The book, The Body illustrates the growth of the kids who travels to see a dead body of a kid. They are from different backgrounds and problems, and by going through the journey, they met what could be their enemies and grow up while going through. Also, they share the concerns that have been torturing, and heals each other.
The rumors about the dog chopper told that it is such a hellhound that will make people who go across the junkyard disabled. However, the chopper they met was a relatively small dog who they were able to tease at. By this experience of meeting the childhood monster, they realize how the things they used to fear could be really small and nothing, and that they don't need to be afraid of the monsters. Even though they seemed to still have fantasy about the under-bed monsters, when they grow up a little more, they will again realize that there's no such thing as the under-bed monsters, and remember their experience with chopper to laugh about it again.
While they were realizing the truth about the Chopper, Teddy meets an ordeal as his personal hero was ranked down by the Milo, the junkyard keeper. He said that Teddy's father was a loony. Teddy highly respected his father as he once have stormed the beach in Normandy, even though his father once almost killed him. As Teddy's father was attacked, he got mad, and almost tried to fight the Milo. But his friends managed to control him and get out of the junkyard. By this experience, Teddy learns that there's no need to care about what the others think of the person who he loves, as Chris said. Even though the others try to insult the respected one, it doesn't change that the value of him, which makes him still respectable.
Vern was a coward who was scared to go along the railroad that was on a bridge. While he was going through, he walked like a grandma who's not able to walk comfortably. Also, when the train was coming, he was trapped in terror that he couldn't move so fast. Still, he ran and was able to dodge the train. Dodging a moving train was Teddy's wish. And as Teddy was always making fun of Vern's cowardliness, it should have been a nice punch. It didn't change the Vern from inside-out as he was still afraid in the forest and many places. However, the experience gave him pride and honor of train dodging, and it must have helped him to grow up and escape the cowardliness.
Gordie lost his brother and was treated as a troublemaker in his house. His father tells him to have a nicer friends, and sometimes Gordie thinks that he should have died instead of his brother Dennis. He was living in his brother's shadow. However, whenever people tried to compare Gordie with Dennis, he managed to show them what kind of person he was. Especially when Ace mentioned Dennis to make Gordie to hand over the dead body to them, Gordie showed his toughness by threatening them back with a gun. It showed that he was a grown up guy with guts to stand up for what he think is right. It's much valuable than playing football very well, which is the aspect that people praised about Dennis. Gordie showed that he is too good to be in Dennis's shadow.
Chris, who is my favorite character, has once stolen milk money, and returned it. However, his teacher just took it, knowing that people won't believe Chris even if he claims that the teacher stole the money. Chris believed his teacher and she betrayed them, and it left as a scar in his mind. I felt very sorry and sad when I knew about his behind story. Children should carry their fantasies until they reach the appropriate age. Chris was too young to know the dirtiness and selfishness of human beings. But the teacher who should be leading her students to morality and help them to carry to the fantasies just broke them. I'm not a grown up yet, but this made me to wonder about the role of the adults; what adults should to for their children to help them keep their dreams, and how to present them a better world to live and love.
The best part was when Gordie wanted to stay with his friends and give up a better education. Chris was really angry and told Gordie that he shouldn't waste something that God gave him. It made me to remember a similar scene in the movie, Good Will Hunting. In that movie, a gorgeous mathematician Will works as a cleaner of universities, and wish his life to continue in such way. So, his friend Chuckie said, 'Fuck you, you don't owe it to yourself man, you owe it to me. Cuz tomorrow I'm gonna wake up and I'll be 50, and I'll still be doin' this shit. And that's all right. That's fine. I mean, you're sittin' on a winnin' lottery ticket. And you're too much of a pussy to cash it in, and that's bullshit. 'Cause I'd do fuckin' anything to have what you got. So would any of these fuckin' guys. It'd be an insult to us if you're still here in 20 years. Hangin' around here is a fuckin' waste of your time.' I thought that The Body and Good Will Hunting were trying to deliver a same message. The importance of using one's own talents and the value of real friend. Real friends help their friends when they are going to a path that's wrong and regretful. They don't get jealous. But cheer up and help. I thought that I also wanted to be a friend like him. And that if I had friends like him, I would have been really happy.
Even though they had many adventures, it didn't change them very much. Even after all the journey, they acted as young children who had same problems to solve . However, it certainly changed their views toward the world. The town that has been everything to them felt small. They have gained the chance to grow up. Reading this story made me to think back about my childhood (although I'm not so old) and feel nostalgic. I think reading this book was a nice chance to sink in memories, remembering the times I had overcame the similar problems they had.
