Tangerine

In contrast to Paul, Erik possesses little insight or integrity; he traffics in brute strength, athletic prowess, and psychological intimidation to get his way. Though the reader only sees Erik—and the rest of the characters in the book—through Paul’s (impaired but perceptive) eyes, his actions speak volumes about his character. In the end, even his vaunted abilities on the football field cannot save him from the deep-seated defects in his disposition.

The reader is introduced to Erik via one of Paul’s many flashbacks: “The man in the ski mask leaned farther out the window. He pulled the bat back and up. Then he brought it forward in a mighty swing, right at my head” (3). Erik’s menacing presence extends to acquiring henchmen like Arthur Bauer and Vincent Castor, and his arrogance is almost sociopathic, so little does he respect the rights and feelings of anyone else around him. Paul uses the word “rage” frequently when describing Erik: “his face a mask of rage” (199); “grunting with rage at every blow” (254); “Erik was still in his rage” (254). Ultimately, however, Erik’s sense of entitlement is disrupted when he pushes the boundaries too far: The robberies he and Arthur commit and the incident with Luis Cruz seal his fate, and he will finally be held accountable for these actions in ways that will surely limit his future indefinitely.

Mom and Dad function mainly as foils for Paul—Mom with her superficial interest in appearances over substance, and Dad with his obsession over the Erik Fisher Football Dream—and as foils for each other. They are often at loggerheads regarding Erik and his football practice: Mom wants practice moved because of the afternoon thunderstorms, while Dad feels that practice cannot be sacrificed for any reason; Mom thinks it is inappropriate for the football team to practice on the morning of Mike Costello’s funeral, while Dad feels that practice supersedes any other event. Essentially, the Erik Fisher Football Dream consumes the family in many ways, including hindering the harmony of Mom and Dad’s marriage and their ability to parent in a consistent and united manner. Since we only see them through Paul’s point of view, they are simply “Mom” and “Dad.” The reader only hears Mom’s given name, Caroline, near the end of the book when Grandmom chides her for her role in allowing Erik’s inappropriate behavior to progress unimpeded.

Mom is quick to anger, socially pretentious, and believes she knows best in virtually every situation. She exhibits an attitude of entitlement that she has passed down to Erik: The lightning rods on the Donnelly’s house must come down, because they are aesthetically unappealing (even if they are necessary); the girls on the War Eagles soccer team surely deserve more attention (whether they want it or not); the muck fire must be contained (even if it creates new or worse problems). Still, she can occasionally be sympathetic to Paul—letting the IEP drop as he transfers; taking him on a shopping spree—and she accepts Erik’s wrongdoing more readily than Dad.

Dad, on the other hand, is distracted, either busy with work or preoccupied with the Erik Fisher Football Dream. When Paul presses Dad to give him any information about his own soccer season, Dad cannot answer, not even about what position he plays: “You’re saying that I know everything about Erik’s season and nothing about yours. You’re right, and I’m sorry” (227). Yet, Dad only makes amends once Erik is disgraced.