improve are the ones who reek to begin with.”

In this quote, Alex cynically declares that the Most Improved Player award is essentially a public announcement of the winner’s ineptitude at the sport. While his observation has logical merit, this glum outlook also reflects his ongoing battle with the challenges of baseball as he strives to be something other than the most improved player each year.

“THIS ROOM BELONGS TO ALEX FRANKOVITCH, THE ONLY BOY IN THE WHOLE WORLD WHO HAS GONE FROM TOTALLY REEKING TO ONLY STINKING 6 YEARS IN A ROW.”

This all-caps notation reflects the fact that Alex wrote this self-deprecating statement as a large sign that he left on his bedroom door last year, essentially putting himself down for the dubious honor of winning his sixth Most Improved Player award. As his previous comments indicate, Alex sees the award as a sign of his failure to become a passable athlete like his peers, and by creating the sign, he showcased the sudden plummet in his already fragile self-esteem.

“No. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t shout small again. Not in sixth grade.

I swallowed hard. Then I made my voice as deep as I could and yelled, ‘Large!’”

In this scene, Alex decides to lie about his uniform size because he is embarrassed about his small stature. While his lie is an attempt to regain respect in the eyes of his peers, he inevitably sets himself up for future embarrassment because there is no way to escape the reality of his physical size. This quote relates to the novel’s focus on the consequences of lying, indicating that attempts to hide the truth can often bring it to light in the worst possible way.

“Then he gave my uniform to Randy and handed me the eensy-weensy, itsy-bitsy, practically-the-size-a-baby-would-wear…small.

It was one of the lowest moments of my life.”

In this hyperbolic statement, Alex catastrophizes about the idea of wearing a small uniform, and his narration makes it clear that he has strong negative feelings toward the small uniform and sees it as one step above baby clothing. This quote illustrates Alex’s insecurity about his uniform size and indicates that he has yet to understand The Value of Talent Beyond Athleticism.

“So what if his team hasn’t lost a game all year? It doesn’t mean they won just because of him. Everybody knows that just one person can’t make the difference between a winning team and a losing team. After all, every single team I’ve ever been on has come in last place. And I don’t care what anyone says, all those teams didn’t lose just because of me…probably.”

In this quote, Alex considers the impact that a single player might have on an entire team’s performance, but because of his own insecurities, he chooses to believe that neither he nor T.J. could make such a difference in their respective teams’ overall track record. This quote also provides insight into Alex’s worries about baseball, explaining why he has so many negative feelings about the sport after six years of playing.

“Oh, geez, what a mess! If I said no, everyone would know I’m a liar. But if I said yes, everyone would be able to see how weak I threw. Somehow I had to get out of this.

I hit myself on the head. ‘Oh, man. I just remembered. My coach told me not to tire my arm out by being in any stupid pitching contests. I’m mostly just supposed to rest it on a velvet pillow. Thank you anyway, though. See ya.’”

Here, Alex realizes that he has backed himself into a corner by lying about his pitching prowess. In an attempt to avoid the resulting humiliation of a pitching contest, he uses humor, dishonesty, and hyperbole to deflect T.J.’s challenge. This quote illustrates the more problematic aspects of using humor to cope with conflict.

“‘Okay, this name-calling has got to stop, T.J.,’ I said, trying to sound tough. ‘For your information, there is nothing skinny about my bones. They are just regular normal bones, okay? So I would appreciate it if you would stop calling me that stupid name.’”

During the pitching contest, Alex chooses this moment to confront T.J. about the titular nickname, “skinnybones,” which T.J. has been using to ridicule Alex. Alex chooses this moment because his protest will ultimately delay his turn to pitch. This quote explains how Alex feels about the nickname, and it is one of the few instances in which he chooses to directly confront the other actor in a conflict, without using humor or dishonesty. This moment proves that Alex is brave when he needs to be, and he clearly articulates his feelings about the unsavory nickname.

“Anyway, from that day on, I started working on my bunting. It just seemed like the perfect skill for a kid my size. And now, after four years of practice, I’m probably one of the best bunters in the entire Little League. It’s not the kind of thing that gets you any respect. But still, it’s something.”

Alex describes his experience with bunting, the one skill in baseball that he has perfected. Alex’s bunting skills are an important part of the novel’s climax, and this quotation foreshadows his moment of triumph when he bunts a pitch in Chapter 10. Alex’s feelings about bunting also help to paint a fuller picture of his feelings about baseball as a whole, as the one skill he’s mastered does not garner any respect from other players.

“He was smirking like crazy. ‘We’ll just see how good you bunt on Saturday, funny guy,’ he said.

For a second I didn’t know what he was talking about. Then, all of a sudden, I remembered. Saturday was the day when our Little League teams were scheduled to play each other.

Wonderful. And now I’d gone and made him mad.”

Here, Alex realizes that his losing Little League team will be facing off against T.J.’s winning team. This quote shows the escalating tension of the imminent game as Alex realizes that T.J.’s anger toward Alex will only make matters worse. As Alex’s unique narrative voice dramatizes the moment, the scene demonstrates Park’s skill in creating scenarios that accurately reflect the social worries that real-life middle-school students might have.

“My stomach turned over. Oh, geez, no! He was inviting the entire class? No way! My team hadn’t won a game all season, and T.J.’s was in first place. It was going to be a slaughter!”

Here, Alex reaction to T.J.’s decision to invite the entire class to the Little League game illustrates the increasing stakes for Alex, who is so embarrassed by his losing team that the thought of losing to T.J.’s team is unbearable. This quote helps set up the climax of the novel by creating more tension ahead of Saturday’s game.

“We’ll see how funny you are tomorrow when the whole class turns up to watch you lose. Loser.”

This example of T.J.’s bullying behavior ties into the tactic of using humor to cope with conflict, for although Alex often has success with this approach, T.J.’s humorless demeanor proves that he is one of the only people on whom Alex’s humor does not work. T.J. makes it a point to emphasize his dislike of Alex’s humor, which is a large part of Alex’s personality, thereby intensifying the antagonistic nature of their relationship.

“God? Remember a few minutes ago when I was thanking you? Well, it was my understanding that you’d done a little miracle for me or something. But now it turns out you didn’t. And so I think it would be a nice gesture on your part if you could make it up to me.”

In this quote, Alex talks to God in the same way that he might address his parents when he is trying to evade responsibility for an unpleasant duty or chore. Alex previously thought that God had scheduled the eighth-grade graduation at the same time as the game in order to spare him from humiliation. Upon realizing that this is not the case, Alex pleads with God to get him out of the game, reasoning that God now owes him a favor. While the internal exchange illustrates Alex’s relationship with his faith, it also demonstrates that he is willing to bargain on a cosmic level to evade the consequences of his own stubbornness.

“I’d watched the ball leave the bat, followed it in the air, and caught it.

Perfect! A perfect catch!

My nerves settled a little. Geez. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so tough, after all. Maybe a crowd brought out the best in me or something.”

As Alex warms up for the big game, he experiences a successful moment that injects new hope into his otherwise dismal mindset. The tone of this quote brings a tone of optimism to the start of the game as Alex proves to himself and his coach that he is capable of catching a fly ball. In light of his recent conversation with God, he chooses to see this moment as a sign of divine favor and becomes more confident in his own abilities.

“This was easily the most terrifying moment of my life. There was no escape. None. No joke would save me now.”

By acknowledging that even his humor can salvage him from this sports-themed reckoning with T.J., Alex finally comes to grips with the limitations of using humor to cope with conflict, and his inner thought foreshadows his humorous attempt to get onto first base even as he realizes that humor cannot solve his current problems.

“Now if only I could get on base! If I could get on base, all my problems would be over! I’d be a hero! And no one can be mad at a hero. Not even my coach.”

This quote takes place immediately after Alex bunts one of T.J.’s pitches. In this quote, Alex decides that a successful run for first base will fix “all [his] problems,” and the improbability of this belief is reflected in his overenthusiastic exclamations. His effusive excitement also shows that he attaches his sense of self-worth to his ability to play baseball. The moment also highlights Alex’s successful bunt, marking it as a significant moment in his Little League career.

“‘I DID IT! I DID IT!’ I screamed. ‘I MADE IT TO SECOND! ME! ALEX FRANKOVITCH! I’M ON SECOND BASE!’

The second baseman told me to shut up. But no one could ruin this moment for me! Not the second baseman! Not T.J. Stoner! Not anyone!”

Once again, Park makes use of deliberately bombastic wording to convey Alex’s sheer glee at experiencing the most triumphant baseball victory of his life: making it to second base after bunting a pitch from T.J. Ironically, the significance that he places on this event is diluted by the fact that he is celebrating his second-base position with the same intensity that most players would celebrate a home run. Thus, even his triumph reflects his relative mediocrity at the sport, and his revelry also creates an emotional high that is destined to be snatched away when the umpire and officials deny him this meager victory.

“He’d start off by telling me that running away from a problem never solves anything. Then he’d say it was high time I stopped trying to make fun of everything I’m no good at. Not everything in life is a big joke, he would say. Then he’d end by telling me that no matter what I do in life, I should always give a hundred and ten percent.”

After making a mess of the game through his “booga booga” jokes, Alex runs home, abandoning the game in frustration after his greatest play is taken from him. Mired in low spirits, Alex contemplates the admonitions that he anticipates hearing from his dad, and his thoughts show that he already has a full understanding of the lessons that he should learn from his recent mistakes. This quote relates to the theme of using humor to cope with conflict as Alex acknowledges that his dad would want him to know that not everything should be treated like a joke.

“Talking isn’t going to change anything. I blew it. I made a fool of myself and I ran out on my team. So if it’s all the same to you, I’m just going to live right here in my room for the rest of my life. That way I won’t ever bring shame on our family again.”

With this overexaggerated declaration, Alex rants to his dad through the barrier of his bedroom door after returning from the game in disgrace. Although his response is over the top, Alex shows that he understands what he has done wrong, and he is clearly embarrassed by his own behavior. Alex’s rant illustrates his internal struggle with his feelings of shame about his performance in baseball, and he clearly projects his own insecurities and assumes that his family holds a similarly unflattering opinion of him.

“Face it, Alex. The only thing you’re good at is being a runt. You’re nothing. A big, fat nothing!

I put my head down and rested it on my desk. I felt my eyes start filling up with tears.

Great. This is perfect. Now big, fat nothing Alex Frankovitch is going to cry in front of the whole class. A perfect ending to a perfect day.”

After a day full of listening to his peers mock his infamous “booga booga” moment, even as T.J. brags about going into the Little League record books, Alex finds himself at his lowest point. As he fights the pressure of unshed tears, he feels that he cannot endure the shame and failure anymore. This moment takes place right before Alex is announced the winner of the Kitty Fritters contest, and with this juxtaposition, Park creates a pointed contrast between Alex’s lowest moment in the novel and his highest.

“They also said that your essay was the craziest, most original entry they had ever received, and they can’t wait to meet you.”

In this quote, Alex’s mom explains why the representatives from Kitty Fritters liked his humorous contest entry. This quote extolls the benefits and positives of using humor in the right contexts, and Alex’s success in the contest therefore illustrates the value of talent beyond athleticism. Although his baseball record will always be mediocre, he has proven that his unique comedic talents allow him to excel in areas and make a name for himself in other ways.