It stung him .

             and pissed him off. Robby believed he lost Garth because the doctors .

             mistreated and misdiagnosed him. As Widman listens to his brother .

             venting his anger over Garth"s death he recalls a conversation he had .

             with his mother six years ago about Garth: "Garth had been down to .

             the clinic two or three times but they sent him home. You know how .

             they are down there. Have to be spitting blood to get attention. Then .

             all they give you is a Band-Aid"(660). As the author begins to piece .

             the puzzle of Garth"s death together he sees the change in attitude .

             from his mother and brother. Robby justified his anger and bitterness .

             over his friend"s death by lashing out at society. Robby figured he .

             was doomed to die on the streets so why bother caring anymore. Man, .

             how could they let him die? Garth was the gang"s dreamer; he had a .

             special gift and was well liked in the neighborhood and streets of .

             Homewood. He could make you feel good when you were down with his .

             kind words and smiling grin. That"s what tore at Robby"s soul the .

             most. Just because you"re poor and black doesn"t mean you"re not .

             important, or as important as everyone else in the world is. Robby .

             cursed and blamed society for Garth"s death. As he cursed society .

             with his middle finger waving in the air he hugged the streets .

             tighter, embracing the life that would spiral him downward: his gang, .

             drugs, and crime. .

             .

             Homewood was the place that Robby was introduced to the .

             streets, the parties, the dope, and the crime. It started up on .

             Garfield Hill, partying with the homey"s of Homewood. Robby was .

             sheltered from the streets for most of his life because his family .

             lived in an all-white neighborhood like Shadyshide, so when Robby .

             discovered Homewood he began getting curious about the streets and .

             the black culture. Robby"s family tried to shield him from the .

             dangers of the streets but Robby would not be denied. "Started to .

             wondering what was so different about a black neighborhood.