The Juvie Three

At 14, Gecko has already become a master behind the wheel, a skill that his older brother Rueben takes full advantage of: “It’s effortless. The wheel is an extension of his hands, just the way he likes it.” (2). It’s driving getaway for Rueben that gets him thrown into the Jerome Atchison Juvenile Detention Center, where he sits in misery until Healy offers him a second chance.

His other greatest life skill is not thinking, which is what he does when things get a little bit too complicated for him. Over time, however, he learns that not thinking about things doesn’t stop bad things from happening or make their consequences any easier to deal with. Throughout his time with Healy and the aftermath of his injury, Gecko learns to take responsibility for his actions and become something of a leader for the other halfway house boys.

Gecko has a difficult relationship with his family. His brother Rueben is constantly getting him into scrapes as he uses him for his driving skills: “From the first time Reuben saw him piloting a go-kart, Gecko’s fate was sealed. A getaway-driver-in-training since age nine” (4). Gecko’s mother is always focused on Rueben. When the boys were caught and Gecko was sent to Atchison, Reuben was sent to adult prison.