That was Then, This is Now #3

S.E. Hinton
Popular Fiction
pages 143-212

The books ending was something i wasn't expecting. The falling action starts when M&M runs away from home because of his dad making fun of his long hippie hair. Cathy and Bryon grew real close to each other during this time looking for M&M. Bryon started to find it actually easy to tell her he loves her and actually mean it. While Mark continued to bring in money, but Bryon never knew what he was ever doing. In order to get back at Angela Mark and Bryon hung out one night like they use to and picked up Angela, who still loved Bryon but was really drunk. They cut off all her hair and threw her in her yard past out. Bryon was really drunk and started to pour his thoughts out to mark how he was changing into an adult, he had a job a girlfriend and didn't want to get into fights anymore. Bryon starts wondering "What If" like an older person would and Mark starts saying that your still a kid and need to simply live in the moment. Mark tells Bryon he knows where M&M is the next day Bryon and Cathy go find him a the hippie house Mark told them about. Where they got their M&M lost his mind on an acid trip and had permanent brain damage. Bryon and Cathy grew even closer as the wept for M&M together. Bryon went home and found acid pills under Mark's bed and lost it, he called the cops and took Mark away. Mark was put away for five years and Bryon went to visit him once, but Mark said he hated him and he meant it. Bryon became depressed and again started to wonder "What If" i just told Mark to stop dealing he would've stopped.

I believe if Mark wasn't so lost in his emotions for M&M and Cathy at the time that he would've never called the police. But unfortunately he did and he knew he made the wrong decision he lost his brother and ruined his life at the same time. After Mark was gone all he did was stay at home depressed studying. He got good grades but had no social life. I feel terrible for both Mark and Bryon, but i feel the most pain for Bryon because he will hate himself forever. I also know that Mark will probably end up a criminal and return to jail after being released. Bryon's childhood is over and he will forever be wondering "What if."