Tangerine - Part 2

OK, so Paul Fisher got his new start at Tangerine High in Part 2. He’s on the soccer team and playing backup goalie – right where he wanted to be. We learn about the power structure on the Tangerine War Eagles, and the power begins and ends with Victor. It’s a small team with only fifteen players, about half the size of the Seagulls at Lake Windsor Middle.

Paul’s initiation into how the game is played doesn’t take long. After Tino is thrown out of the first game against Palmetto Middle School, Coach Bright puts him in, but NOT in goal! No matter, and Paul doesn’t let on he’s never considered anything but goal. Unfortunately he blows a big chance for the tying goal, which is followed by a friendly death threat from Victor.

We see something really unexpected from Paul when right after he blows the chance for the goal and gets Victor’s reminder that he blew it and it could cost them the game, someone smears mud in HIS EYES! Paul goes nuts, jumps on the players back and starts punching away, a la Tino. So ends Paul’s playing time in game number one, but his fight earned him respect and made him one of the War Eagles, not to be messed with. Is this the real Paul coming out, fitting right in with the War Eagles?

We see a glimpse of evil in Erik and his friend Arthur when they see Paul’s friend Joey, calling him “Mohawk Man’s brother”. Mohawk Man is a reference to Joey’s dead brother Mike, who had half his hair burned off his head by the lightning strike that killed him. Nice boys they are, that Erik and Arthur. I have a feeling we’ll see just how evil Arthur might be later in the book.

Paul tries very hard to help out his friend Joey, and convinces him to transfer to Tangerine with him so he can be in the same classes and on the soccer team. This does not go well at all, and we find that Joey’s anger (certainly connected to his brother’s tragic death) is directed at everyone, including Paul. Joey needs the comfort, familiarity, predictability, and blandness of Lake Windsor Downs and Lake Windsor Middle School.