Still Can't See Nothin' Comin' Pages 131-195

Summary:
Six weeks after the death of his sister, Daniel went into a dolorous stage in which he only left his bed to take a shower, use the restroom and sometimes to eat. His mother allowed him to stay home instead of going to school because she knew that he had a close relationship with his sister and he was truly hurting. Daniel was also getting beat every night by his drunken father. After Mandy’s death he began to drink even more and blamed Daniel for her death. He would walk into his room at anytime of the night and yell at him saying things like “why didn’t you save her?” He also said things like “if you guys were so close, why would you let her die?” Not being able to deal with the abuse, Daniel began to spend the night with Philly and Jeremy. They spent every night getting drunk or high. What Daniel failed to realize was that his little brother Billy was being forced to stay home because of the fear his parents had of losing the only child that is left. Billy was not only mourning about the death of his sister but he was also dealing with feelings of loneliness and abandonment because Daniel had left him.

Leslie and Daniel also broke up. While Daniel was going through his bacchanalian stage, Leslie was going through a rehabilitation stage. She seen how alcohol had affected Mandy so she decided to change and when Daniel told her he was not changing she decided to leave. She told them they could get back together when he changes his way. That situation basically allowed Daniel to run wild. On the day of Billy’s birthday, Daniel attempted to steal a video game from a mall store to give Billy as a gift. He was caught by security and was arrested by a nice cop. He was then realized shortly after and was driven home by this nice cop. By the time he got home it was midnight and Billy was crying his eyes out. Daniel had messed his birthday and Billy realized that he was alone in this world. Daniel reassured Billy that he would never be alone in the world and reassured Billy that he loved him. At that time they realized that they would forever be brothers and they would always be together. Daniel slept in Billy’s room that night.

Daniel and Philly decided to go to school on the days when they felt comfortable enough to go. Philly was a straight A student and Daniel was barely passing but he was in advanced classes. Daniel was really smart and could get straight A’s as well but he did not want to put forth any effort. During school, Philly and Daniel was having a conversation which led them planning to get high later and find girls who would have sex with them. Philly would get the girls and Daniel had to get the drugs. The chapter left off with Daniel asking a kid name Tony for drugs. Tony was a 17 year old sophomore.

Quotation:

"Why didn't you save her, Jimbo? Huh? Didn't you care ( marshall 134)?

Reflection:

Daniel’s father had said this to him one day when he was drunk. I do not understand why the father treats Daniel in this negative manner but has a lot of love for Billy. I do not understand how he can say such hurtful things towards Daniel, knowing the relationship that he had with his sister. I do not understand why the mother allows this type of behavior in her house. I am only a sister but I can not imagine myself saying something so hurtful towards someone that I love. I do not believe that Daniel is a bad kid at all. I think that Daniel is lost and needs someone who can have a good influence on him to come into his life and he would change. I think the reason why Mandy killed herself was because she was lost and felt as if her life would never change. Her depression became too much for her to deal with and unfortunately she gave up. Due to the father’s abusive ways and all the invectives he told his children they will always be traumatized. I do not understand how he cannot be penitent every time he put a hand on his children. My heart also goes out to Billy because he had had to expierence all of this uncanny behavior at the age of 11. There is no way he could have been able to comprehend all of this craziness and still be able to have a childhood and be happy. What his parents did not realize was that their actions not only affected them but it also affected their kids.