That Was Then This Is Now Analysis

The book That was Then, This is Now is about to really good friends Bryon and Mark starting to become separated in their lives. The character that narrates the story, Byron is an influential teenager that many others can reminisce with and make their own connections. He is 16 years old and lives with his mom and his friend Mark whose parents got in a fight and his dad shot his mom dead. In the novel he describes himself as a “big guy” and also says “with dark hair and black eyes” (page 5). He also likes fights, hustling pool games and breaking some laws such as age ones. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma a rough and poor part of town like her similar book The Outsiders. Consequently, Byron, in the novel That was Then, This is Now is a likeable character
This means to look at your own thoughts and emotions and look at what’s right and what’s wrong. Bryon goes through this stage in the novel when he starts to really like Cathy. Mark starts acting strange around him and Bryon tries to look at himself “in the mirror” and realizes that he is changing as he is becoming more mature than Mark. In the novel, it states “The next few weeks it seemed as if I was moving in slow motion” (page 85-86). This was stated after Charlie’s death since he felt ashamed when Charlie helped Mark and Bryon live. Mark stated “We didn’t blow anything, Bryon (page 86). This shows how Mark was not that concerned and showed oblivion to the fact that Bryon said: “This ain’t some story, some TV show” (page 86). Bryon on the other hand deeply is sorrowful about this incident and comes to a conclusion that he is changing while Mark still lives for the moment. This is also topped off when Mark is injured, Bryon states “that was then, and this is now” when they are reminiscing together (page 68). Bryon and Mark both we're introspective (thinking) about their lives together. Bryon would make some tough decisions after his re-examination that would come to change both of their lives
One prime example of this is his concern for M&M. As Cathy explains how her dad complains about his long hair and bad grades, Byron feels bad about M&M, something Mark does not feel. For example, Cathy says to Bryon “I wish Daddy would leave M&M alone” (page 52). Bryon responds with “Yeah, I know about that” (page 52). In more of a knowledgeable tone than a careless one. A more suitable example of this is when Cathy was showing concern of the possibility of M&M smoking marijuana. In this case, Bryon asked Cathy whether she loved him, and she says: “Sure don’t you?” (Page 93). Bryon responded with “Yeah” (page 93). After, M&M’s acid trip Bryon felt how broken Cathy was, and they both broke down in tears together. But one of Bryon’s other traits was going to break two friendships in a single