The Chocolate War

Most of the school knows about Jerry’s Vigils assignment. Jerry tells The Goober that this is the last day. The Goober notices during roll call that Brother Leon appears “buoyant” and there is a sense of relief in the class. When Leon calls “Renault,” he is met with a long pause before Jerry shouts “No!” They stare at each other, and then Jerry announces that he is not going to sell the chocolates.

Jerry questions himself about why he continues his refusal to sell the chocolates but finds no answers. He tosses and turns in bed and feels claustrophobic, as though he has been “buried alive” (114). This imagery terrifies him and he gets up, still thinking about why he refused to sell the chocolates He concludes that it was partly Brother Leon’s little cruelties but also something more. His choice shocks even himself. He thinks about how much he looked forward to saying “yes” to the chocolates, how the hatred would leave Brother Leon’s eyes, and how he would be a normal student again. He returns to bed, mulling over his choice, his father’s routine and dull life, the young man on the Common who insisted he was missing out, and a beautiful girl he noticed at the bus stop.