This Was Our Pact

“Are you for REAL? Does the pact mean NOTHING to you?”

Adam’s angry reaction to Mikey’s decision to turn back is ironic. Just a short time later, Adam himself turns back, as well, because he is worried about getting in trouble for crossing Toad Canyon Bridge. This incident demonstrates that most of the boys’ commitment to one another and to the pact is more demonstrative than genuine.

“I think I’m going to fill up the whole front of my bag with patches. It’s going to look SO cool in a few years when it’s completely covered.”

Nathaniel’s eagerness to show off his Space Camp patches and his belief that they will look “SO cool” characterize him as having a childlike sense of wonder and being slightly naive. The novel characterizes him as a sweet-natured and open young man who exists in a near-perpetual state of wonder about the natural world, particularly about space. His character helps shape the text’s arguments about Cultivating Positivity and a Sense of Wonder.

“Something told me it was a bad idea to strike up a conversation with a bear this late at night. Even one wearing such a dashing scarf.”

Ben evaluates whether to respond to the fisherbear’s greeting. He understates how surprising the situation is by commenting not on the fact of encountering a talking bear but on the appropriateness of the hour and the bear’s “dashing” scarf. Ben’s distrust of appearances convey that his perspective is more mature—and more cynical—than Nathaniel’s.

“BEN! You’ve got to pedal faster than that if you want to keep up!”

The fisherbear’s comment to Ben is similar to the taunts that Ben’s friends directed at Nathaniel earlier in the novel when he was following them at a distance, and it is an ironic kind of justice. Ben failed to defend Nathaniel earlier, and now it is Ben who has fallen behind. The comment also underscores that Ben is both literally and figuratively falling behind Nathaniel in this adventure because of Nathaniel’s greater openness to new people and new experiences.

“It’s tradition to head out alone and use your wits to find your way.”

The fisherbear’s explanation of why his father did not take him out and personally show him the way to the fishing spot applies to the boys’ quest, as well. Although at one level they are simply acting on a personal desire to discover the lanterns’ final destination, at a deeper level they are enacting an age-old tradition, just as the fisherbear is. As a part of growing up, they are engaged in a journey of discovery.

“In 50 billion years, the moon’s orbit will take 47 whole days!”

Nathaniel’s excitedly shares space facts with the fisherbear, which characterizes him as being full of wonder, especially about the stars and plants. This supports the text’s thematic arguments about Cultivating Positivity and a Sense of Wonder and connects the feeling of wonder to the text’s space motif.

“What kind of lousy survival kit comes without a compass? And who would just carry a magnet around everywhere they go?”

Ben’s criticism and skepticism here are typical of the negative tone he adopts in the early sections of the story. In this case, his comment is also unintentionally ironic, since Nathaniel’s backpack contains a magnet and Nathaniel literally carries this everywhere he goes. This quote exemplifies the rigidity of Ben’s thinking and shows that he still hasn’t conceded The Importance of Open-Mindedness. Ben refuses to consider a possibility that Nathaniel instantly sees—a person does not have to deliberately be carrying a magnet everywhere in order to have one with them.

“Think of the lanterns.”

When Ben is reluctant to get onto the suspended platform, Nathaniel encourages him to risk it by reminding him of their quest. Like wading into the icy water that he did not want to enter earlier, getting onto the platform shows that Ben is beginning to see that inflexibility can interfere with getting to a goal. He is willing to open himself a bit to new possibilities and is getting better at Balancing Perseverance and Flexibility.

“Let’s BOTH knock.”

Neither Ben nor Nathaniel has the courage to knock on Madam Majestic’s door on his own. This moment underscores that the boys need to work together to complete their quest. It also foreshadows the ways that Ben will come to appreciate Nathaniel more during their upcoming trip to retrieve the star for Madam Majestic.

“I thought EVERYONE knew that!”

The capitalized word in this quote—“EVERYONE”—emphasizes Madam Majestic’s tone of disbelief and scorn: She cannot fathom the boys not knowing something so obvious. Her attitude is ironic, however, since this is the text’s third example of the separate equinox traditions practiced by different groups in the area, and it is clear that none of the groups knows about the others’ traditions. This supports the text’s arguments about The Importance of Open-Mindedness.

“There’s often more truth to these old songs and stories than folks realize.”

Madam Majestic’s belief in the fantastical claims of the songs and stories related to the equinox helps to characterize her as a mystical and mysterious person. It also supports the text’s atmosphere of dreamlike wonder and is typical of the genre of magical realism.

“Unless you want to jump out those windows up there and plummet to your death.”

Nathaniel’s facetious comment about Ben escaping through the cellar windows is ironic. It foreshadows the way that Nathaniel himself will actually escape—although, of course, he will not plummet to his death.

“Thanks for coming to my rescue. You had this planned all along, didn’t you?”

After Ben rescues Nathaniel from the cellar, Nathaniel shows his characteristic open heartedness, expressing his gratitude and faith in Ben despite the cruel things Ben has just said to him in the cellar. This demonstrates that Nathaniel is a little naive, since Ben did not decide to rescue Nathaniel until his conscience got the better of him halfway through his escape.

“Grab an oar. I’ll take the left, you take the right.”

After Ben and Nathaniel agree on their truce and offer one another forgiveness, they set off for the cave, rowing the boat in unison. Ben is the one to suggest that they cooperate in this way: While each boy is capable of rowing the small boat on his own, Ben’s suggestion demonstrates his growing appreciation of Nathaniel and Nathaniel’s contributions to their journey. It is the first time Ben has treated Nathaniel as a true equal.

“Ehh, don’t worry. We have Sebastian with us. He’ll let us know if there’s anything to be concerned about.”

Nathaniel’s words, combined with the illustration of the giant salamander swimming underneath the boat, just out of the boys’ sight, is typical of the book’s often ironic sense of humor. The appearance of the abnormally large salamander contributes to the novel’s atmosphere of wonder.

“Yeah, but you knew EXACTLY what to look for. No WAY we could have found this without you.”

Ben tells Nathaniel he is a genius for figuring out how to find the artificial sun in the cave. Even after Nathaniel tries to humbly downplay his contribution, Ben insists on pointing out how important Nathaniel is to their success. This shows how much Ben’s attitude toward Nathaniel has changed since the beginning of their journey.

“[I]f you don’t jump in, you’ll always think back on this moment and wish you had. Trust me. I’m old. I know these things.”

The fisherbear assumes his role as mentor when he and the boys get to the star farm cave. He offers Ben gentle advice and stresses his own age and experience relative to Ben’s. This moment contributes to the text’s thematic arguments about Cultivating Positivity and a Sense of Wonder and The Importance of Open-Mindedness as the bear urges Ben to embrace a new, one-of-a-kind opportunity despite his initial reluctance.

“TRY LOOKING AT THE HORIZON! IT HELPS ME WHEN I’M FEELING CARSICK!”

Ben shows how his confidence and compassion have grown when he offers advice to the fisherbear about his seasickness. He does not make fun of the fisherbear or assume that the older, wiser bear will solve the problem for himself—instead, he immediately jumps in with advice based on his own experience.

“IT TASTES LIKE BOTTLED HATE!”

This vivid simile employs synesthesia creatively, creating a moment of humor as the bear coughs up what he thinks is a seasickness medication. Not only does this characterize the fisherbear as funny, but it also shows that Madam Majestic is, indeed, a malevolent force that the boys are fortunate to have escaped.

“So…that’s it? THAT’S what happens to them? But…that’s so…disappointing.”

The use of ellipses to convey pauses and uppercase letters to stress the word “that’s” communicates the discouraged and puzzled tone of Ben’s voice. This demonstrates that Ben had hoped that the lanterns’ final destination would be something miraculous, supporting the text’s concern with Cultivating Positivity and a Sense of Wonder.

“WE WATCHED IN AWE AS HE WENT ABOUT HIS WORK.”

Ben narrates this from some point in the future, and he recalls that he and Nathaniel were awestruck as they watched the fisherbear catching the fish swimming up into the sky. The old stories the fisherbear believed in were proven true, and the boys were amazed at the wonders the world holds. This supports the text’s theme of Cultivating Positivity and a Sense of Wonder.

“THEY MADE FLYING OFF INTO THE STARS LOOK SO EFFORTLESS.

LIKE WE COULD EASILY JOIN THEM IF WE WANTED TO.”

Ben is amazed and moved to see the fish jumping up into the starry river. He conveys the transcendence of the moment by sharing that he, too, feels as if he could fly up into the sky. He feels a kinship with the lanterns that turned into glowing fish and leaped into the stars, showing that like them, he, too, is making a journey into a different stage of his life as he grows from childhood into adulthood.

“We should come here every year! Just us two.”

The relationship between Ben and Nathaniel has changed so dramatically from the beginning of the novel that Nathaniel feels comfortable proposing a new pact that involves just him and Ben. They will come “every year” to the fishing spot, implying that their friendship is now permanent. Ben agrees to this new pact that involves just the two of them, indicating that he now sees Nathaniel as a friend and equal.