Tangerine

In science class, the students are assigned a group project about native Florida agriculture. Paul and Joey join up with Tino and Theresa. Another student, Henry D., reluctantly agrees to join, complaining that Tino is bad news. Paul counters that he’s only aggressive on the soccer field and that the science project will go smoothly. Paul is hoping that joining the group with give Joey another chance to fit in with the other players better.

Joey, however, says he has dropped the team and lashes out at Paul for asking him to come to Tangerine Middle. The rant turns ugly when Joey’s words reveal some underlying racism: “This place is like darkest Africa,” he rails. “Like the Amazon jungle. Like we’re learning to live among the natives here” (146). For the first time, Paul sees how different he is from Joey. Paul’s association with Joey creates some uncomfortable tension between him and the other soccer players.

Paul thinks back to Joey’s first day at Tangerine Middle, noting some of the disturbing things he said, like when he called Theresa a “guide dog” (147). Joey also suggests that Paul has been hanging around with the unsavory crowd at Tangerine Middle for too long, if he believes that they are good kids.