When a mother arrives with two kids, he's determined to make a doll for the little girl. In the war, he plays games with Vietnamese children during pacification missions. He hates his ex, but calls his ex's daughter 'Little Mommy' (7.114) and describes her as 'real cute' (7.116). For example, he seems to have a soft spot for kids. Old SoftieĪre the jokes and pushing people's buttons all an act? Because there's another side to Peewee, and it's a caring side. And part of that is making sure everyone knows how tough he is so they won't mess with him.

Underneath his jokes, Peewee has a strong survival instinct. Turns out Peewee brings his knife with him everywhere, and when they meet their platoon, Peewee starts messing with Johnson, the most jacked man there, like it ain't no thang. As quick with the knife as he is with the wit. Then he laid back, put his hand under his pillow, and pulled out a knife, which clicked open with a flick of the wrist.' (1.92)ĭang. The big man doubled over, and Peewee punched him on the side of the head. Instead he shot both legs into the ranger's crotch. 'Peewee turned and looked as if he were going to put his feet on the floor. In the first chapter he calls a big fellow soldier 'a ugly ass Cong,' (1.83), and when the soldier calls him 'boy' in response: Peewee also has this charming habit of preemptively messing with people, like he's trying to start a fight. He deals with tough situations by joking about them. 'Either Moms didn't have the money, or she had the money, and we had to get some other stupid thing, like food.' (2.24) 'Back home when everybody got new sneakers, I didn't get none,' he says. He's a fully developed character, and his background hints at why he is the way he is. Tough Guyĭon't get us wrong: Peewee is more than the class clown. Readers need the occasional light moment to keep appreciating the dark stuff, and Peewee delivers. It gives him a break from the terror, and it breaks the tension for readers, too. But seriously, there was probably nothing better for Perry to hear in that moment. We were both a glance from dying, and he had to s*** and it was just so damn funny. They're terrified they won't live through the night. Peewee and Perry have been separated from their platoon and are waiting in a snake hole, hoping the enemy won't find them. The line to top them all might be in Chapter 22, at the height of tension. Whether he's commenting on the food, the bugs in Vietnam, or the way Captain Stewart inflates his death count, he pretty much gets all the best lines in the book. It's because his jokes will keep you sane when you're surrounded by destruction. Not because of his combat skills-though they aren't too shabby, especially compared to Perry. If you have to go to war, Peewee's the guy you want to go with. Peewee (Harold Gates) These Are the Jokes

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