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At the story’s outset, Seth is an admirer of Adam, hanging on to Adam’s every word and movement. He thinks Adam is cool and masculine, everything he wishes he could be. Seth has never been in a fight. He wears a new denim jacket that he has tried to distress, and he hides the jacket from his parents. The police don’t know his name. He smokes his first cigarette without inhaling, and he has only kissed girls during party games.
As the story unfolds, however, Seth begins to entertain doubts about his hero. At first, he notices that Adam might not be inhaling his own cigarette. But he dismisses the idea. When Adam pretends to throw a rock at a passing car, Seth wants to leave, fearing the consequences and recognizing the danger to the driver below. But he sticks with Adam, not wanting to look cowardly.
Seth’s turning point as a character comes when facing the bullies. He shows his loyalty when he refuses to identify Adam as the one who threw the cigarette butt. He bravely maintains his dignity by refusing to lick the bully’s windshield despite the threat of violence.
At the story’s conclusion, Seth sees himself, Adam, and their relationship more clearly. He recognizes that he is stronger than Adam, who he now sees as a liar, coward, and disloyal friend. Seth no longer buys into Adam’s false cool and masculinity. He knows now that he is better off being himself, and he throws his jacket away.
