That Was Then, This Is Now

Content Warning: This section of the guide mentions trauma resulting from substance use.

Throughout That Was Then, This Is Now, Hinton traces Bryon’s progress from the relatively thoughtless world of his youth toward the complex realities of responsible adulthood. Faced with new choices as to what kind of person he wants to be and what kind of life he wants to lead, Bryon discovers that every choice comes with a cost.

As the novel opens, Bryon and Mark share a relatively carefree outlook. Mark, in particular, has a knack for getting out of difficult scrapes unscathed, something that both amuses and annoys Bryon. On one occasion, Mark reminds Bryon that he used to be the same way. In reality, of course, neither Bryon nor Mark enjoys supernatural protection from harm, but Mark acts as though he does. For the time being, they live in a world almost without consequences, free to steal, hustle, and fight without fear.

Bryon’s feelings on the subject change over time due to two primary factors. First, he comes to recognize Mark’s attitude as being rooted in a kind of selfish denial. He is shocked on one occasion to hear Mark insist that “nothing bad has ever happened to me” (112), given that Mark’s parents killed each other and Mark himself had been arrested and nearly killed, among other things. Bryon realizes that Mark’s view of his own success is not accurate, since it relies on his not caring about anyone other than himself. Second, Bryon simultaneously realizes that, as he allows himself to care about others, such as Cathy and Charlie, he opens himself up to the possibility of loss and grief.

Realizing that his decisions have real consequences, Bryon follows Cathy’s lead in being more responsible and adhering to laws and societal expectations. For instance, instead of continuing to hustle after Charlie’s death, Bryon gets a job in a grocery store. Even then, Bryon continues to think in simplistic terms, as if by choosing differently, he can guarantee the best, most desirable outcomes.

A final shock comes in the realization, after reporting Mark, that some situations do not have any viable solutions, and every choice necessarily comes with a cost, since it excludes the choices left unmade. By reporting Mark to the police, Bryon satisfies his conscience, which, in light of M&M’s experience with LSD, opposes the distribution of illegal drugs. The cost of his choice is his relationship with Mark and Mark’s future happiness, both of which become unsalvageable. Devastated, Bryon’s mood is impacted, and he does not emerge by the novel’s conclusion. In the end, Bryon’s experience demonstrates the pain that often accompanies personal change, as previous associations are damaged and lost, and represents the troubling reality that acting in accordance with one’s conscience is no guarantee against regret. Instead, Bryon finds the adult world to be on in which his values and his emotions may often be at odds.