Summary: An unnamed narrator tells the story of Monkeyman, one of the narrator’s friends and a resident of 145th Street. Monkeyman’s bookishness sets him apart from many of his peers, as does his willingness to interfere with the Tigros gang, which is trying to take over the neighborhood. When Monkeyman prevents one of the Lady Tigros from attacking his friend Peaches with a knife, the Tigros set out to get revenge. Monkeyman appears to accept the Tigros’ challenge to fight, but when he arrives at the scene he shocks everyone, his friends included, by taking a position of non-violence. Monkeyman is injured in the fight and its aftermath, but the narrator discovers that Monkeyman has done this to prove a point, which teaches the narrator some important lessons about courage and community.
Summary: An unnamed narrator tells the story of Monkeyman, one of the narrator’s friends and a resident of 145th Street. Monkeyman’s bookishness sets him apart from many of his peers, as does his willingness to interfere with the Tigros gang, which is trying to take over the neighborhood. When Monkeyman prevents one of the Lady Tigros from attacking his friend Peaches with a knife, the Tigros set out to get revenge. Monkeyman appears to accept the Tigros’ challenge to fight, but when he arrives at the scene he shocks everyone, his friends included, by taking a position of non-violence. Monkeyman is injured in the fight and its aftermath, but the narrator discovers that Monkeyman has done this to prove a point, which teaches the narrator some important lessons about courage and community.