Highly Illogical Behavior

Solomon is relishing his time outside and in the pool. For Solomon, “swimming was the opposite of a panic attack. Fluid and calm and quiet” (173). The first time he swims, his family and friends are elated. Solomon has done what he worried he could not do, and now he wonders why he ever thought he didn’t want to be outside. He realizes how much he’s missed the sun, the grass, the water. It is almost baffling to Solomon that all he ever needed to do was simply take one step to see that the outdoors isn’t just not bad—it is wonderful. Solomon says to himself that his new backyard excursion and swimming pool is all he needs, but even he is starting not to believe himself.

One day, while Solomon is alone, he swims into the pool naked and is shocked to find Clark standing at the pool’s edge. Clark also removes his clothes and swims naked in the pool. Solomon tries not to look too much, but “how could he not be watching him? He was naked and swimming all around him. It was like every gay dude’s dream come true […] Or maybe it was just Solomon’s dream with this particular athlete” (180). Clark seems unbothered by their close and nude proximity, but Solomon is overwhelmed.

Eventually Clark goes back to put his trunks on, and apologizes to Solomon, explaining that Clark is accustomed to nudity what with his years spent with brothers and in locker changing rooms. Solomon becomes angry at himself for his feeling towards Clark, and wonders “if everyone falls in love with someone who can’t love them back” (182). In the span of a few weeks, Solomon has fallen in love, made friends, and braved the outdoors. His life is rapidly changing for the better, and he doesn’t want his feelings for Clark to ruin everything.

Lisa is more worried than ever that something really is going on between Clark and Solomon. She knows she needs to talk to Janis about it, so she goes to Janis to ask for forgiveness and receive her guidance. Lisa knows she needs to get emotional and build up drama in order for Janis to believe in her sincerity, “but she hadn’t expected the floodgates to open like they did and before she knew it, she and Janis were both sobbing in each other’s arms” (184).

The two girls make up and Janis reveals that she has a boyfriend. When the conversation turns to boyfriends, Lisa confides that she is worried about the nature of Clark and Solomon’s relationship. Although Lisa doesn’t think that Clark would cheat on her, or that Solomon would purposefully steal her boyfriend, still she wonders if it’s fair to expect that they repress their feelings. Janis points out that spending all their time together doesn’t make them gay. It just “makes them […] I don’t know […] two loners who found each other, maybe” (186).

Lisa tells Janis that Clark doesn’t want her to write the essay, and the girls wonder whether Solomon would regress if he found out about Lisa’s plan and the essay. Lisa is adamant that she must write the essay but is now concerned about the effect it will have on Solomon. She realizes that “this wasn’t a perfect world—this was the world that Solomon Reed had run away from and the more Lisa thought about it, the less ridiculous that idea sounded to her” (188). Lisa is also running away, in her own manner.

Solomon is still enjoying the outdoors and thinking about his next steps. He is happy, but he is also frightened because he “was afraid they’d always be waiting for him to change even more than he already had” (189). The last few months have been a whirlwind, and Solomon decides it’s time to tell his grandmother about Clark because he needs some advice about how to move forward.

His grandmother is supportive when he tells her, and she asks Solomon if he’s sure that Clark isn’t into him. She also warns him against hurting Lisa’s feelings. His grandmother encourages him to talk to Clark about it, because they’re such close friends who have been honest about everything else. Solomon realizes that now he must tell his parents as well. Although he tries to explain using an allusion to Star Trek, he finally has to just spit it out. Solomon is nervous but “in the parent department, he had won the lottery. So, he’d always known that when he finally told them, they’d make him feel like it was no big deal, like it didn’t change a thing” (194). Sure enough, Solomon’s parents support him with unconditional love yet again. Now everyone important to Solomon knows the secret of his sexuality, and Solomon gains yet another new layer of freedom.